Welcome to the Foxfire Museum. Located in the far northeast corner of Georgia tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, this is a place dedicated to telling the story of the settlers and pioneers that made a life for themselves in the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee.

The beginnings of The Foxfire Museum originate at the nearby Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School – where in 1966 a struggling English teacher needed a way to get his students more engaged. The result of those efforts was a magazine they called “Foxfire”.

In these pages the students told stories gathered from their families and neighbors about the pioneer era of the southern Appalachia as well as traditions still thriving in the region. And it was a hit! Magazines grew into books… and in 1974 Foxfire used proceeds to purchase land… which eventually became home to the Foxfire Museum.

So, you might be asking yourself… what’s foxfire? Well, foxfire is a name given to glowing fungus in the surrounding forests… likely derived from the French, “faux” F-A-U-X, and the eerie light or “fire” that they cast.

And while the museum and its foundational works have very little to do with fungus, it has everything to do with telling the story of a people. Here this family-friendly outdoor village features over 20 historic log buildings, each filled with artifacts representative of life in the mountains from 1820 to 1940.

Before you come, it’s recommended you download the Foxfire Museum App. This allows you to experience audio, video, and visuals from the archive as you explore.

And you can further your exploration with the amazing classes they offer here – like blacksmithing, woodworking, fabric arts, and more. Exploring the past while enjoying a great day at the Foxfire Museum in the present.