Living History Saturday Featuring Grant Hardin as Daniel Boone
The Butler & Watauga Valley Heritage Association invites the public to step back into the frontier days of early Appalachia during the next Living History Saturday program on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Museum of Butler. The program will be presented on the museum's Main Stage, and visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and spend the afternoon exploring the museum grounds and exhibits.
Historical interpreter Grant Hardin will present “Into the Wilderness: Daniel Boone & The Long Hunters,” an engaging look at the legendary frontiersmen who helped open the Watauga Valley and surrounding wilderness to exploration and settlement. Through authentic clothing, equipment, historical interpretation, and engaging storytelling, Hardin will bring to life the challenges and adventures faced by Boone and the Long Hunters as they forged paths through the Appalachian frontier.
A longtime living history interpreter whose work focuses on the early Appalachian frontier, Hardin is known for his portrayals of Daniel Boone and other frontier figures. Drawing upon extensive historical research and authentic period dress, he offers audiences a compelling glimpse into the people and events that shaped the Watauga Valley and the Southern Appalachian region.
The Living History Saturday series is presented by the Butler & Watauga Valley Heritage Association as part of the museum’s America 250 initiative, Our Beginnings: The Story of Butler & the Watauga Valley. The series is made possible through support from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (TN250), along with generous corporate sponsors, individual donors, and community supporters who help preserve and share the rich heritage of the Watauga Valley.
Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and explore the museum’s exhibits, including the new America 250 digital exhibit experience. Children visiting the museum can also enjoy the new Pioneer Passport program, designed to help young visitors discover the history of the Watauga Valley through fun, interactive activities. Museum admission is $5 per person, while children ages 12 and under are admitted free. Visitors who plan to return throughout the season are encouraged to purchase a Museum Season Membership, which supports the preservation and interpretation of the history of Old Butler and the Watauga Valley while providing unlimited admission during the 2026 season.
The Museum of Butler is proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission to active-duty U.S. military personnel, including members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, National Guard, and Reserves, along with up to five family members. Military ID is required.
The Museum of Butler is now open for the 2026 season on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Special group tours may be arranged by calling 423-281-1113.
For additional information, visit MuseumofButlerTN.org or follow the Museum of Butler on social media.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3678313-0
