Matthews, North Carolina
Matthews Heritage Museum
“Where Children Experience… and Adults Remember”
Our award-winning museum celebrates a decade of preserving and showcasing local history of the Town of Matthews. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to educating and inspiring visitors—young and old—for generations to come.
Hours & Admission
The Museum is open Thursday–Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Admission to the Matthews Heritage Museum is FREE! This means that everyone can explore the fascinating exhibits and artifacts at no cost.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Museum soon!
Newsletter
Pick up a free copy of Foundations, the Matthews Historical Foundation’s quarterly newsletter, at the Museum. You can also read issues by clicking the links below.
Read the Winter 2024 issue of Foundations
Read the Summer 2023 issue of Foundations
Make a Donation
Love your time at the Museum? Support us by making a donation to the Foundation. Scan the QR code or click here.
Thank you for your generosity and support!
Volunteer Opportunities
The Matthews Heritage Museum is always looking for individuals to serve as docents or tour guides. Do you like to learn? Do you like history? Join our dedicated group of women and men who conduct guided tours of the Museum. The rewards are great!
Each volunteer is asked to take one shift of 3 hours once a month. Shifts are AM: 10 to 1, PM: 1 to 4. In addition to learning history, you will enjoy getting to know this interesting group of docents. A training class will be offered to all new docents. Ongoing training is held for new exhibits and new research.
The Museum is open Thursday to Saturday each week from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Volunteers are needed to be present for a morning or afternoon shift at least once a month on one of those days. Additionally, you may be asked to give a tour to school groups, senior groups, or scouts when they are scheduled.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer, please call 704-708-4996 during operating hours. Thank you for considering becoming a docent for the Matthews Heritage Museum!
News
Did you see the Matthews Heritage Museum and Matthews Historical Foundation on the front page of the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly? History is on a roll in the Town of Matthews and we’re already excited about 2024!
Thanks to the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly for their coverage of our newest exhibit, “Service and Sacrifice: Honoring our Heroes.”
Becky Willard, President of the Matthews Historical Foundation, accepted awards this week for Best Museum (Matthews Heritage Museum) and Best Historic Site (The Reid House) from Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly.
Thank you to Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly for highlighting the Matthews Heritage Museum!
Best of The Weeklies Reader’s Choice Awards
The votes are in for the 2023 Best of The Weeklies Reader’s Choice Awards and once again the Matthews Heritage Museum was voted the Best Museum in Matthews-Mint Hill!
Roseland Cemetery
Roseland Cemetery off Monroe Road was the burial place of slaves and free people of color. It recently underwent preservation efforts. As a means of supplementing this work, the Matthews Heritage Museum would like to hear from those whose relatives are buried there.
If you have relatives buried in Roseland Cemetary, we would like to hear from you to add their names to our list. We would like to know the person’s full name, their birth and death dates, your name, your relationship to that person, and a phone number in case we have questions.
Please send information to us at info@matthewsheritagemuseum.org. You may also call 704-708-4996. Please help us document this important information.
Little Free Library
The Matthews Heritage Museum has a Little Free Library (Charter #25690) in front of the Museum. Like other Little Free Libraries, it’s a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange, where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in Hudson, Wisconsin. In the beginning (2009), Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it. He built several more and gave them away. Each one had a sign that said FREE BOOKS. The Museum hopes to feature books based on history, though we will allow any book to be placed there.
Our Little Free Library was built by Jason Surface, son of one of our volunteers. It is a miniature version of the 1880 Massey-Clark House, which is the home of the Matthews Heritage Museum.
What Visitors Are Saying
“The perfect introduction to the town of Matthews!”
The museum docents are super passionate and knowledgeable about their community, and the exhibits help tell the story of the town. Oh, and best of all, this museum is free!
Alyssa N.
“Fantastic place”
The exhibits were interesting and the layout was great! Learned a lot about Matthews during the visit. A must go for anyone in the area!
Hugh N.
“A little slice of awesome”
A great place to take the kids to teach them some local history! This place is a little slice of awesome. We went on a free museum day and my kids loved it.
Nick C.
Museum Shop
Matthews Remembered DVD
Narrated by long time Matthews residents, the Matthews Remembered DVD, ©2013, features wonderful stories and fond memories of Matthews in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Included on this DVD is a 10 minute Outen Pottery narrative. $15.00
Matthews Memories Cookbook
Matthews Memories, A Collection of Remembrances and Recipes from a Small Southern Town features 133 pages of stories and recipes with over 40 photos from early and contemporary Matthews cooks and kitchens. The stories reminisce about the cooks and their recipes from early and contemporary Matthews kitchens. Included are references to early Matthews and local southern dishes, such as Creecy Greens. All proceeds from the sale of this book directly benefit Matthews restoration projects. $22.00
Commemorative Bricks
Purchasing an inscribed brick is a permanent way to honor or remember a loved one, celebrate an important date, recognize an organization, or contribute to the Massey-Clark House Restoration Project. All donations are tax deductible. Personalized bricks are displayed in a walkway at the Matthews Heritage Museum entrance. Print brick order form here.
Matthews Heritage Museum 