OPENING MAY 17

Jessie Falls, Sarah Pennington, Lydia Jones and Heather Andrews tour the Cherokee County History and Arts museum Thursday. The high school students participated in a Leadership Cherokee program sponsored by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. The Cherokee County History and Arts Museum will open its doors to the public on May 17.

The museum will open on the same day as the sixth annual Potters on Gaffney's Old Field fundraiser on the site of the historic mustering grounds for the S.C. Militia at 301 College Drive. The museum and pottery show will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Pottery pieces donated by artists helped the Cherokee Historical and Arts Preservation (CHAPS) in their effort to make the museum opening a reality, executive director Jane Waters said. The museum has been in the planning stages since 2000 when CHAPS purchased the old Central Elementary building from the school district.

A pottery auction at the Potters on Gaffney show will continue to provide funds CHAPS will use to support the museum's operation, Waters said.

"The potters have been so faithful to CHAPS over the years that we wanted to make sure they were included in the opening of the museum," Waters said.

The museum traces the county's history from Native American history to the opening of a Gaffney tavern by city founder Michael Gaffney. Exhibits will allow visitors to track how Cherokee County has developed its school system, healthcare, textiles, business, agriculture and explore other changes in the county over the past 110 years.

"You will be pleasantly surprised at all the exhibits that will be on display in our new museum. I am proud of the progress we have made here at CHAPS," CHAPS President Ed Patterson said. "I want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers for their tireless efforts in bringing this project to fruition. The museum is truly an asset to the City of Gaffney and all of Cherokee County."

Exhibits provide information about the county's social and entertainment life from horse and car racing roots to the local peach industry. There are posters of movies shot in Cherokee County such as "The Abyss" and "Lost in America."

Admission will be $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12 and CHAPS members.

Pottery Show admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children.

. The museum traces the county's history from Native American history to the opening of a Gaffney tavern by city founder Michael Gaffney.

. Exhibits will allow visitors to track how Cherokee County has developed its school system, healthcare, textiles, business, agriculture and explore other changes in the county over the past 110 years.

. Museum admission will be at a reduced grand opening rate of $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12 and CHAPS members.