Tobacco Farm Life Museum

The mission of the Tobacco Farm Life Museum is to preserve the history and cultural heritage of the eastern North Carolina farm family and to interpret and present this legacy to the public.
The Tobacco Farm Life Museum focuses upon the history of eastern North Carolina agriculture and the impact of tobacco on farm life. Most of these farm families were subsistence farmers until the late 1800’s when flue-cured tobacco became the most profitable, marketable commodity produced. This new tobacco crop immediately became the most labor intensive crop produced, but it also brought new income to the region. Farm homes and furnishings, supplemental buildings, clothing and food, and social activities for the rural families improved. Financial impact was felt in education, religion, health care, and the business world as a result of the introduction of the tobacco crop. The history, culture and lifestyle of these families, and the communities in which they lived, have been shaped by the tobacco farm industry.

Exhibits

The museum offers a variety of both indoor and outdoor exhibits. Outdoor exhibits include a fully functional replica blacksmith shop and packhouse as well as two original homesteads, a smokehouse, tobacco barn and early 20th century schoolhouse. The indoor exhibits range in subject matter to include all aspects of a late 19th century/early 20th century farmer's life. These exhibits include a general store, tobacco auction, country doctor and several wagons, tractors and a fully restored oil wagon.

Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.