Temporary & Traveling Exhibits

Many of our temporary and traveling exhibits are seasonal and thematic. They rotate frequently, so be sure not to miss them!

Shadows of Incarceration: The Cowee 19 Story

On loan from Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center, this exhibit expands on Mountain Gateway’s “Price of Progress” by telling the story of the Cowee 19—nineteen incarcerated laborers who drowned while constructing the Cowee tunnel on the Murphy Branch of the Western North Carolina Railroad. It explores who these men were, how the early Jim Crow justice system trapped them, and the human cost behind the region’s development. *Closes May 30, 2026

The People of Colonial North Carolina

Part of DNCR’s America 250 NC initiative, this exhibit highlights the diverse communities who lived in North Carolina during the American Revolution. Through maps, rare documents, and illustrations, it reveals how different groups navigated the fight for freedom and survival. *Closes June 27, 2026

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