November 14, 2026–January 16, 2027 (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day)
The annual “pop up” Aluminum Tree Museum returns to the Transylvania Heritage Museum at 189 West Main Street in downtown Brevard. This year’s theme, The Fun and Fabulous Fifties, brings back the Space Age sparkle of mid-century America with nods to Elvis, poodle skirts, and mid-century modern style. It’s free to visit (donations are appreciated).
The Aluminum Tree & Ornament Museum (ATOM) is the world’s only museum dedicated to vintage aluminum Christmas trees. More than two dozen vintage trees, dressed in 1950s colors, are joined by the museum’s signature Shiny Brite Forest, featuring over 400 classic Shiny Brite ornaments. Color wheels turn to cast shifting hues across the foil branches, recreating the original light show.
Each tree is themed and named (scientific and common) by museum volunteers.
ATOM is an apt name for this Museum since the trees were produced during the "atomic age" of the mid-20th century. And Brevard is the perfect location since it's next to Pisgah National Forest, a great protector of trees.
Millions of aluminum Christmas trees were produced by over 40 companies in the USA, Canada, and Australia from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. You can identify vintage trees by noting that the individual branches are inserted into holes in the center pole ("trunk"). They "genetically engineer" some trees (the aluminum palm trees, the aluminum bonsai) for fun.
The Transylvania Heritage Museum is 34 miles south of downtown Asheville, and it is open Thursday through Saturday, noon to 4 pm. Closed Thanksgiving Day. For more info, call them at 828-884-2347. While you are there, downtown Brevard has many great stores and galleries to explore. Check out Brevard restaurants and Oskar Blues Brewery, that's just a short drive away.
Street address: 189 North Main Street, Brevard, NC.
Read about more Holiday Outings in Asheville. To take home a live tree, visit one of the Christmas Tree Farms.
