Andy Griffith Museum — Attraction in Mount Airy

This museum itself was well done. For me, the $8+ admission fee was more than worth it. But I think it is a much better experience if the show has some nostalgic meaning for the patron, as was the case for me. The displays document Andy's life nicely, but the focus is on the show. Andy's sheriff uniform is displayed, as are the jailhouse keys. My favorite was the re-creation of the courthouse desk to look just like the show set. Some of the props in that display were original like the stick telephone and Deputy Fife's chair (which has since been bronzed), which made it all the better. But there are a few displays that go beyond the show. There is a display about Matlock, Andy's other successful but less iconic and often forgotten series. There are also displays about Andy's early life, early career and his music and recording ventures. In the annex is a display about Betty Lynn, who played Thelma Lou on the show and who had a special tie to Mt. Airy. There were also displays documenting the lives of Eng and Chang Bunker, the conjoined twins who gave rise to the term "Siamese Twins". They had ties to the Mt. Airy area.

I would highly recommend this museum for anyone who has fond memories of the Andy Griffith Show or who is an Andy Griffith fan in general. Even if not, it offers a nice peek into Americana and the 1960s American experience. Make a stop here and spend the day in Mt. Airy. It's...

It seems like some reviewers complain about the entrance fee however, I think that in today’s world, you have to consider how your dollars will be used. In the case of the Andy Griffith Museum, the entry fee supports the operation of a place curating one of the few truly wholesome, family TV shows ever made (historically contextual). I wish the museum could be larger but inside you will find several great treasures from the history of the TV show as well as many other incredible accomplishments by Andy Griffith that few know about. If you take your time perusing the museum and really consider what you are supporting, the entry fee is not exorbitant. The staff do a great job and are very accommodating. In addition, you gain admission to the exhibit on the Siamese Twins which, besides initially seeming strangely out of place, is fascinating, disturbing and fitting, once you read the details about the twins’ lives. Once done, make sure to take time to patronize the other local Andy Griffith-related (and other) sites; tourism is so important to these small towns! In sum, definitely a great place to bring families as well. Overall, this is a great place and I strongly recommend taking the...

If you are a fan of Andy Griffith, particularly a fan of the Andy Griffith Show, I recommend this place. There are plenty of pictures and memorabilia from when Andy was a little boy all the way up to the era past Matlock. They have some of the actual clothes that the cast members wore while making the show (including Otis Campbell's well worn hat and jacket).

If you don't know who Andy Griffith was, or you hated his TV shows, I recommend going elsewhere, so you don't waste your time and money. The nearby downtown area has lots of tourist trap amenities (e.g., candy, T-shirts, goofy hats, that knickknack you buy because you think it's genius when you bought it, but you wonder why you wasted money on it ten years later when you are cleaning out your sock drawer because you are moving, so you donate it to a charity, etc.), if you like that...