Late last night, December 3, 2025, the Museum of the Waxhaws experienced a structure fire involving the Secrest Cabin, one of the historic homestead buildings on our grounds. An electrical arc caused the fire, and the cabin was completely lost. We are grateful to report that no one was injured. The main museum building and all other homestead structures remain intact and unharmed.
We offer our deepest thanks to the Waxhaw Volunteer Fire Department, Mineral Springs Volunteer Fire Department, and the Waxhaw Police Department for their rapid response and dedicated work. Their efforts protected the rest of the site and ensured everyone’s safety.
Though the loss is significant, the Museum is committed to rebuilding. In the coming weeks, we will share updates on next steps and opportunities for the community to support restoration efforts.
Thank you for your continued support of the Museum of the Waxhaws.
Museum Hours: Open on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 to 5 p.m. The last admission is sold at 4 pm to ensure ample time to see our exhibits and historic homestead.
Please contact us at 704-843-1832 or museumofthewaxhaws0@gmail.com with any questions!
2025 Old Waxhaw Christmas!
The Museum of the Waxhaws is excited to announce our 2025 Holiday Event!
Join us for this FREE COMMUNITY EVENT on Saturday, December 13th 2025 from 10am – 4pm!
Enjoy living history, a holiday vendor market, food trucks, and more!
Featured Blogs
Christmas in the Backcountry: Holiday Traditions of the 18th & 19th-Century Waxhaw Region
Christmas in the Waxhaw backcountry was never a single story—it was a tapestry. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the people who lived in the rolling pine forests and red-clay fields of the Waxhaw region brought their own cultures, faiths, and customs to the holiday season.
Listen and Remember: A Historical Play About the Formation of Waxhaw’s Colonial Settlement
From 1965 to 2006, the town of Waxhaw, NC, was home to a beloved outdoor play called Listen and Remember. The play told the story of the formation of the Waxhaws Colonial Settlement by Scots-Irish immigrants, a pivotal moment in the history of the area, and the birthplace of future U.S. President Andrew Jackson. READ MORE
The Strange Tale of Andrew Jackson Sr.’s Final Journey
Andrew Jackson Sr., the father of future U.S. President Andrew Jackson, passed away in February 1767, at his home in what is now Mineral Springs, NC. As a husband and father of two sons with another child on the way, his death was a tragic event for his family and the Waxhaws community where he lived, but the story of his final journey to the Waxhaws Presbyterian church is one of strange and unexpected events. READ MORE
Andrew Jackson, a Majority of One
Judy Simpson Cook, writer, producer, director, and actress, shared her gifts with the Museum of the Waxhaws by writing, directing and producing, Andrew Jackson, a Majority of One on March 26, 2023. Bob Hook, local area actor, performed this one-person play taking place on the last evening of Andrew Jackson’s second term as President. READ MORE
Support Our Cause
The Museum of the Waxhaws and Andrew Jackson Memorial are administered by the Andrew Jackson Historical Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining a repository for the collection of artifacts and other resource materials that focus on the history of the Waxhaw region and Andrew Jackson.
Our fiscal year begins the end of June. You can contribute at any time as an individual, family, or business. We are always seeking sponsors to help fund our Museum. Your contribution allows us to share local history and cultural experiences with people of all ages throughout our region.
Host your next event at the Museum!
We offer unique indoor and outdoor environments for weddings, special parties, corporate functions, meetings, concerts, or any other special event. Learn more.
- Main Museum Special Event Room: This room offers a large flexible room with an enclosed glass porch facing the Museum Grounds and a catering kitchen. Capacity varies with event type.
- Auditorium/Theater: This space seats 91.
Admission:
- Adults (ages 15+): $10.00
- Seniors (65+), Military & Educators: $8.00
- Children (ages 5-14): $5.00
- Children 4 and under: free
Visiting Guidelines:
- The museum grounds are NOT part of the public parks system. Paying admission is required to walk around the grounds unless allowed during special events.
- Professional/commercial photography is prohibited.
- For safety reasons, the museum grounds are closed to the public when the museum is closed, i.e., the grounds are NOT open for walking, hiking, running, etc.
- Pets are prohibited on the grounds.