This museum was the work of George and Margaret Holley who dedicated their lives to preserving the history of East Tennessee. Their tireless effort resulted in a collection of Appalachian artifacts spanning over 250 years. Eventually they built the museum to both house the growing collection and to share the rich history of the region with others.
Among the collection are artifacts from the daily lives of Appalachians, models of early structures, an extensive lithics collection, and exhibits dedicated to the military history of the region.
This museum is also a stop on the Appalachian Quilt Trail.