Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Hendersonville (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Mineral & Lapidary Museum, Mary Mills Coxe House, and Main Street Historic District. Also, be sure to include Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Hendersonville (North Carolina).
Table of Contents
Mineral & Lapidary Museum
Museum in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County is a non-profit, volunteer-run museum in Hendersonville, North Carolina founded in 1997 at 400 North Main Street in the middle of the city's Historic District.
Located in Western North Carolina in the geologically rich Blue Ridge Mountains, the decade-old museum has been nicknamed The Geode-Cracking Museum. On a typical day, geodes are cracked in half by volunteer staff.
The Ultimate Guide to Asheville & The Western North Carolina Mountains explains that "The purpose of the museum is to support the education of the children of Henderson and neighboring counties in the Earth Science areas of Mineralogy, Geology, Paleontology and the associated Lapidary Arts. The museum has ongoing exhibits of regional minerals and gemstones of interest to the general public and a workshop where gem-cutting and polishing demonstrations are held."
The guidebook further elaborates that "This museum is run by the Henderson County Gem and Mineral Society, a valuable source of information for those people interested in rock hounding in the mountains." Prof. Ralph W. Bastedo, an HCGMS member and lecturer, notes that "Furthermore, the museum itself is a valuable learning tool in the Appalachian Mountains for adults seeking introductory and stimulating information about our planet earth generally."[1]
Address: 400 N Main St, 28792-4901 Hendersonville
Mary Mills Coxe House
Mary Mills Coxe House is a historic home located near Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina. Built about 1911, the house is a 2+1⁄2-story, Colonial Revival style frame dwelling with a pebbledash finish. It has a two-level side-gabled roof, a pedimented front dormer, and a rear gable ell. It features a one-story hip-roofed wraparound porch and porte-cochère. Also on the property is a non-contributing art studio building associated with the Flat Rock School of Art. In 1993 and 1994, the house was renovated for use as offices.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.[2]
Main Street Historic District
Main Street Historic District is a national historic district located at Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina. The district encompasses 65 contributing buildings in the central business district of Hendersonville. The commercial and governmental buildings include notable examples of Classical Revival architecture. Located in the district is the separately listed Henderson County Courthouse. Other notable buildings include the Huggins Building, Cole Bank Building, Justus Pharmacy, Davis Store block, The Federal Building, Maxwell Store Building, Pace's Market, J. C. Penney Building, and Lampley Motors.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, with a boundary increase in 2006.[3]
Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium
Park, Aquarium, Zoo
Address: 511 N Main St, 28792-5075 Hendersonville
Henderson County Courthouse
The Henderson County Courthouse, also known as the Historic Henderson County Courthouse and the Old Henderson County Courthouse, is a historic 3-story brick gold-domed Classical Revival style courthouse building located at One Historic Courthouse Square, corner of 1st and Main streets in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
It is Henderson County's second courthouse and is adjacent to site of the 1840s courthouse which was razed upon its completion. Famed architect Frank Pierce Milburn was asked in 1903 to design the new courthouse, but the county commissioners rejected his design and instead hired Englishman Richard Sharp Smith, who was the resident architect of the Biltmore Estate after the death of Richard Morris Hunt in 1895. Construction by local builder W. F. Edwards began in 1904 and was completed in July, 1905.
The old courthouse was closed for renovations after the completion of a new courthouse at 200 North Grove Street in 1995. The restored 1905 courthouse currently houses the Henderson County Heritage Museum and some government offices.
On May 10, 1979, the Historic Henderson County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is located in the Main Street Historic District.[4]
Address: 1 Historic Courthouse Sq Ste 4, 28792-5044 Hendersonville
Western North Carolina Air Museum
Museum, Specialty museum
Address: 1340 E Gilbert St, 28792-5804 Hendersonville
All Nations Trading
Museum, Gift shop, Shopping
Address: 514 N Main St, 28792-5070 Hendersonville
Hendersonville Presbyterian Church
Church
Address: 699 N Grove St, Hendersonville
King-Waldrop House
King-Waldrop House, also known as Maple Grove, is a historic home located at Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina. It was built about 1881, and is a two-story, frame dwelling with Italianate and Queen Anne style design elements. It has a one-story rear section and a one-story wing. It features a square three-stage cupola with a concave pyramidal roof and second floor wraparound porch.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
The King-Waldrop house is currently owned by the Waldrop Family.[5]
Grey Hosiery Mill
Historical place in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Grey Hosiery Mill, also known as Water Department-City of Hendersonville and Hold Hosiery, is a historic textile mill located at Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina. It was built in 1915, with additions in 1919 and 1947. It is a one-story, brick building with large multi-pane steel sash windows and stepped gable roof with clerestory. The mill closed in 1967.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[6]
Reese House
Reese House is a historic home located at Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina. It was built about 1885, and is a two-story, "T"-shaped Queen Anne style frame dwelling. It is sheathed in weatherboard and has a one-story rear ell. It features a single projecting bay and an ornate wraparound porch.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.[7]