Come Visit
We invite you to step back in time with us
ESTABLISHED IN 1996
Cashiers Historical Society’s mission is to preserve the history and heritage of the Cashiers Valley through stewardship, advocacy, and education.
Operational Hours
CHS Buildings are open Friday & Saturday, 11:00am – 3:00pm, Mid-May through Mid-October or by appointment.
Cashiers Historical Society’s campus encompasses five+ acres and four historic buildings that tell the history of Cashiers from the 19th century to the present. Our campus includes Colonel John’s Cabin, the oldest standing residential structure in Jackson County, the the Zachary-Tolbert House (1850), a National Register of Historic Places designated site, the Hampton Schoolhouse, and the Dependency, a structure moved from a 20th-century logging camp in Whiteside Cove.
Campus Hours
CHS Trails and Grounds are open year-round from dawn to dusk. Campus and trail maps are available at the Dowden Pavilion.
CHS grounds are open to visitors throughout the year. Our property features wooded walking trails that lead to points of interest, including the Tolbert and Zachary Springs, the Tolbert Rock, and an early privy. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed, please.
Over recent years, ongoing archeological activity has uncovered pottery, square head nails, and Civil War-era coins. Experts and volunteers are seeking clues to determine the exact locations of long-gone outbuildings.
The adjacent Dowden Pavilion houses the offices and facilities of the Cashiers Historical Society. With a modern catering kitchen and spacious, open breezeway, the pavilion is a popular choice for community and private events throughout the year.
Explore our Buildings
Click the names below to get a peak inside our four historic buildings and step into history.
Cashiers Historical Society’s campus encompasses five+ acres and four historic buildings that tell the history of Cashiers from the 19th century to the present. Our campus includes Colonel John’s Cabin, the oldest standing residential structure in Jackson County, the the Zachary-Tolbert House (1850), a National Register of Historic Places designated site, the Hampton Schoolhouse, and the Dependency, a structure moved from a 20th-century logging camp in Whiteside Cove.
Self-Guided Tours
Click the link below for a digital resource as you explore the campus at your own pace on a self-guided tour.
Follow along on your phone to learn about the unique story of the Cashiers Valley and the people who bring its history to life.
Guided Tours
Campus Tours will take place every hour, on the hour, 11:00am – 2:00pm on Fridays & Saturdays or by appointment.
To schedule a tour call 828.743.7710 or fill out the form below to send an email to info@cashiershistoricalsociety.org — we’ll be back in touch soon!
CHS Exclusive Exhibits
Click the links below to see our current museums:
Campfires & the Embers of Youth: The History of Summer Camps in Western North Carolina
“Let No One Be a Stranger Here”: High Hampton Inn and the Making of Modern Cashiers