Our future

Looking ahead - the future House of Flags

Our vision is to be located in a "museum quality" building, dedicated to promoting U.S. flag education and respect. Our plans are to completely remodel the old Columbus Fire Department and Town Hall building as our new and permanent home in downtown Columbus, North Carolina. This is a very economical and yet fully functional approach to move the flag collection from our temporary facilities 12 miles from town to the center of town, less than one mile from the I-26 freeway exit and the nearby Polk County Visitors Center and the state Welcome Center.

Building Site: The House of Flags Museum will be located in the town of Columbus, which is the county seat of Polk County, North Carolina. The town of Columbus has a population of 1,050 and is the governmental service center for the residents of Polk County, with a 2000 census population of 18,324. The site recently secured for the proposed Museum building is on county-owned property, located adjacent to the Historic Polk County Court House, which is one of the county's priorities for inclusion in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Program incentives. The site is also adjacent to the recently completed Veterans Memorial Park and two blocks from the Polk County Historical Museum. These entities, together with the House of Flags Museum, will help instill patriotic values in our young citizens, the same patriotic values which have made our nation using flags as a visual learning tool.

We need your help! Sponsor the House of Flags Museum Building Project in Columbus, North Carolina. Download a printable donation form (PDF) what it is today.

Benefits: The new Museum will expand the historical tours of our community, with benefits to businesses and governments of Polk County and Columbus from spending by visitors and tourists for meals, fuel and lodging. The new Museum location will be a more convenient and accessible learning center for students from Polk County and regional schools - teaching them, and other visitors, about our heritage and development of our nation.

Charles McKeller (center) Board Member, Rotary Club of Tryon Foundation, presents a check to Robert Williamson (left), House of Flags Museum Board Chairman and H. Scott Camp, Board member House of Flags Museum. Over the past few years the Tryon Rotary Foundation has contributed to the building remodeling project. This grant will be used to enhance the presentation of educational programs with track lighting for flag displays on the entire ground floor at the new museum location in Columbus, N.C. Remodeling of the old fire station that was also the first town hall for Columbus at 33 Gibson Street is presently in progress.

Timken Foundation Grant
In August 2011 The Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio awarded a very significant grant to the House of Flags Museum in Columbus, NC. The grant provides the funds to substantially remodel the second floor of the new museum building at 33 Gibson Street in Columbus. Upon completion the second floor will be named the Timken Room and the Timken flag will be featured there. Robert Williamson, Chairman of the House of Flags Board, said, "The House of Flags Museum is extremely grateful to receive such a generous grant from the Timken Foundation of Canton. This grant will substantially fund Phase 2 (second floor) of our museum remodeling project."

Ms. Jill Hendrix (center), of the Timken Plant in Columbus, NC presents a grant check from the Timken Foundation of Canton to House of Flags Board members Paul Sutherland (left) and Frank Ortiz (right).