Day Trips & Beyond: Andy Griffith Museum, Mount Airy, N.C.

Mount Airy, in the hills of central North Carolina is Mayberry, U.S.A. As Andy Griffith’s hometown, the scenic little village served as the inspiration for the popular television show (1960-68).

The museum, dedicated to the award-winning Griffith, does a good job of remembering the actor and singer – it’s more fun than serious. About as big as a good sized living room, the museum packs a punch above its weight. One entire wall is a very cool pictorial and informative history of the native son from his days in high school drama productions to his appearances on stage at the University of North Carolina (1946), and his many triumphant returns to his hometown. It’s like browsing through a family photo album.

America’s favorite sheriff received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2005, seven years before he died in 2012, at age 86. A cartoon on the wall shows Griffith getting to Heaven’s Pearly Gates and God says: “Of course it’s just like Mayberry. What did you expect?”

In the display is an actual sheriff’s shirt worn by Griffith. It was designed by Nudie, the same designer who did Liberace’s costumes. The museum also has Barney Fife's black and white wool suit worn by Don Knotts when he got dressed up on the show. The exhibit includes Otis Campbell’s costume, the sheriff’s desk, a Matlock suit, and personalized Christmas cards from Griffith and his wife. The incredible collection is thanks to Emmett Forrest, a local resident and an old friend of Griffith’s, who has spent a lifetime collecting most of the memorabilia.

One wall reminds visitors of all the musical albums that Andy released. He really was a very versatile entertainer. Surprisingly, the museum’s small gift shop doesn’t have much in it. The real cheesy stuff is in the souvenir shops on Main Street.

Don’t miss the Siamese Twins exhibit in a small gallery next door to the Andy Griffith Museum. The two connected brothers, Eng and Chang Bunker, from Siam, came to the Mount Airy area just before the Civil War and married sisters. Amazingly, they fathered 21 children. I don’t want to know how they did it. It’s an interesting, little known story.

Andy Griffith Museum, 218 Rockford St., Mount Airy, North Carolina. Open seven days a week except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Admission is $6 per person; audio guide is $2. www.andygriffithmuseum.com.

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Gerald E. McLeod has been traveling around Texas and beyond for his "Day Trips" column for the past 24 years. Keep up to date with his journeys on his archive page. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips," is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 40312, South Austin, TX 78704.