Over the next several weeks volunteers with the Blowing Rock Historical Society and the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Board of Trustees will be seeking input from the residents of Blowing Rock on the priorities they would like to see implemented into the planned museum complex.

While BRAHM’s new museum will put the highest priority on fine art, the presentations of prominent artists will be supported and enhanced by memorabilia and materials pertinent to the individual artist, their lifestyle and the period in which they lived.

Part of the new museum will, however, be devoted entirely to the town’s history, its culture and its heritage.

“What we are looking for is input from the residents and most especially descendants of Blowing Rock’s pioneer families, to partner with us in determining how best to tell Blowing Rock’s Story and what particular topic areas are most important,” said Sue Glenn, a volunteer on a committee conducting the study. “Our appeal and mission must be just as meaningful to our residents as to our visitors.”

One process that the Museum History Committee is using to help them develop a plan for sharing Blowing Rock’s story in an educational yet entertaining way is through a survey asking residents to put into priority order the topics most important to them - topics they feel are vital and most important in the history of the village and the years prior to the town receiving its charter.

“We’ll use what we hear from out residents as guidelines for developing an effective and interesting presentation that is meaningful to any person visiting the museum,” Glenn said.

Hundreds of the single-sheet survey are in circulation, asking that volunteer participants put into a priority a list of fourteen topics that will evolve into a program detailing the history of the village from the time of the Cherokee. The committee hopes to included everyone in the project and with that objective the forms are readily available around town, and a copy is even included at the left. This copy, like all others should be completed and returned to any one of the selected locations around town.

“This will be a tremendous help to us as we find the most effective way to share our story,” Glenn said. “We’re proud of our past and want to share it.”