Catawba County Museum of History, Newton

About Catawba County Museum of History

Catawba County Museum of History in Newton preserves artifacts and stories of the region, including a newly digitized interactive view of a rare British officer's Red Coat from the American Revolution that visitors can rotate and examine from every angle online. The museum operates as part of a four-site historical association founded in 1944, stewarding thousands of artifacts and an extensive archive documenting Catawba County's role in the Western Piedmont's development. Visitors explore the museum during weekday hours; admission is free. The association also maintains Murray's Mill Historic District, a working roller mill established in 1873 with its original 28-foot waterwheel, where guided and self-guided tours are available, and military members and veterans receive free admission. The Harper House in Hickory, a Queen Anne-style residence, and the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, one of only two surviving wooden covered bridges in North Carolina, round out the four historic places. Current hours and admission prices are published on catawbahistory.org.