It is rare to find a wonderful museum nestled away in a small mountain village. It’s even more rare to find one of the quality and depth of the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia. It’s a gem, and we are lucky to have it so close to Lucille’s. (See, one more reason to come visit!)
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| Photo courtesy of the Folk Pottery Museum |
The Museum is part of the Sautee Nacoochee Center, which in addition to pottery, has a wealth of information on Cherokee heritage, as well as local history of gold strikes, railroads and timber. But the Folk Pottery Museum is definitely the star of the Center, one of just a few museums in the world to focus on folk pottery.
Early on, pottery was considered utilitarian and what was made was used for preserving and storing foods. Most was made by families such as such as Meaders, Hewell, Dorsey and Fergusen, local families that were especially noteworthy for their work. With the introduction of refrigeration and new types of products utilitarian pottery was less in demand by the mid-1900’s. To survive, several companies began creating pottery as a decorative art form.
Plan to spend a good amount of time at the Museum—there’s just so much to see!
In the living history area, visitors can learn the process start to finish: how the clay is dug, shaped on a treadle wheel, the intensive firing methods, and finishing with a locally-made glaze. Through interactive exhibits you can trace the 200-year history of pottery in the region, and see how the tradition has carried on through today. There are excellent examples of pottery, and special exhibits throughout the year that feature area artists.
For those who would like to get out and meet some of these artists, there is an established Folk Potters Trail featuring 15 potters in northeast Georgia. You can download a map at the Museum’s website.
Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia
Sautee Nacoochee (4 miles southeast of Alpine Helen, Georgia Highway 255)
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
$5, adults; $4, seniors; $2, children
706-878-3300
If the directions sound tricky, not to worry. Come stay with us at Lucille’s—we’ll always make sure you get to your destinations just fine!