History

The Museum’s Pioneer Park was developed in 1975-78 on land owned by A. Jefferson Higginbotham, Jr.  The nationally registered Crab Orchard Archaeological Site on which it sits was part of a late Woodland period Intermountain Native American community later acquired by Tazewell County’s earliest settlers, the Witten family.  Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, was chartered in 1978 to receive gifts of objects and funds, and the Higginbotham Museum Center was built from 1979-81, funded by state grants to the county.  The Museum Center covers approximately 7,200 square feet, and houses our permanent collection as well as a series of rotating special exhibitions.  The Pioneer Park consists of 15 historic log and stone structures and the Red Barn, an exhibition building also used for community events.  In the 2000s, the museum acquired the 1907 Pisgah Store, which is located across the four lane highway, and the Frog Level Service Station, which stands adjacent to the museum.  Crab Orchard Museum is a member-owned organization governed by a board of directors and operated by a professional staff, with the help of valuable volunteers.