Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, N.C.

For 15 years, memorabilia relating to Andy Griffith and his TV role in the fictitious Mayberry have been displayed in various locations in Mount Airy, N.C., the small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains where the actor-singer was born 83 years ago.

Now a permanent museum has opened that expects to welcome huge crowds this year as the town celebrates the 50th anniversary of the debut of "The Andy Griffith Show." Mount Airy was the inspiration for the folksy town of Mayberry, the focus of the sitcom that ran for eight seasons. The 2,500-square-foot museum openedis a half-mile from the actor's boyhood home, with iconic signs from the show's courthouse doors, keys to the jail, Barney Fife's chair and signed scripts.

A good time to visit might be during "Mayberry Days," the annual weekend festival in Mount Airy, scheduled for Sept. 23-27. Now in its 21st year, it offers pie-eating contests, checkers games, checkers, bluegrass and more.

The Andy Griffith Museum is open seven days a week. Admission is $3 (336-786-1604,andygriffithmuseum.com).