Exhibit Dates: March 11-December 27, 2025
Hearkening back to the first special exhibit held at the Earl Scruggs Center, Healing Waters tells the extraordinary story of the mineral springs that are the product of Cleveland County’s unique geology and their influential role in the history of tourism in the American South. Following the story of Cleveland Springs Resort, the exhibit details its rise from a simple inn to a destination for the elite of the South by the turn of the 20th century. Alongside Cleveland Springs were the shorter-lived Patterson Springs and McBrayer Springs that also catered to the wealthy of Cleveland County and beyond.
The great mineral spring resorts of yesteryear find a connection to the present and future through the unique minerals that can be found in few places on earth outside of Cleveland County. This includes lithium, a mineral that was praised for its curative powers at the time of Cleveland Springs but is today one of the most crucial resources on the planet. Healing Waters dedicates a portion of the exhibit to showcasing Cleveland County’s role in the future of technology through the innovations of the Albemarle Corporation, one of the leading producers of lithium worldwide, with mining and processing operations in Kings Mountain, NC.
