Andy Griffith Playhouse, Museum & Statue

The museum is tiny, and you can see most of it from the doorway. It’s overpriced for what it is, but as you’re in Mt Airy anyway, you might as well go for it. Would love to see it expanded to include a recreation of Andy’s house, or maybe even a diorama of Mayberry. It just needs more.

The Museum offers an abundance of memorabilia, however… I was fairly disappointed for lots of reasons. I was prepared to pay an admission fee, ($ 6/​person + tax, $ 8 if you want the audio headset) but there is a convenience fee of $ 2.50 if paid by credit card. After paying the basic fee in cash, I decided to spring for the audio portion for an additional $ 2.14.
There are small (2“x2″) white signs with a headset icon identifying each audio station. «The.recordings aren’t in any specific order,» the lady told me. «It’s kind of like a scavenger hunt,» she chuckled. NO KIDDING. If the signs were printed on hot pink paper, visitors wouldn’t have to hunt for xeroxed, black & white signs on b&w photos. Oh, and the audio segments are from an interview with Emmett Forrest recorded in the cavernous building, not in a sound studio, so the quality is poor and the speaker rambles.
Let’s move on… there are lots of AG (Andy Griffith) movie posters, costumes worn by his co-​stars on TAGS (The Andy Griffith Show), framed newspaper articles, programs from ‘The Lost Colony’ and a great selection of Christmas cards featuring AG with his 3^rd wife Cindi and classic autos. Much of the AG collection was donated by his childhood friend Emmett Forrest.
Things I learned at the Andy Griffith Museum… AG started a barbecue restaurant on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh in the early 1970s… AG sent provenance notes along with the items he entrusted to his friend Emmett. As Emmett shares in the recording about one of AG’s sheriff shirts from TAGS, «Andy signed this shirt, and along with his note [about the shirt] makes the piece more valuable to collectors.»…Ron Howard has never attended a Mayberry Days festival but sent recorded comments about AG that are included on the audio headset… Chang and Eng Bunker, the 19^th-​century Siamese twins, are featured in a small exhibit in an adjacent building.
Now I can cross this Museum off of my bucket list!

This is a must visit for any fan of the Andy Griffith Show. The lady at the front make you feel welcome from the time you walk in the door until the time you leave. She is more than willing to answer any questions about any of the artifacts on display. From Barney’s sidecar in the lobby to Goobers Garage uniform they have a wonderful collections of artifact from the Andy Griffith Show. Keep in mind that this is the Andy Griffith Museum so mixed in with the Mayberry Artifacts are exhibits relating to his role as Ben Matlock and from his movies including a favorite of Mine «No Time For Sergeants.» This is a small museum but I managed to spend about 90-​Wondeful minutes here. Photos are NOT allowed inside the museum

This museum is pretty cool. First thing as you walk up to the museum, you see the statue donated by TV LAND of Andy and Opie. When entering through the front door you are welcomed by Barney’s sidecar and a giant «NO TIME FOR SARGANTS» movie. As you enjoy the museum you will some awesome displays covering Andy’s entire career, with an emphasis on TAGS! Now for the reason why such a low rating. The staff make it very clear that there is no photography throughout the museum. This is very disappointing, considering what you see. Also the way the staff tells you no photography is a little snappy. I hope someday the photography policy changes… if and when it does it would defiantly be rated a 5 star.

I loved the museum. Because I’m a huge fan of his. I big reason, I only give it two stars, no pictures allowed in the museum. When I asked why. The lady said «because that’s the policy». Please change your policy on pictures taking.

Great museum, and amazingly even entertaining to children of modern times. I would recommend this as a great «pit stop» to just unwind and take in the reflections of the man. The staff is friendly, as you would expect as representatives of the fictional town of Mayberry.

I really was looking forward to this museum but there was not much to it. Tickets are $ 3 to see the museum, the Siamese Twin exhibit, and the Earle Theater so it isn’t expensive. They also do not allow photographs inside. The woman taking the money for the tickets was slow as well and didn’t like those of us who gave 21 cents in change with the $ 3 for the ticket to cover the sales tax. It seems like it would be easier on her part not dealing with the coins.. The museum has Andy’s suit from Matlock; the desk from the Andy Griffith Show; and lots of other memorabilia from his other work including movies. While I had hoped for more, it is a small collection and worth a quick visit for $ 3.

We stopped here over night on our way to Myrtle Beach! It was a nice little stop. I got a picture with The Andy Griffith Statue and checked out the town (drive by). It was cool to see the scenes from the show. As for paying $ 5 per person to go through the museum, no thanks! I love Andy Griffith, but I noticed most people took a picture with the statue and got back in their cars and hit the road. Beautiful landscape, though!

A very nice place and only $ 3 a ticket to go in the museum! Excellent memorabilia, pictures and just delightful if you are an Andy Griffith Show fan. The statue is a loving tribute to Andy and Ron Howard (Opie). Brings back the memories of childhood and growing up in a wonderful innocent time. Hope to go back in the near future.

A wonderful visit; we made it the week that Andy died, so it was particularly sentimental. A fascinating look back at the life and legacy of Andy Griffith. Many of the items shared were donated by Emmett Forrest, whom I was fortunate to meet on the day I came. Loved my time there.

If you are a fan of the Andy Griffith show, the Museum is a must see. From the TV series are the doors to the court house, sets of keys to the jail doors, and Andy’s desk. Clothing worn by Andy, Barney & Otis are on display, as well as many mementos of Andy’s Griffith’s career on stage, tv, and movies.
Outside is the statue of Andy & Opie heading to the fishin’ hole, a gift from the TVLand channel.
The museum itself isn’t very large, and unless you absorb every photo and piece of memorabilia a visit won’t take too long. Admission is $ 3, and not only gets you into the Andy Griffith Museum, but also entry into a Siamese Twins exhibit on the property and the Earle Theater on Main St.
Only thing I didn’t appreciate is the NO PHOTOGRAPHY/​VIDEO policy in the museum. I fail to understand why they have this policy.

I went here a couple years ago and think that this is a must see for those Andy Griffith fans. We were able to see a good amount of memorabilia. The staff was very nice. Not sure if they were just glad to see someone come in or what. This is a kind of Sleepy town. If your real quiet you might hear someone whistling the theme song to Mayberry R.F.D. This is not high end museum, but like I said, worth the stop off the road. Oh they do have a bathroom there.

Second stop on our road trip in Nov ’07. Had the pork chop sandwich, now we wanted to see what the Andy Griffith museum held. Located in a downstairs room, almost as an afterthought it seemed.
No photos were allowed inside. Bits and pieces, costumes, letters, record albums, etc. from the life of Andy Griffith. This was not just about Mayberry RFD. One item I enjoyed seeing was an old wooden rocking chair that Andy was rocked in as a baby. They don’t make furniture like that anymore!
The best thing tho was a beautiful statue out in front of the Playhouse/​Museum. Andy & a barefoot Opie walking hand in hand, immortalized in bronze, fishing poles in hand. Can’t you just hear the Mayberry theme song whistling on the wind?!