by the early 1990s, it was realized that the future of the museum had to include its own building in a more accessible location. the turning point came in 1995 when brenau university president john burd committed a tract of campus property for the history museum, the white path cabin, and a blacksmith shop donated by hoyt herrin. volunteers started soliciting the community for contributions and, after some years of stop and go, architectural plans were finally completed and all stood in readiness for its grand opening, held in may 2004.