Jaars Center

Museums

Our museums take a close look at the heart of our work: language, culture, and Bible translation.

Come trace the history of writing. Find out where your alphabet came from—and how people are still making alphabets today. Admission is always free.

   The museum will be closed for Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend.
This is My Museum booklet

No matter how old we are, visiting new environments can sometimes make us feel nervous. That’s why we’ve created this booklet using a template from Libraries and Autism to help you know what to expect when you visit the Museum of the Alphabet!

This booklet explains what you will learn about at the museum, some activities that you can do during your visit, a few rules to keep in mind, and important information like our hours of operation and bathroom locations. We welcome people of all ages and abilities, and want your visit to be as enjoyable as possible!

Night at The Alphabet Museum

Our popular event has returned! Bring the whole family. We look forward to sharing this exciting evening with you.

The Alphabet Museum

Be transported around the world as you visit The Alphabet Museum, where displays throughout 12 rooms trace the history of the world’s alphabets, from cuneiform to tonal languages to Native American language syllabaries. Explore other writing systems such as mathematics, music, and Braille. Learn modern stories of communities being transformed through literacy and Bible translation.

Reviewers on TripAdvisor give it five stars, and readers of Union County Weekly voted us Best Local Museum. Come see why!  

Cardenas Building

The newly reopened Cardenas Building features all new exhibits that tell the story of JAARS.

COVID-19 Protocols: Face masks and social distancing are optional. The museum will be sanitized frequently. Guided and group tours are available. We also have a new cell phone tour to guide you through the museum.

Hours

Please also check our Facebook page for the latest on closures, special events, and more.

  • Museum of the Alphabet: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
  • Cardenas Building: Monday-Saturday, 12:30–3:30 p.m.
  • Both Museums: Closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday and Easter weekend, Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day, Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day
  • Closed Friday, November 10, from 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
  • Special Holiday Hours
    Thanksgiving weekend: Friday, November 29–Saturday, November 30, open 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
    Christmas week: Thursday, December 26–Saturday, December 28, open 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Tours

Guided and group tours are available. We also have a new cell phone tour to guide you through the museum.

Location

6409 Davis Road
Waxhaw, NC 28173
Directions

Cost

Free; donations are greatly appreciated