Saturday, June 11, I went with my sister to visit The Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC, which is close to two hours from where we live. We left a few minutes after 9:00 in the morning, and had lunch about 11:00 at Sawmills Café on US 321-A in Granite Falls.
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J's breakfast plate with grits. |
The Mitford Museum is in the old elementary school building where Jan attended, which has been restored and renamed as The Hudson Uptown Building (or HUB Station). Not only does this building house the museum, but is also home to an art gallery and other businesses.
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The hallway to the museum |
Admission tickets can be purchased on arrival in the gift shop, Happy Endings Bookstore.
Adult - $10 + $.68 tax
Senior- $9 + tax
Student - $7 + tax
Hours of Operation
Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Mitford Museum (which should be called the Jan Karon Museum) is in three rooms. The first room is about the author's life from childhood to before writing her first novel. You then "transition" life periods through a doorway to Jan's life as an author. This is the second room, and is dedicated to Mitford. The third room is the gift shop.
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Technically this is a self-guided tour, but one of the gift shop workers came with us to answer any questions.
Inside the first room
The second room
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Father Tim would wear a chasuble during Eucharistic services. Soli Deo Gloria - To God alone be the glory |
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Cynthia Coppersmith wore a suit similar to this at her wedding to Father Tim in A Common Life. | |
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Jan Karon found this creché that needed repaired. Her daughter told her she should have Father Tim restore it; so he did, in Shepherds Abiding. |
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Part of Jan Karon's writing desk. |
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A lighted globe like the one Cynthia gave Father Tim for a gift. |
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Barnabas |
After leaving the museum, we stopped at The Local Bean, a coffee shop that is basically across the street.
Seeing the Mitford Museum has been on my places to visit list since it opened last year. I am glad I went, but don't think it is some place I would make a special trip to see again.
In summary -
Those
within driving distance who want to visit the museum, make a day trip
that includes surrounding towns, because there's not much to see, or