At the Crossroads of Time

Cashiers in the American Story

NEW PERMANENT EXHIBIT

Step inside the historic Zachary-Tolbert House and discover the people, places, and events that shaped Cashiers Valley over the past two centuries. Through local stories connected to national history, At the Crossroads of Time reveals how a small mountain community became part of the American story.

NEW EXHIBIT OPENING MONDAY, JUNE 22

At the Crossroads of time: Cashiers in the American Story

OPEN: Monday–Saturday | 10:00am–4:00pm
LOCATION: Zachary-Tolbert House at CHS
COST: Free and open to the public

The Cashiers Historical Society is pleased to announce the opening of a new permanent exhibition.

Discover how the story of Cashiers became part of the story of America. Told through the lens of Cashiers Valley, this new exhibition explores more than 250 years of history through the people, events, and turning points that shaped both our community and the nation.

Beginning with Cherokee history and homeland, visitors will journey through frontier settlement, the Civil War, the rise of tourism and resort culture, technological innovation, and the emergence of the modern Cashiers community. Through historic photographs, maps, artifacts, and stories drawn from the Cashiers Historical Society’s collections, the exhibition reveals how national events and movements played out in one small mountain valley — and how the history of Cashiers reflects the larger American experience.

Housed within the 1850s Zachary-Tolbert House, one of Cashiers’ most significant historic structures, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience history where it happened. Built by members of one of the valley’s founding families, the house serves as both setting and storyteller, connecting visitors to the people and events that shaped the community we know today.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

PRESS RELEASE | JUNE 22, 2026 | CASHIERS, NC

Cashiers Historical Society opens new permanent Exhibition, “At the Crossroads of Time: Cashiers in the American Story” —
exploring more than 250 years of local and national history.

The Cashiers Historical Society (CHS) is pleased to announce the opening of its new permanent exhibition, At the Crossroads of Time: Cashiers in the American Story, opening June 22, 2026, in the historic Zachary-Tolbert House on the Cashiers Historical Society campus.

Discover how the story of Cashiers became part of the story of America. Told through the lens of Cashiers Valley, this new exhibition explores more than 250 years of history through the people, events, and turning points that shaped both the local community and the nation. Through historic photographs, maps, artifacts, and stories drawn from the Cashiers Historical Society’s collections, visitors will experience how national events and movements played out in one small mountain valley — and how the history of Cashiers reflects the larger American experience.

Beginning with Cherokee history and homeland, the exhibition traces the arrival of early settlers, the challenges of frontier life, the Civil War, the rise of tourism and resort culture, technological innovation, and the emergence of the modern Cashiers community. More than a timeline of events, the exhibit examines how national debates, economic shifts, and cultural movements influenced the lives of local residents across generations.

“This exhibition allows visitors to see Cashiers not as an isolated mountain community, but as a place deeply connected to the broader story of America,” says Amelia Golcheski, Executive Director of the Cashiers Historical Society. “The people who lived here experienced many of the same challenges, opportunities, and transformations that shaped the nation.”

“One of the things I love most about local history is that it helps us see ourselves in larger stories,” she adds. “While this exhibition is rooted in Cashiers, it reveals connections to events and movements that shaped the entire nation. We hope visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for both the history of this community and its place within the American story.”

The exhibition is housed within the historic Zachary-Tolbert House, one of Cashiers’ most significant surviving historic structures. Built in the 1850s by members of one of the valley’s founding families, the house serves as both setting and storyteller, connecting visitors to the people and events that shaped the community over the past two centuries. As visitors move through the exhibit, they are invited to consider how the story of one place can illuminate the story of a nation.

The Cashiers Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 in Cashiers, North Carolina, dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the Cashiers Valley through stewardship, advocacy, and education. The Cashiers Historical Society campus encompasses four historically significant buildings and five acres of historic grounds.

For more information, contact: info@cashiershistoricalsociety.org