frank l. horton museum center

While located as part of Old Salem, the museum's contents and focus are entirely separate. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, even passionate, on antiques. However, I would have preferred to have heard a bit more on the lifestyles of those that used this furniture. Also, the guide had so much to say, there was scant time for questions or casual perusing. An antique furniture would clearly rate this museum as Excellent, but for us ordinary folks, we need to be able to put the furniture displayed in the context of life among the wealthy class.

This was great, but a little to long. Our guide was very good, she was very knowledgeable and she talked about all the furniture and art work

Mesda is a wonderful museum of southern decorative art. If you like the way you envisioned the Old South to live (the rich and the farmers), this is a great place to spend an hour ot 2.

We were told when tours were available, but when we got there the volunteer for the tours had not shown up. And that fits Old Salem ... just not a very sharp operation.

I was so impressed with the local artwork, pottery, furniture, quilts, and other artifacts collected and put on display at the museum. It is a wonderful tour to experience. The artwork of the slaves was powerful. The perfection of the artwork is over powering. As I touched the pottery and furniturings, I closed my eyes and tired to imagine myself back in time watching my ancestors craft these wonderful displays. I recommend the tour to everyone. There are influences from all over the South, as well as Europe. I found the tour guide very informative, patient and she was able to answer the guests questions.

We visited MESDA as part of our trip to Old Salem. We took the one hour guided tour and had sensory overload of wonderful old furniture, rooms, paintings and other artifacts. We learned that the early south had a very strong artistic decoration movement even in everyday objects. Well worth the time.

This was our first stop in Old Salem. We had a great tour guide who did a good job in explaining the history of the early southern furniture. I know the rooms change from time to time, but if you like early American furniture this is well worth the price of a ticket. I would go back the next time we go to OS.

This museum was interesting,but we thought that it would be more on architecture and history of furnishings in the area. A lot of the same in each room. The guide was very nice and informative. If you have time it is something to see, but wouldn't make a special trip.

Extraordinary Southern hospitality and extraordinary collection of Southern furniture and decorative arts dating from the 17th century to the mid 19th century.

Although this tour has changed greatly since the one time we took it many years ago, we enjoyed it much more because our young guide was so pleasant, friendly and knowledgeable. Sad to say our first tour was led by a bit of a snob, who did not make us feel very welcome. By the time we took this most recent tour, we had walked all over Old Salem, visiting and enjoying each museum. So, we were glad it was to last only 45 minutes, and went only a few minutes over. We do think it would be nice if there were a few chairs to sit and rest on in each room - several in our group were as tired as we were, and there was only one chair in each room - which was immediately taken by three small but otherwise well-behaved children each time we entered another room. This is a very nice museum, and the kind lady at the admittance desk was ever-so-helpful when we wanted to upgrade our day's ticket to a year's membership.

Tour was a little dry- but if you are interested in decorative arts, they have some great pieces. Liked being able to get so close to the items but wanted to scold others on my tour for leaning, touching, etc. I was disappointed that the Toy and Doll museum was no longer. I was looking forward to seeing some of the real "Maggie-Bessie" dolls after hearing about them in the gift shop.

We were disappointed that we had to have a guide for this museum. Takes about 45 minutes, but you see a fraction of the museum.

At Old Salem, this has many beautiful period rooms. Very educational.

Excellent guide. A bit dry but if you are a dedicated historian and submit yourself you can be amazed.

This is another museum where you go through on a guided tour. I don't remember how many rooms of furniture the museum has but the tour only takes in a small portion of them since seeing all would be a mult-day endeavor. Since the tour is small it is possible to get very close to the furniture or other objects. Most of the rooms we were in had good lighting but one room has not been updated with better lighting. My husband is very interested in antique furniture so this was a great place for him. I enjoyed it as well. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Old Salem.