Murfreesboro, North Carolina: Jefcoat Museum of Americana

Couch from the movie Gone with the Wind. Dog-powered washing machine. A collection of antique phonographs. Hand soap dispensers.

It's not your typical museum, very unusual. Mr. Brady Jefcoat collected anything that tickled his fancy, and then he collected all types of that item. I was told it takes 3 hours to go through -- at first, we were like "Yea, right, 15 minutes and I'm outa here." We were wrong.

He has the largest collection of phonographs/victrolas around, also music boxes, toasters, pipes/cigar making items, bedpans, toilets, bathtubs, tape meastures, office suppies, guns, and washing machines/boards. Have to see to believe. I've been in a lot of museums, and this one is one of my tops. It is guided tour $8/person; and you can't wander freely due to the many items that could be stolen. So plan accordingly and give yourself at least 3 hours to go through. Talk about a trip down memory lane!

When there is an event taking place on the grounds, like the Pork Festival, we were able to just wander about, as there was a host in each room to tell about the items. Looking forward to the Watermelon Festival in August.

Takes about 1-1/2 hours to drive there from west end of Virginia Beach.

A huge collection of collections. Housed in the 3 stories of the old Murfreesboro High School are the collections of Mr. Brady C. Jefcoat. This man spent a lifetime collecting different things. Old jukeboxes, Victrolas (windup and electric), old household appliances like butter churns, cheese making molds. He even has a collection of church collection plates, mousetraps of every style and chimes for radio announcements. It is operated by Murfreesboro Historical Association and open on weekends.