ELLERBE — The Rankin Museum of American Heritage is going all out this weekend to celebrate its recent renovations.
The museum was awarded $20,000 in May 2024 to help foot the bill for its first facelift since opening 40 years ago.
The Cole Foundation also awarded a grant of $83,000 for the project.
Renovations included upgrades to the bathrooms, flooring and lighting, as well as a new community space, which hosted a traveling American Revolution exhibit earlier this year. Local artist Daniel Webb also recently painted the logo.
Children will have an opportunity to pan for gems at the museum’s flume starting at noon. While the first two time slots, — featuring 20 children per hour — are full, there are still spaces available during the 2 and 3 p.m. slots.
To register, fill out the form on the event page or call 910-652-6378.
The Rankin typically hosts a geology dig in the spring and a fossil dig in the fall.
During the daylong event, the Mini’s On The Go and La Suerte De Sake food trucks will be on site, and the Luke Vuncannon Band will be performing.
Later in the evening, Titan Championship Wrestling returns to Ellerbe for “Devastation and Destruction.” The New Jersey-based promotion was part of A Giant Celebration in 2023 to honor the late Andre the Giant, who called Ellerbe home for the last decade of his life.
Saturday's event, which will also feature talent from the local promotion Atlantic Coast Wrestling, will be at Ellerbe Middle School, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the bell ringing at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Rankin Museum.
The museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, and 2-5 p.m. on Sundays.
NOTE: This story has been updated to include a grant from the Cole Foundation.
