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Matthews, North Carolina
Matthews Heritage Museum
“Where Children Experience… and Adults Remember”
The Matthews Heritage Museum is owned and operated by the Matthews Historical Foundation with support from the Town of Matthews.
Our award-winning museum celebrates over a decade of preserving and showcasing local history of the Town of Matthews. We remain dedicated to educating and inspiring visitors—young and old—for generations to come.
Hours & Admission
The Matthews Heritage Museum is open Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Admission is completely FREE! Enjoy exploring our captivating exhibits and artifacts at no cost, making it easy for everyone to discover the rich history of Matthews.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Museum for a memorable visit!
Tours
The Matthews Heritage Museum welcomes groups of all kinds for engaging tours that bring our town’s history to life.
All group tours must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. This helps us provide the best experience possible for your group.
Please contact us to arrange a tour that best suits your group’s needs.
Foundations Newsletter
Stay connected with us through Foundations, the quarterly newsletter from the Matthews Historical Foundation and the Matthews Heritage Museum. Pick up a free copy at the Museum or various locations around town. Prefer digital? Access issues online through the links below.
Read the most recent issue of Foundations
Newsletter archive
Make a Donation
Love your time at the Museum? Support us by making a donation to the Foundation. Scan the QR code or click here.
Thank you for your generosity and support!
Volunteer Opportunities
The Matthews Heritage Museum is always looking for individuals to serve as docents or tour guides. Do you love history? Enjoy meeting new people? Join our team of volunteers and help bring Matthews’ past to life as a Museum Docent! Just one 3-hour shift a month makes a big difference.
Roseland Cemetery
Roseland Cemetery off Monroe Road was the burial place for former slaves and freed African Americans from Matthews and beyond. It was originally known as Roseville Cemetery and was the primary burial ground for members of the Roseville AME Zion Church, located on Ames Street in Matthews.
Roseland Cemetery recently underwent preservation efforts. As a means of supplementing this work, the Matthews Heritage Museum would like to hear from those whose relatives are buried there.
If you have relatives buried in Roseland Cemetary, we would like to hear from you to add their names to our list. We would like to know the person’s full name, their birth and death dates, your name, your relationship to that person, and a phone number in case we have questions.
Please send information to us at info@matthewsheritagemuseum.org. You may also call 704-708-4996. Please help us document this important information.
Little Free Library
The Matthews Heritage Museum has a Little Free Library (Charter #25690) in front of the Museum. Like other Little Free Libraries, it’s a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange, where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in Hudson, Wisconsin. In the beginning (2009), Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it. He built several more and gave them away. Each one had a sign that said FREE BOOKS. The Museum hopes to feature books based on history, though we will allow any book to be placed there.
Our Little Free Library was built by Jason Surface, son of one of our volunteers. It is a miniature version of the 1879 Massey-Clark House, home of the Matthews Heritage Museum.
What Visitors Are Saying
“The perfect introduction to the town of Matthews!“
The museum docents are super passionate and knowledgeable about their community, and the exhibits help tell the story of the town. Oh, and best of all, this museum is free!
Alyssa N.
“Fantastic place”
The exhibits were interesting and the layout was great! Learned a lot about Matthews during the visit. A must go for anyone in the area!
Hugh N.
“Free! Saw it on Google and wanted to visit.”
Free! Donations appreciated. Saw it on Google and wanted to visit. Very friendly docent and staff, happy to answer questions. Enjoyed roaming around and looking at exhibits!
A. Campbell
Museum Shop
Matthews Memories
Matthews Memories, A Collection of Remembrances and Recipes from a Small Southern Town features heartwarming stories, cherished recipes, and photos from both early and contemporary Matthews kitchens. It celebrates the culinary traditions and the cooks who shaped them, featuring local southern dishes like Creasy Greens and nostalgic glimpses into Matthews’ past. Available for $22.00.
Matthews Remembered
The Matthews Remembered DVD (©2013) showcases wonderful stories and fond memories of Matthews during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, as told by longtime residents. This DVD also includes a 10-minute segment on Outen Pottery. Available for $15.00.
Commemorative Bricks
Purchasing an inscribed brick is a permanent way to honor or remember a loved one, celebrate an important date, recognize an organization, or contribute to the Matthews Historical Foundation. All donations are tax deductible. Personalized bricks are displayed in a walkway at the Matthews Heritage Museum entrance. Print brick order form here.
Matthews Heritage Museum 