Tartan Museum

The Scottish Tartans Museum and Heritage Center, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 incorporation dedicated to the history and traditions of Scottish Highland Dress.

Our museum was founded by The Scottish Tartans Society (STS) which was established in Scotland in 1963, to maintain:
- A worldwide membership and museums in Scotland and abroad.
- To create and maintain the Register of All Publicly Known Tartans.
- Encourage research into Highland Dress.
- To provide a design service for new tartans.

The Scottish Tartan museum was founded by Scottish Tartans Society, formed in Scotland in 1963 to
“Study the origins, history, and development of tartans”. The society has two museums… one in Keith,
Scotland and one in Franklin, N.C. USA. The Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin, NC not only displays
Scottish Tartans, but covers various aspects of the Scottish experience; culture, history, dress, migration,
and military. Visitors are invited t view their family tartan, connect with their clan, and learn about the
history of Highland Dress. They can help if you are interested in researching the recommended tartan
for a particular surname, or would like a full color print of your tartan. Stop by their information booth
at the games or come to the museum at 86 East Main Street, Franklin, NC 29734. Phone (828) 524-7472)

Our museum is open year-round, six days a week (except for major holidays). Our gallery is regularly visited by school groups, researchers, families and interested individuals. Volunteers are often available to provide guided tours, and staff is always on hand to answer questions and help with basic tartan research.

Our museum gallery features kilts dating back to c. 1800, and tartan specimens c. 1725. Over 600 tartan samples are on display, including tartans for clans, families, districts, and other organizations. Our computer database, courtesy of the Scottish Tartans Authority, contains over 11,000 unique tartan designs, both historic and modern.

Our museum staff and volunteers are routinely invited into area schools, from elementary school to the university, to give presentations on Scottish heritage and Highland dress.

Our museum staff and volunteers also attend a number of regional Scottish Festivals and Highland Games throughout the year to provide a tartan information service to festival visitors. So if you are attending a festival in the southeastern US, be on the lookout for our tent!