Kilted Carolina Vacation

[LANCER1562]

I'm sure they're wonderful pics. But all I can see are those pesky little red "x"s.

[Mael Coluim]

Monday, I head for the Scottish Tartans Museum. It was a pleasant drive from Asheville and beautiful scenery to be seen. Mac Guinea Pig has her own dandelion!



I arrive in Franklin; find Matt and a number of people touring the museum and the gift shop. I get the obligatory shot in front of the museum under the museum sign with Matt. We really need to start a collage of these pix. I have three box pleats tailored by Matt of the following tartans; XMarks, St. Patrick and St. Columba. I wasn’t a hard decision which one to wear as both Matt and I bear the name of this Irish evangelist saint to Scotland.
As you can see Matt wore his St. Columba tartan kilt, tool



The nice thing about this tartan it lends itself to many color combinations of hose and garters!

[Mael Coluim]

The museum has many interesting exhibits on the history of the kilt and tartan. There is an excellent film which tells the story of the kilt and tartan.











There area a number of exhibits on Scots in North Carolina. My Great grandfather, Henry Jefferson Malcolm came to Virginia at the turn of the 20th century from North Carolina.

[Mael Coluim]

As I go through the exhibits I find a display entitled the Malcolm Kilt! The tartan is not named, but quite beautiful, The kilt has a matching vest.







Matt confirms for me that Don Malcolm is of Atlanta. Don was President of Clan MacCallum Malcolm Society when I joined.


Next to the Malcolm Kilt there is this beaut, the Mac Duff kilt, the olderst known civilian kilt in existence!

[Mael Coluim]

Display of tartans



I find the tartans of my clan

[Mael Coluim]

A display of weaponry




The London Scottish Display


My mother's uncle Capt. James Robertson had been with the Kings Regiment, Liverpool from 1917 to 1950. The Kings had a kilted regiment called the Liverpool Scottish that wore the Forbes tartan.

Before I knew it, the time was 4:30 PM. The time had flown. A trip to STM is a necessity to those in love with kilt and tartan! My thanks to Matt and Rowen for making the trip memorable and very enjoyable.

[Mael Coluim]

Rowan at the STM had suggested for me to go to the Cherokee to see the museum. It was very poignant.





Afterwards, I took the Blue Ridge Parkway to Silva for lunch.


Later in the afternoon, I returned to Franklin to try the local brews at the Rathskeller Coffee Haus and Pub. Now remember I am kilted. As I walk in the bar server asks, “a Scottish ale?

Aye, lassie I reply.



What brewery is it from I ask?

She replies



Belhaven, the cream of Scottish ales in Franklin I exclaim! I am ecstatic!

Excellent recommendations, Rowan!


More to come - Onward to Grandfather Mountain!

[BoldHighlander]

Another wonderful set of photos Ern!

A trip to STM is a necessity to those in love with kilt and tartan!

On my "must do/see" list one day!
I have a number of ancestors from North Carolina (including Cherokee), and I've always wanted to visit the region.

Thanks for sharing your trip!