Angier, North Carolina: Marvin Johnson's Gourd Collection

Aw, rats. I can confirm that Marvin Johnson's Gourd Museum is closed. The Johnson family land has been sold and is being turned into a housing development. A new road is being cut through the property, and some of the buildings that used to be there have been demolished. The museum (complete with all its displays) still stands, but the doors are padlocked, and I assume it'll be bulldozed as well. I hope the gourds are going to be rescued and transferred to a new home, but even if they are, I can't imagine that their new locale will be as cool as Marvin and Mary's museum. I'm really sorry to see this place go. Marvin's museum was one of my all-time favorite NC attractions.

I tried to visit the Gourd Museum but when I called, they told me that it is no longer open. Very sad.

I visited Marvin Johnson's Gourd Museum today! This was my first visit to a *person* actually named in New Roadside America, so I was really looking forward to it. One thing that is important to note is how to find the building which houses the museum. Once you are in Marvin Johnson's driveway (you'll see the caddy with the license plate "GOURD") you'll see a path directly to the left of the carport. Walk down that path about 10 meters and you'll see the museum on your left. You should see a sign nailed to a tree next to the carport pointing the way down the trail. Just for the record, the house that is attached to the carport is a private residence, not the museum itself.

Anyway, once you are in the museum you are treated to all manner of gourds! Big ones! Little ones! Carved ones! Dioramas! Just about anything you think that could be done with a groud has been, and it's all on display - for free. Electricity is currently out in the museum so be prepared to wear something warm if you're visiting in the winter.

In additon to the gourds, the museum also showcases some interesting uses of natural sponges. There is a sponge lampshade and several dolls made of natural sponge.

In your book it states that Marvin was thinking about building another building to house even more gourds. It doesn't appear that he has, but that shouldn't stop you from seeing the Gourd Museum. It's been open since 1965.