1 A Historical Look at The Mint

What Is Old Becomes New Again: A Historical Look at the U.S. Mint Charlotte Branch

and How It Became the Inspiration for The Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte

Blair Franco

Queens University of Charlotte

COMM320: Communication Research

Spring 2011

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The purpose of this historical paper is to expand upon the knowledge of a well-known

Charlotte landmark: the Mint Museum of Art. Taking a look back at some of the earliest

days of existence when it was the Charlotte Branch of the U.S. Mint all the way through

what is the Mint Museum brand of today. There are just under two hundred and seventy-

five years of a portion of Charlotte’s history highlighted. The research will show how the

Mint of Charlotte refers to more than one place with more than one purpose each having

its own impact on the city of Charlotte.

The first gold rush in America

Contrary to what many may think, the first gold found in the United States was not struck

in California. In 1799, a boy by the name of Conrad Reed found a seventeen-pound gold

nugget while fishing in Little Meadow Creek in Cabarrus County, North Carolina on his

family’s farm (Lewis, 2006). Though for a few years the gold nugget lay as a door stop,

eventually this discovery by Conrad made his family extremely wealthy (Lewis, 2006).

Just after the turn of the century, as people started to learn of the potential for gold in the

Carolinas and they began to move to the area to dig for riches (Lewis, 2006).

“‘Branch Gold’ attracted numerous immigrants and led to the development of a thriving

gold industry, of which Charlotte was the center. Between 1840 and 1860 gold was the

sustaining factor in the economy of Mecklenburg County. There were at one time

between 75 and 100 mines within a 20 mile radius of Charlotte” (Anonymous, History of

the Mint Museum of Art).

Before the Mint Museum: The Charlotte Branch of the U.S. Mint

As a result of the gold rush surrounding Charlotte during the early nineteenth century,

Congress acknowledged the need for a mint in the immediate area (Anonymous, History

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of the Mint Museum of Art). “The Charlotte Mint was established by an Act of Congress

approved March the third, 1835. Charlotte was the geographical center of this gold

producing district and the logical place for the Mint” (Bulletin of the Mint Museum of

Charlotte, 1937). The Charlotte Branch of the U.S. Mint was the first mint branch in all

of the United States (Wilkinson, 1973, p.3). This not only put Charlotte, NC on the

national map but was also the city’s first step in building a financial presence for

centuries to come.

A fire, believed to be arson, nearly destroyed the Mint building and machinery on July

27, 1844 (Bulletin of the Mint Museum of Art, 1937). “The records, coin bullion, scale

beams, books, and papers stored in the vault were saved. There was little damage to the

assay room. The steam engine was only slightly damaged but the coining presses were

beyond repair – the main building was almost completely in ruins” (Wilkinson, 1973, p.

35). A request to restore the mint was submitted to Congress by North Carolina

representative, D. M. Barringer, and his request was granted (Wilkinson, 1973, p. 35).

During the two year period of reconstruction, no coins were issued (Wilkinson, 1973, p.

35). Robert Mills built only the second fire-proof structure in all of America through the

reconstruction of the Mint in Charlotte (Wilkinson, 1973, p. 36).

The inspiration and vision for the Mint Museum of Art: Mary Myers Dwelle

“By 1917, the mint stood empty. It was used as a headquarters for the Red Cross during

World War I and later as a Charlotte Women’s Club meeting site” (Kratt, 1992, p.191). It

is said that among those to attend meetings of the Charlotte Women’s Club at the mint

was Mary Myers Dwelle. “The women became attached to the classic building and its

history. People familiar with the building and its significance were horrified when the

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federal government began to dismantle the mint in order to build a larger post office”

(Kratt, 1992, p. 191-192).

Looking back on her first memories of architecture and beauty in its many forms, Mary

Myers Dwelle recalled, in her forward for The Mint Museum of Art at Charlotte: A Brief

History, how she had a dream of bringing art and culture to Charlotte. With the help of a

small group of other art-inspired Charlotteans, they developed the Mint Museum of Art

(Wilkinson, 1973, p. 53). Mrs. Dwelle, in one of her few documented accounts of how

the Mint Museum came to be, spoke of a carriage ride when she was a young girl to view

the U.S. Mint Charlotte Branch building saying:

“This instance opened my eyes to the beauty of architecture and of color. My parents

fostered in their children a love of beautiful things and encouraged us to travel…In this

beautiful [English] countryside, hallowed by spirits of generations of artists and writers, it

came to me that in my home town, young America should endeavor to create a unique

civic character, using a building of good architecture to house beautiful and rare objects –

an Art Museum. This was my dream of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The rebuilt mint building is still Charlotte’s beloved landmark. The children of yesterday,

1836, loved the fierce gold eagle on the façade as do the children of today. The building

is a beautiful edifice, all pure gold, when seen in the glow of the setting sun. The lasting

satisfaction derived from its continued usefulness and beauty outweighs any effort and

sacrifice on the part of those involved in the saving of the mint. –Mary Myers Dwelle

July 1973” (Wilkinson, 1973).

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The Mint Museum of Art: The Early Years

In a few newspaper articles found from before the museum opened, it was written that the

Mint Museum of Art was originally scheduled to open in May of 1936 (Charlotte News,

April 1936). For reasons unable to be confirmed, the museum did not actually open until

mid-fall of 1936. Prior to the opening of the Mint, Mrs. Harold C. Dwelle was cited as

being the secretary of the museum in a column written by the Charlotte Observer (Date of

article unknown).

