A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to renovate the rural life museum on the campus of mars hill college.
Whereas, the Rural Life Museum is located on the campus of Mars Hill College in Madison County; and
Whereas, the Museum's resources, collections, and programs are available to Mars Hill students and the community through tours, workshops, lectures, and internships; and
Whereas, the Museum facilitates the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of rural life artifacts relevant to the history and culture of the southern Appalachian region; and
Whereas, through its exhibits and educational programs, the Museum assists patrons in understanding rural heritage; and
Whereas, for 25 years, the Rural Life Museum has been a destination for area 4th and 8th grade classes to learn about mountain life for their North Carolina history course requirements; and
Whereas, during the past year, the Museum provided students with programming geared to specific topics, such as mountain musical traditions, slavery and African‑American traditions in western North Carolina, Cherokee presence in central western North Carolina, southern Appalachian identity, pre‑industrial agriculture practices of the region and clogging; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to Mars Hill College the sum of seventy‑five thousand dollars ($75,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year to renovate the Rural Life Museum, an important resource for the college and the citizens of western North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.