The Upcountry History Museum will continue its mission of connecting young audiences with hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning experiences when it hosts Framed: Step Into Art.
The bilingual (English and Spanish), exhibition transforms the works of well-known painters into interactive environments. Children ages 3-12, enter the exhibit by stepping though an oversized frame and are immersed in the worlds created by well-known artists. Each work is re-created as a three-dimensional, sensory, walk-in environment that includes a print of the artist’s original work as well as important facts about the artist’s life and painting style.
Supporting the National Standards for Arts Education for K through 5th grade, the exhibit provides conversational prompts that employ visual thinking strategies. Children explore the works of four specific artists, as well as enter a Mona Lisa Gallery where they discover a print of the original painting along with famous parodies, and step behind a a cutout version replacing Mona Lisa’s face with their own.

The exhibition’s four interactive spaces include:
• Dinner for Threshers by Grant Wood explores rural life at the turn of the century inviting children to tend to the chickens and eggs, prepare a seasonal meal, set the table, and mix and match the farmers patterned shirts.
• Camp at Lake O’Hara by John Singer Sargent invites visitors to Sargent’s 1916 camp in the Canadian Rockies. Children climb inside a tent, explore camping gear like Sargent’s, prepare a meal over the campfire, and create a painting of what today’s campsite might look like.
• Corn Festival by Diego Rivera visitors travel to Mexico through this piece from the Court of Fiestas in the Ministry of Education Building in Mexico City. Children explore a rendition of one of Rivera’s frescos, add flowers and ribbons to the flower tower for a celebration and add their flourish to a miniature building mural.
• Big Chicken by Clementine O’Hara visitors meet Louisiana’s most famous female artist and folk-art icon and create imaginary animals like Hunter’s “goosters”! Children load the cart and climb behind the reins of Hunter’s giant rooster to take the load into town.

In addition to climbing inside works of art, children are invited to curate their own exhibit gallery, draw self-portraits, take part in an art/history hunt through the exhibit and create different images at a three-dimensional pattern puzzle.

Greenville nature photographer, Anthony Q. Martin, has agreed for Fountain Inn Museum to display his photography.   His photos are absolutely remarkable. 

On exhibit Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 4 p.m., Rocky Cove Railroad is a G-Scale (garden scale) model train that demonstrates the coming of trains to western North Carolina at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibit is located below the Grand Promenade. Please note, Rocky Cove Railroad will not operate in rainy or wet conditions.

CHILDREN’S FOUNTAIN

Located at RiverPlace, this railroad-themed splash fountain is a popular spot to cool off in the summer months. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, from April 1 to October 31.

River’s End Restaurant is an iconic spot for locals and visitors to Bryson City. Enjoy spectacular views of the gorge, with paddlers passing through as they complete their Nantahala River Rafting trip. Stop in for year-round lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch during the summer season, and choose from a wide range of appetizing entrees, burgers, salads, pizza, and sandwiches. Hang out for a while and enjoy a large selection of signature cocktails, wine, and beer, including local favorites.

In River’s End Restaurant, every seat has a view of the river! Enjoy music by the river and views of paddlers passing through as they complete their Nantahala River Rafting trip. Join our waitlist online to reserve a table or order online and grab your meal to go, for a sunny lunch right by the river!

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Included with admission

A unique-to-Biltmore, large-scale outdoor sculpture will be crafted and installed in Antler Hill Village this spring by Patrick Dougherty. Over the last three decades, this internationally-acclaimed artist has combined his carpentry skills and love of nature to build over 300 of these wondrous works, captivating the hearts and imaginations of viewers worldwide.

Image: Close Ties (2006) Scottish Basketmakers Circle, Dingwall, Scotland. Photo: Fin Macrae
NOTE: This is an example of Patrick Dougherty’s work; the artist will create Biltmore’s unique structure in Antler Hill Village this spring.

New for 2021 – The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad introduces The Bunny Hopper Express Easter Train April 2 & 3! This 4 and half-hour round trip special event train departs the historic Bryson City Depot at 10:30am, and will travel along the Nantahala Gorge River to our picturesque layover destination, for Easter themed activities and Egg Hunt.

• Passengers will be on the lookout for those train hopping bunnies who have snuck on to take a free ride! Festivities include an Easter egg hunt with prizes, a give away bag with activities to enjoy during the train ride, and a yummy Easter treat for our junior railroaders to enjoy at the layover. There will also be plenty of opportunities for pictures with our bunny hoppers, so do not forget your camera! BOOKING IS AVAILABLE!