Rural Heritage Center

The Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation (ARHF) was formed in 1986 and incorporated as a non-profit foundation in 1990. Thanks to the University of Auburn Rural Studio, the home economics building of the former Marengo County High School stands renewed as the Alabama Rural Heritage Center (ARHC) and serves as the home of the Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation. The Rural Heritage Center is now a vibrant community center in the town of Thomaston, Alabama. It houses the Heritage Gift Shoppe, a dining space to seat 50, a FDA-certified industrial kitchen and the administrative office for the ARHF. Using these resources the committed members of the ARHF are dedicated to the mission of preserving Alabama’s rural heritage and strengthening Thomaston’s economy. The ARHF hosts community events in support of agriculture and the arts throughout the year events link . You can stop by the Rural Heritage Center Thursday & Friday (10:00 – 4:00 p.m.) and Saturday (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) to purchase traditional folk art, crafts, and food products from across Alabama from the Heritage Gift Shoppe. You can also reserve the Rural Heritage center for your private event, just email or call for more information Be sure to join us the last Saturday in April for the famous Pepper Jelly Festival!