“One hundred years after it was originally built on the side of the new post office, the old

Mint, restored and built in a park out in Eastover, was reopened last night as Charlotte’s

Mint Museum of Art and the center, around which its friends hope a new cultural place

for this section will develop. The official opening of the Mint Museum was a proud

occasion for those persons who for the last five years have fought first to have the old

Mint preserved on its original location and after its demolition was ordered to have it

restored on a new location and used as a museum. Mrs. Harold C. Dwelle, president of

the museum, who has worked faithfully during that period for the project, and E.C.

Griffith who donated the land on which it is built and the surrounding grounds, were

given especial recognition by the speakers at last night’s exercises and the large audience

that filled the main gallery” (Charlotte Observer, October, 23, 1936).

“Following the dedicatory exercises held last night, the doors of the Mint Museum of Art

were this morning at 10 o’clock thrown open to the public. Visitors from this city and

nearby localities began to throng the picturesque Eastover institution at an early hour, to

view one of the most comprehensive art exhibitions ever aggregated in the south”

(Charlotte News, October 23, 1936).

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Expansion, New Location, or Nothing at All

In what appears to be a debate that lasted years, local Charlotte citizens were in debate

over how to address the problem of crowding at the Mint Museum. In a news column

from 1978 it was written, “The Charlotte Community Relations Committee voted 24-5

Wednesday night to recommend the Mint Museum of Art’s expansion to be built

downtown” (Charlotte News, August 24, 1978). Yet the expansion project still did not

take shape. In a later article it is noted, “The Charlotte City Council Monday endorsed the

proposed expansion of the Mint Museum of Art in Eastover, an affluent south-east

Charlotte neighborhood that has been home to the museum since 1936. The council’s 7-4

vote frees the museum’s trustees to continue on their expansion planning, which they

halted a year ago at the council’s request because of controversy over the museum’s

location” (Charlotte Observer, March 27, 1980). Eventually the Mint Museum of Craft +

Design opened on North Tryon Street in 1999 (Mint Museum.org, 2011). It received its

own expansion project when the Arts and Science Council awarded funds for the Mint

Museum Uptown in 2006 (Mint Museum.org, 2011). The new, modern facility opened its

doors to the public in October of 2010.

The Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte as it’s known today

Whether people see the museum as a cultural symbol for the city of Charlotte or simply

as a museum to visit and appreciate art in several different forms, no one can deny the

spirit that lives within. From the artists who have created a masterpiece on display to

those who stand in awe of the visual brilliance they are taking in – the spirit of art speaks

to us all. “The Mint Museum is the overall brand for the expansion facilities that define

the heart of the visual artistic experience in Charlotte” (Mint Museum.org, 2011).

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Conclusion

Through the research findings noted above, it has been shown that the Mint of Charlotte

refers to more than one place with more than one purpose. From its initial days as a

coining branch of the U.S. Mint on Trade Street to what is known today as being the

main source of the arts in Charlotte, the Mint has made its mark in the city of Charlotte.

Miners to Mary Myers Dwelle, and all others who played a prominent part in

development of both Mint’s, poured their heart and soles in to making something of

importance with the mint.

Now with its two distinctly different locations, Mint Museum Randolph and Mint

Museum Uptown, the expression of the visual arts are able to be seen on a more

expanded base. Both host an array of events honoring art in its many forms: fundraisers

to galas to wedding ceremonies, just to name a few. As it has been said, you don’t have to

understand art to appreciate it. Still, the history and beauty of this grand arts cultural

center must be appreciated.

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References

Author Unknown (1936, October 23). Mint Museum of Art is Dedicated: Friends Hope

Means New Cultural Life. The Charlotte Observer.

Author Unknown (1936, October). Museum of Art Opening is Set: Dedicatory Ceremony

and Preview of First Exhibition Will Be Held Thursday. Newspaper unknown.

Author Unknown (1936, October 23). Visitors View Large Art Exhibit As Mint Museum

Is Opened: Comprehensive Display Placed In Beautifully Restored Building In

Eastover – Dedicatory Exercises Held, With Distinguished Guests. Charlotte

News.

Author Unknown (1950, September 28). History of Mint. Mecklenburg Times.

Doar, H. (1968, March 31). For Mrs. Dwelle: Mint To Rename Its Main Gallery.

The Charlotte Observer.

Estes, M. (1978, August 24). Expand Mint downtown, says panel. Charlotte News.

History of the Mint Museum – One Hundred Years. Bulletin of The Mint Museum of Art,

Charlotte, N.C. (1937, November and December) Volume I, Number 2.

History of the Mint Museum of Art. United States. Date and author of print article

unknown. Retrieved from the Charlotte Public Library Main Branch on February

26, 2011.

Kratt, M. N. (1992). Charlotte: Spirit of the New South. Winston-Salem, NC: John F.

Blair Publishing.

Lewis, R. (2006). The North Carolina Gold Rush. Retrieved February 22, 2011, from the

Learn NC web site: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4374

Mint Expansion Fact Sheet. (2011). Retrieved February 25, 2011, from The Mint

Museum of Art in Charlotte web site: http://www.mintmuseum.org/uploads/

downloads/Expansion/Expansion_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Scott, Henry. (1980, March 23). Stay In Eastover, City Tells Mint. Charlotte Observer.

Wilkinson, H. H. (1973). The Mint Museum of Art at Charlotte: A Brief History. (1st Ed.)

Charlotte: Heritage Printers.