Hours – Open Year Round 

The John C. Campbell Folk School now offers a free, self-guided walking tour designed to bring our 100 years of history to life across campus. This immersive experience highlights the school’s roots, Appalachian craft traditions, and the enduring influence of Cherokee culture through interpretive signs and interactive QR codes placed at key historic landmarks.

Developed in collaboration with members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the tour invites visitors to move at their own pace, discovering stories that are woven into the land, the buildings, and the people who shaped Brasstown and the Folk School community.

Along the way, guests can explore places like the Log Cabin Museum, a restored 19th-century structure relocated to campus in 1926. Other stops feature beloved studio buildings, gathering spaces, and early dormitories, including Mill House, Keith House, and additional historic structures that tell the story of how the Folk School grew from a small educational experiment to a nationally recognized center for craft, music, and community.

Open year-round, the walking tour begins at the Historic Keith House, where visitors can pick up a map and start their journey. Whether you’re a longtime friend of the Folk School or a first-time guest, the tour offers a deeper understanding of our cultural legacy and the many hands and voices that continue to shape it today.

The John C. Campbell Folk School Walking Tour is supported in part by North Carolina Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Hours – Open During Daylight Hours Year-Round

Nestled along the Folk School’s scenic walking paths, the Log Cabin Museum stands as one of our most beloved historic treasures – a tangible link to the early mountain communities whose traditions helped shape Brasstown and the Folk School.

Originally built as two separate structures during the 1850s and 1890s, the cabins were relocated to campus in 1926, just one year after the Folk School was founded. The arrival of the buildings marked one of the school’s earliest efforts to preserve regional heritage, offering students and visitors an authentic glimpse into Appalachian home life, craftsmanship, and daily living in the 19th century.

Today, the Log Cabin Museum has been thoughtfully restored to honor that legacy. Inside, visitors will find exhibits that highlight traditional mountain crafts, regional history, and artifacts that reflect the resilience, ingenuity, and artistry of Appalachian families. The museum also shares stories directly connected to the Folk School’s early years and the people who helped establish the campus community.

The restoration and preservation of the museum were made possible through support from the Cherokee County TDA and the Fred A. Moss Charity Trust Fund via the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina ensuring this historic space can continue to serve future generations.

As part of the Folk School’s self-guided walking tour, the Log Cabin Museum experience is enhanced with outdoor interpretive signage and interactive QR codes, allowing visitors to dive deeper into the building’s history and the traditions it represents. Open during daylight hours year-round, the museum invites guests to step inside, slow down, and consider what home means to those who came before and those who live and work in Appalachia today.