MOUNT AIRY, N.C.— Andy Griffith is a household North Carolina name and especially recognizable in his hometown of Mount Airy. The town even claimed the nickname of “Mayberry” during "The Andy Griffith Show’s" early days.

What You Need To Know

  • The Andy Griffith Museum opened in 2009

  • The museum houses historical artifacts from Andy Griffith, his shows and movies, and his old co-stars

  • The collection started with a few Christmas cards and an old poster ad for orange soda

The Andy Griffith Museum opened in 2009 in Mount Airy.

Emmett Forrest, Griffith’s longtime best friend, started the collection years ago. It all started with a few Christmas cards and an old poster ad for orange soda.

Forrest and Griffith were neighbors, they went to school together and stayed friends until the end of their lives. The museum is now a living collection of memorabilia from Griffith’s shows and movies and his co-stars’ lives, including costumes, props and other artifacts from "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Matlock."

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“This has been a labor of love for a long, long time,” said Terri Forrest Champney. Champney is Emmett Forrest’s daughter and took a special interest in her father’s collection. She volunteers at the museum and spends her days reminiscing on her father’s life and meeting folks from across the country and beyond who love the collection.

“It’s a feel-good place,” Champney said. “With everything going on in the world, it’s sort of like when you walk in here, you’re back to the simpler times. And everybody’s happy.”

Ninety percent of everything in the museum belonged to Emmett Forrest. He either collected it himself, or other stars of the show gifted it directly to him. 

“There’s no other place like it. It’s just a place you want to be. And a place you want to come back,” Champney said.

"The Andy Griffith Show" began its eight-season run in 1960, and episodes continue to air to this day.