Our Mission and Vision
Mission
Connecting Community, History & Life.
Vision:
The Transylvania Heritage Museum is a primary advocate for history in Transylvania County. Its facility has become a master of mixing the old and the new and is a reflection of days gone. It attracts a steady stream of visitors and local residents alike because of its design and attractiveness, its authenticity and its creative and innovative exhibits. The doors open to displays where children and adults can engage and interact and where you are taken back in time and learning comes alive. It is a place that excites and educates all who come.
Heritage is about who we are and where we come from. It is about who carved out communities in untamed lands, built our county, our homes, our businesses, and our cities. It is about those who lived in our communities, farmed our lands, and are buried in the cemetery of the church where we worship. It isn't just about “History”, with events and names and dates—heritage is personal and full of people with personalities and stories and wisdom that deserve to be shared in as many ways as possible.
Heritage isn't dead—it is a living thing that changes and grows with each person and each generation that comes onto the scene. It connects us with those who went before us and those who come after us. It connects each one of us in this special place, at this particular time. Heritage is a gift and a responsibility. To preserve this gift, we must be passionate about it, dedicated to pursue it, and committed to sharing it with others.
It is through the support of the community that the Transylvania Heritage Museum will grow, thrive and continue to connect community, history and life.
Our Vision for the Future revised April 2012
The Transylvania Heritage Museum is a primary advocate for history in Transylvania County. Its facility has become a master of mixing the old and the new and is a reflection of days gone by in a modern and up-to-date setting. It attracts a steady stream of visitors and local residents alike because of its design and attractiveness, its authenticity and its creative and innovative exhibits. The doors open to displays that are making the most of modern technology, where kids and adults can engage and interact and where you are taken back in time and learning comes alive. It is a place that excites and educates all who come.
As a Board we set appropriate priorities, make use of our talents and abilities and serve where we are needed. Each person – Board member, volunteer, resident and visitor – belongs and each has a strong connection to the Museum and its mission. The Museum is sustained by continued progress and success. The volunteer and membership rolls continue to grow and we all work together to accomplish goals. Each person and each part of Transylvania County makes a difference and impacts the balance and harmony of our community. A new sense of coexistence thrives among diverse peoples and cultures, and because our opportunities and challenges are intertwined with everyone in the community, we work together with respect and mutual support. Ethnic diversity is celebrated and local history is preserved, serving as a foundation upon which to build the future.
Alternative forms of education are provided for those with special needs. Spanish is incorporated into exhibits, visually, audibly or both. A performance area offers opportunities for the community to come together and to enjoy and learn through music, storytelling, movies and historical presentations. Our citizens value celebrating and preserving history and are involved in supporting the Museum financially, voluntarily and through the donation or loan of artifacts, documents and photos.
Educational programming has expanded beyond the bounds of the Museum and occurs throughout the county in a variety of ways. History Clubs in local high schools provide opportunities for young residents to participate in heritage preservation projects within their communities. A traveling museum delivers programming to churches, schools and community centers, upon request, making history a "hands on" experience. Satellite Museum locations have been established so that people can research families and experience our heritage in more convenient locations.
The Museum is making all of this happen through a dedicated and talented staff that meets the needs of the organization and plans for the future. An endowment, effective committees, an outstanding Board of Directors and dedicated volunteers ensure that we will make our vision a reality. Our partnerships are strong, our reputation is exceptional and our position and influence in the community is secure.
