Welcome to the Banner House Museum!

Experience 19th century life in Banner Elk and the High Country in the home of Samuel Henry Banner, one of Banner Elk’s early settlers and his his wife, Jane Hyder Banner, and their seven children.  The circa 1870 house has been furnished with period heirlooms donated and loaned by area residents to tell the story of Banner Elk life from the 1870’s to the 1900’s. Additionally, an Exhibition Room highlights local history from the nineteenth and twentieth century.

Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation 2021 Plan    updated March 2021

Due to safety concerns for the public and our volunteers and supporters, as well as in observance of state and local COVID-19 mandates, GBEHF will follow the reopening plan below for the 2021 season (please check back for updated plans as circumstances change):
The Banner House Museum will open for guided outdoor walking tours or docented “Porch Talks” (generalized overview of Banner Elk history given by a docent on our covered front porch for those unable to navigate a walking tour or should weather negate a walking tour).  This re-opening will occur two calendar months month after COVID-19 vaccines are made available to the entire adult population of Avery County.  Walking Tours and/or Porch Talks will be available by appointment only at 1:00 Wednesday through Saturday for a maximum of 10 people.  $10 per person for a Walking Tour.  $5 per person for a Porch Talk.  Masks required for guests while interacting with volunteers, even while on the tour.  Indoor access will not be available for guests as this fragile nature of our historic objects does not allow for full adherence to CDC cleaning protocols.
GBEHF has made the difficult decision to cancel all group events such as the Heritage Luncheon and the Bus Tour for the 2021 season.  We look forward to bringing them back in 2022.