Trace the history of the development of the alphabet at Waxhaw’s own Museum of the Alphabet.
Founded in 1991, the museum focuses on the study of minority languages from around the globe. Displays throughout 12 rooms explain the evolution of the world’s different alphabets, from cuneiform and Native American syllabics to Braille and Klingon, a language made popular by the Star Trek series.
Visitors can discover how minority languages are documented and learn how their names would be expressed in both real and imagined languages.
The museum was the brainchild of William Cameron Townsend, the founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators. The Jungle Aviation and Radio Services organization (JAARS) now operates the museum, which is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is always free. To learn more about the Museum of the Alphabet, visit jaars.org/experience/museums.
