High Point
Museum and Historical Park
The High Point museum was started in 1964 in the
Little Red schoolhouse that was located on Ray Street in High
Point, North Carolina, but in 1966 a group would form the High
Point Historical Society, to purchase the Haley House and
property only to turn around and deed it over to the city. Two
years later, it would buy the adjacent property and deed it to
the city also, and thus form a unique partnership that is still
working for them today. In 1969, the society had enough funds to
construct a museum of its own, next to the Haley House, which
was completed in 1970, and a blacksmith shop constructed in
1841, was then moved there as well and renovated to become a
living history exhibit building, and the next year, they opened
their doors to the public. In 1973, the Hoggatt House would be
moved to the property and begin a practice of accepting
donations, cataloging them and showcasing them in the museum's
exhibits. By 1994, the museum was running out of space, so a
capital campaign started the next year, that caused the museum
to close for restorations that started in 1998 and finished in
2000, reopening in May, 2001. Permanent exhibits include; A
Scrapbook of History, High Point's History, Jamestown Rifles and
the Hall of Commerce. Along with these outstanding displays, the
museum operates the historical properties located in its
historical park that includes; the Haley House that was
constructed in 1786, with brick, and is the oldest structure in
the city. The blacksmith shop looks like it would have in the
days of John Haley as he practiced his trade of blacksmithing,
and the Hoggatt House that had been constructed in 1801 and made
from logs. Also located on the grounds is a lovely herb garden
with many common herbs growing here for show purposes and for
use. There are costumed docents that provide guided tours on the
weekends in the historical park.
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