EXHIBIT DATES: April 10 - December 31, 2026
Before Cleveland County had a name, it was home to the yeh is-WAH h’reh—“People of the River”—known today as the Catawba Nation. This section of Voices of the Frontier invites visitors to explore the deep roots of this land, beginning with the Catawba Creation Story, a living tradition passed down through generations that reflects the central role of women, family, and the natural world in shaping Catawba identity.
Waterways like the Catawba and Broad Rivers served as lifelines, guiding movement, trade, and settlement. Through maps, artifacts, and oral traditions, visitors will discover how the Catawba people built thriving communities, cultivated the land, and established trade networks that would later shape the paths of incoming settlers.
As the exhibit unfolds, it traces the arrival of European immigrants—English, German, and Scots-Irish families—who followed these same routes into the North Carolina backcountry in the 18th century. Their stories of opportunity and survival are intertwined with those of Native peoples and enslaved Africans, revealing a complex and often difficult history of migration, conflict, and community-building.
From early homesteads and handmade tools to faith traditions and frontier economies, this exhibit offers a layered look at daily life on the edge of revolution. Visitors will encounter powerful stories of resilience—from the self-reliance of settlers to the enduring cultural traditions of the Catawba people and the lived experiences of enslaved individuals who helped build the region under forced labor.
Voices of the Frontier ultimately reveals a region in transition—where cultures met, clashed, and coexisted—and sets the stage for the revolutionary spirit that would soon reshape Cleveland County and the nation.