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Listen as American author, Jan Karon, takes you on a journey—from her childhood in Hudson, North Carolina, to the creation of the beloved Mitford novels and now, The Mitford Museum.

A Museum With A Mission.

When you visit the museum you come home to Mitford, the little town with the big heart. But more than that, you become part of an extended family dedicated to our missional work of advancing the common good through literacy, creativity, and community. Our nonprofit projects and programs include:

Mitford Spring Tea

Our annual tea is a fundraiser for the museum’s nonprofit programs and projects. Past teas have helped support literacy efforts as well as the Mitford Oral History Library.

Summer Reading Program

Each summer we host children from the local community to share a great book. Our goal is to help mitigate summer learning losses while instilling a love of reading.

Candace Freeland Photography of Merit Award

Acclaimed photographer Candace Freeland, Jan
Karon’s daughter, gave the founding gift for this award. Photographers up to age 18 enter cellphone images to be judged by distinguished jurors.

GetLit! Literary Lab

Held in September, GetLit! inspires, encourages, and empowers writers. The event includes workshops, writing competitions, and scholarships for NC students and teachers.

Mitford Oral History Library

Our oral history project partners with StoryCorps to capture and record the stories of our communities. Recordings are archived at the museum and the Library of Congress.

SUPPORT

Support the museum’s mission to advance the common good through literacy, creativity, and community.

SHOP

Shop Happy Endings Bookstore where it’s all Mitford all the time.

WATCH

View an invitation to visit Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum.

North Carolina’s Newest Literary Landmark.

We’re located in the Hudson Arts Center, a former schoolhouse where #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jan Karon, attended grades 1-7.

Discover how a little country girl from the then-cotton mill town of Hudson wrote her first book at age ten—and later wrote twenty-four bestsellers, including 14 beloved Mitford novels.  See a hat and a rabbit that inspired two of Jan’s bestselling books for children. Learn what makes teachers live on in the hearts of students. Open the drawers of Jan’s writing desk to find personal letters, notes, and mementos. Hear her tell us how to write a book (you can do it!).

Exhibits include Cynthia’s wedding outfit, Father Tim’s vestments, Miss Rose’s military medals, and our extensive collection of Hallmark Mitford collectibles.

Best for last. We can’t wait to show you the actual Nativity scene featured in Jan’s beloved novel, Shepherds Abiding. Visitors from all 50 states say it’s worth the trip.

Please visit soon. We promise you’ll love how it feels to be at home in Mitford.

ADMISSION – Adults $10 – Seniors $9 – Students $7 – Children 12 and under free with adult admission – Groups of 10 or more admitted for $7/pp.

Jan Karon, founder of The Mitford Museum, and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 24 books, including 14 Mitford Novels. To learn more about Jan and her writing, you can visit Inventing Mitford: The Papers of Jan Karon online.

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Wed - Sat 10 AM - 4 PM

145 Cedar Valley Road
Hudson, NC 28638

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Bookstore (828) 572-1511

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The Mitford Museum

The Mitford Museum is North Carolina’s newest literary landmark.

Founded by #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jan Karon, the museum's mission is to advance the common good through literacy, creativity, and community. Often called Jan’s ‘book without covers,’ the museum is a place of common ground, where people from varied backgrounds can come together to feel welcomed, cared for, and at home.

(828) 572-1511

Wed - Sat 10 AM - 4 PM

145 Cedar Valley Road
Hudson, NC 28638