Free admission
 Free parking
 Nearby 
   restaurants
 Guided tours 
   offered
 Wheelchair/stroller
   accessible

At Gaston County Museum, there's always something old and a lot that's new!  You can also plan your next special event or wedding at our historic building — call Jeff Pruett for details (704.922.7681 Ext. 105). Click for our rental brochure for the museum.

Big Ron Hunter, blues musicianBlues Out Back Concerts click for PDF poster information.
September 10 (Friday) — Blue Out Back Concert Big Ron Hunter, 6:30 - 8 pm
. Gaston County Museum will host the performance of Big Ron Hunter, as part of their 12th Annual “Blues out Back” summer concert series on Friday, September 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the lawn behind the museum.

GCM Summer Brochure of Activitiesclick for PDF brochure

FREE New Exhibit – Love & War: The History of Wartime Weddings
Wartime wedding portraitOpening August 28, 2010 and running until March 6, 2011 at the Gaston County Museum is Love & War: The History of Wartime Weddings.

This exhibit will feature an exciting collection of wedding dresses, photographs, military uniforms, and weapons that span from the Revolutionary War to the Iraq War. Visitors will learn how wedding traditions and fashions have changed over the years and how war has affected these changes.

Read local stories of couples who have experienced marriage during wartime, test your knowledge of wartime facts, and even dress up in military uniforms and load your pack as if going to war. This fun and interactive exhibit will help you explore the compelling connection between love and war.

Reynolds Exhibit - Epidemic paintingFREE New Exhibit – Opens August 31st
Misc. Perspectives … A Work in Progress: Artwork by Jason Reynolds

Opening August 31and closing October 30, 2010 at the Gaston County Museum’s bull pen is Misc. Perspectives … A Work in Progress: Artwork by Jason Reynolds.

Jason is enrolled in the arts program at Gaston College exploring many different aspects in the art world. His goal is to finish college with a bachelor of fine arts in painting. Jason uses a combination of acrylics and oils to paint on canvas using a classic style with a modern twist. He attributes his influences in his paintings to his love of comics.

Carolinas Textile Exhibit   Discover how cotton textile manufacturing transformed the Carolinas. Sights and sounds of the past combine with original objects, such as the world's longest running, original Edison generator (1884), the Loray Mill whistle, a ball gown and baseball uniform, to bring the history of the Carolinas to life.

Daniel Stowe Carriage House  Imagine life before automobiles. See sleighs, drays and buggies -- the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles exhibited in North Carolina!


1852 Hoffman Hotel  Notice the details - handmade brick, heart of pine floors, old glass set in 9-over-9s windows, and the simple Greek revival architectural style of our main building, constructed in 1852. Visit hotel rooms and parlors to see authentic period furnishings. 

The Museum's Collections
The museum, accredited by the American Association of Museums, holds in trust for current and future generations over 5,000 objects,  20,000 documents, over 400,000 photos which span the period from the 1500s through the 20th Century.  As a federally designated 501c3 organization, the museum gratefully accepts donations to support its exhibits, programs, research, preservation and public interpretation.

Hours/Address/InfoLine
Gaston County Museum of Art & History is open Tuesday thru Friday from 10am - 5pm, Saturday from 12 - 3 pm and every 1st Sunday from 2 - 5 pm. The museum is wheelchair and stroller accessible and admission is free. Gaston County Museum is located at 131 West Main Street in Dallas, NC 28034. For more information about exhibits, programs and events, call the 24-hour info-line at (704)922-7681, #2.

Check out our calendar of events.

Special Event Planner click to find out about using our attractive facilities, completed with a full kitchen, for your next business dinner, party, reception or other special event.

Tour Planner —
Click to find out how we can help you and your out-of-town group arrange visits: from discounted hotel rooms to attractions to special tours to restaurant reservations.

Map/Directions

UPCOMING EVENTS
Click to view current newsletter for the Gaston County Museum.

September 10 (Friday) — Blue Out Back Concert Big Ron Hunter, 6:30 - 8 pm.
Gaston County Museum will host the performance of Big Ron Hunter, as part of their 12th Annual “Blues out Back” summer concert series on Friday, September 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the lawn behind the museum. Big Ron Hunter hails from the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area and picked up the guitar in the 1960s where he played in various local bands. He was mentored by bluesman Guitar Gabriel and developed his unique style while raising a family and working a day job. Retired now, Hunter is looking to break into the blues scene and play his music.

The twelfth annual “Blues out Back” concert series is free and open to the public. It’s held the second Friday of the month from May until September. The museum encourages folks to bring along blankets, lawn chairs, and a picnic for an evening of great music with friends and family.

FREE New Exhibit – Love & War: The History of Wartime Weddings
Opening August 28, 2010 and running until March 6, 2011 at the Gaston County Museum is Love & War: The History of Wartime Weddings.
Wartime wedding dress

FREE New Exhibit – Opens August 31st
Misc. Perspectives … A Work in Progress: Artwork by Jason Reynolds

Opening August 31and closing October 30, 2010 at the Gaston County Museum’s bull pen.

Now you can sign up for Facebook or a separate email update service to get news about our programs and events. See below:

Facebook

 

Click to sign up for email updates on programs, events and exhibits at the Gaston County Museum

Some Informational Links
Charlotte Regional History Consortium
Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library 
NC Business History  
NC Dept. of Cultural Resources
NC ECHO 
NC Museums Council 
NC Office of Archives & History  

  © 2010. The Gaston County Museum.     Web site design by CSI/ISI