You’re visiting Montreat this summer and you’re looking for a place to cool off from the summer heat and spend an hour or two relaxing… Well visit the Presbyterian Heritage Center! Not only are we equipped with air conditioning, we are also stock-full of facts and history to peak your curious mind. Here are five things you can do at the PHC this summer during your Montreat stay:
1. Visit Our Many Exhibits
We have several exhibits on display this summer including Biblical Archaeology, Gospels in Appalachia Wood Carvings, and our two largest exhibits “Trains, Timbers, & Tourists” for the Mt. Mitchell Railroad and “Fantasy & Fiction” for C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s the Inklings.
- At the “Trains, Timbers, & Tourists: The Story of the Mt. Mitchell Railroad” exhibit you will explore the history of the passenger and logging trains from Black Mountain to Mt. Mitchell. The exhibit is complete with it’s very own running, model train!
- At the “Fantasy & Fiction” exhibit you will walk through the infamous wardrobe door from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and be immersed into the world and history of C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia, of J.R.R. Tolkien and The Hobbit and The Lord of Rings, and of Dorothy L. Sayers and the Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries.
2. Celebrate 125 Years of the Founding of Montreat with Pop-Up Exhibits around Montreat
Can you believe Montreat Conference Center has been operating in Montreat for 125 years? There are many ways to celebrate this anniversary-year for Montreat.
- Come to the Montreat Fourth of July Parade on Monday, July 4. The PHC will be installing mini exhibits around Montreat to celebrate 125 years of Montreat Conference Center. Be sure to check out the exhibit in the post office, at Anderson Auditorium and at the PHC!
- Stay tuned for more information on the 125th Anniversary commemorative photo book. The PHC is putting together a collection of photos from its archives – most never published before – covering the last 125 years in Montreat to create a special edition, anniversary photo book. More information to come on the sale of these books in the next few months.
3. Attend the Montreat Adult Summer Sessions & Our Ice Cream Social
- On July 13, at 2:30 PM in Upper Anderson Auditorium in Montreat, come listen to our very own Ron Vinson and Nancy Midget give a presentation on the history of Montreat. They will share facts, photos, and the history of Montreat, since its beginning in 1897, and will test you on your Montreat knowledge with trivia!
- On July 23, the PHC is hosting an ice cream social! Come visit us to see the latest exhibits and enjoy an ice cream and fellowship while you’re there.
4. Take A Walk Around Montreat With the Historical Home Tour
A committee of the PHC is hosting a Montreat Historical Home Tour on August 13th and 14th. During this tour you will see eight historical homes in Montreat, including Billy Graham’s office. The cost of the tour is $15/person. More information to come, so save-the-dates for this historical home tour!
5. Plan Your Next Conference Visits
The PHC is putting together two large conferences that you won’t want to miss.
From Shakespeare to the Inklings: The Bible’s Impact on Creative Imagination
September 7-9, 2022
- This unique Inklings (C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, etc.) conference highlights the Bible’s impact on Western Civilization, affecting authors, musicians and artists from the 15th century through today. It will change your world view – from the medieval society lit only by fire to the incandescent musings and works of the Oxford-based Inklings of the 20th century. Learn more and register now at montreat.org/events/ inklings.
We are nearing capacity in our meeting facilities. The last discount registration fee is $260 per person by July 5th. Beginning July 6th and space available, the registration fee will be $300 per person. Call 828-419-9829 for registration and housing.
National Missionary Summit
March 16-17, 2023
Missionary leaders and organizations will gather in Montreat, NC on March 16-17, 2023, to discuss the future of mission efforts in a pandemic and post-pandemic world. Plus, this conference looks at how to successfully conduct missionary efforts through your local church.
A global pandemic and changing attitudes toward mission need to be explored in-depth. This event will inspire church groups to gain a deeper knowledge of mission history, while participating with the leaders and fellow missionaries in various discussions about the shape and plan of future of missions.
We will also honor current and past missionaries and their families for their service at a banquet dinner.
Summit Registration will open July 15. Registrations will be limited, so act soon! Call 828-419-9829 for registration and housing.
Who should attend:
- Missionary leaders from denominational and non-denominational organizations
- Mission historians
- Past and current missionaries
- Missionary family members
- Church pastors and local church mission committee members
- and more!
Art, Facts, and Artifacts 