According to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) website, southern antiques were ignored and dismissed by collectors and scholars in the first half of the 20th century. However, in 1965, a museum dedicated to "the preservation, scholarship, and connoisseurship of southern decorative arts and material culture" opened in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, curated by a pioneering mother and son. Visitors should definitely check out the Exhibits and Collections links for high quality photos of many of the museum's holdings, as well as brief descriptions of the pieces, including the craftsperson and materials. Some pieces also include a map showing the region of the state where the piece was made. Current and past exhibits include "Our Spirited Ancestors: The Decorative Art of Drink," "Southern Silver: Style and Substance." and "'The Neatest Pieces of Any Description': Furniture Pieces of Piedmont, North Carolina."