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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Clay County Historical and Arts Council

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Clay County Historical and Arts Council

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The Clay County Historical & Arts Council was formed in 1974 to preserve the local History and Native Arts and Crafts of Western North Carolina. Mrs.

~OUR MISSION STATEMENT~

According to our By-Laws, the mission of the Clay County Historical & Arts Council is to sponsor and encourage educational activities in Clay County Schools, the Community and surrounding areas, with particular emphasis on the Historical and Cultural Heritage and Visual, Performing and Literary Arts. How We Began~

In recognition of the need to preserve the local History and Native Arts and Crafts of Western North Carolina, the Clay County Historical and Arts Council was established through the efforts of the Clay County beautification Committee in January 1974. By the end of February, 1974, the Council had gained enough support from Clay County residents to be incorporated. Gertrude Price was elected as the first president. It was under her direction that the Clay County Historical and Arts Council began operations. Out of the early community theater founded by the council in June, 1974, the Licklog Players emerged. The Mountain Community Chorus was also a direct result of early Council activity in September, 1974. It is important that every viable Arts Council has a home out of which to operate. Through the efforts of the then county commissioners, the old Clay County Jail building was secured for the purpose of housing both a History and Arts museum. The building has also served as a center for cultural events in the county throughout the years. Several additions to the building such as the Gertrude Price room and Dr. Killian’s office have been added over the years so that what now functions as the Historical and Arts Council Museum truly represents early life in the Carolina mountains.

10/30/2026

When the Kudzu was cleared from the bank by our awesome volunteers, this charming grove of Sourwood saplings was revealed in its Autumn splendor! Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboretum) often grows to 50 feet tall with an open spreading crown. It blooms in early to mid-summer with drooping sprays which resemble lily-of-the-valley flowers which develop fruit which may persist into winter. The flowers provide a preferred source of nectar for honeybees.

10/26/2026

I want to thank all the volunteers who came out to the garden on Saturday to clear Kudzu, Oriental Bittersweet and other invasive from the Clay County Native Botanical Garden. Thanks also to the artist who left a gift of beautiful painted stones for Garden visitors to enjoy.

10/25/2026

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a very common native bunch grass that spreads slowly. Its distinctive tan vertical stems will linger all winter on the roadsides and meadows, but it is rarely used in flower gardens or landscaping. This demonstration plot is in our Clay County Native Botanical Garden. Plant it in a location where the sun shines through it and when it is in flower it glows brilliantly.

10/20/2026

🛍️ Shop Small. Shop Local. Support the Arts! 🎨

Join CCHAC this November at
The Old Jail Museum for our
Shop Small/Shop Local fundraising event!

We’ll be selling items generously donated by the wonderful, talented artists who participated in our 2026 Festival on the Square. It’s a chance to find a special gift, celebrate local creativity, and support CCHAC with your holiday shopping.

We’re grateful to our festival artists for sharing their talents and making this
fundraiser possible. ❤️

📍 The Old Jail Museum
21 Davis Loop Rd
Hayesville, NC 28904

🗓️ November 27 & 28, 2026
10am - 3pm

Bring a friend, browse the donated treasures, and help us turn our artists’ generosity into support for CCHAC!

10/20/2026

🌿 Help Protect Our Hayesville Native Botanical Garden! 🌿

Join the Clay County Historical and Arts Council (CCHAC) and MountainTrue for an Invasive Plant Cleanup Workday!

Spend an afternoon with fellow volunteers helping remove non-native
invasive plants from our garden just below the
Old Jail Museum in Hayesville

🗓️ Saturday, October 24, 2026
⏰ 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Hayesville Native Botanical Garden,
just below the Old Jail Museum
🌧️ Rain date: October 31, 2026

We’ll be pulling roots and using hand tools to remove Chinese privet, bittersweet, and multiflora rose.
There will be large and small tasks available—you don’t need to be able to perform
strenuous physical labor to lend a hand!

🥾 Bring boots for wading in the creek.

✂️ Bring your favorite pruners and/or loppers.

🛠️ MountainTrue will provide some hand tools.

Space is limited to 30 participants, so sign up using the QR code or MountainTrue registration link on the flyer.
Let’s work together to care for this special place in our community! 💚

10/20/2026

🌱 **Introducing “Planting Roots in Clay County”** 🌱

Some roots run generations deep. Others are newly planted. Together, they help our community grow.

CCHAC’s new video series, “Planting Roots in Clay County,” will explore the stories that connect people whose families have called Clay County, NC, home for generations with those who have moved here and made it their home.

Through these conversations, we hope to bridge the gap, build understanding, and celebrate the experiences, traditions, and love for this place that we share.

In our first video, CCHAC’s Co-President introduces the series and the vision behind it. Watch as we begin getting to know our neighbors—and discovering what it means to put down roots in Clay County.

Whether your roots here are old or new, your story is part of our community. 💚

clayhistoryartsnc.org/planting-roots-in-clay-county

Reba Beck

10/19/2026

Coming up this weekend. 1 PM Saturday October 24.

10/06/2026

I love October for cooler temps, beautiful skies and these delicious purple asters. The darker flower is a New England Aster, new to our Clay County Native Garden which is only in one spot. The lighter color Smooth Aster is a long term resident and has seeded out all over the garden.

09/23/2026

Invasive Oriental Bittersweet. Climbs trees and telephone poles, grows in sun or shade, rivals kudzu in invasiveness. On October 24 from 1-4 we will partner with Mountain True to remove invasives from the Native Botanic Garden. Sign up to help out at: https://mountaintrue.org/event/invasive-plant-workday-near-hayesville-nc-in-partnership-with-clay-county-historical-and-arts-council/

Address

21 Davis Loop Rd
Hayesville, NC
28904

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18283896814

Website

http://www.clayhistoryartsnc.org/

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