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CROSS KEYS — The Cross Keys House is now open to visitors and for guided tours on Saturdays.

Ola Jean Kelly, executive director of the Union County Museum, announced that the Cross Keys House and its grounds will be open to visitors noon to 5 p.m. every Saturday except for holidays.

In December, Kelly announced that the Union County Historical Society which owns the Cross Keys House was working to have it open on Saturdays. She said the society was in the process of hiring staff to work at the house on Saturdays to greet visitors and lead tours.

Kelly said Thursday that the society has hired one person who will be at the house on Saturdays. She said the society is also looking to hire a second person to work at the house on alternate Saturdays.

The house was open this past Saturday and Kelly said there were 16 visitors.

The Cross Keys House was visited in 1865 by Confederate President Jefferson Davis who dined there on his way south following the fall of the Confederate capital in Richmond, Va., to the Union army.

Davis’ visit is reenacted during the Living History programs at the house. Kelly said the next Living History program will be April 27 and 28.

For more information call the Union County Museum at 429-5081. The museum is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Editor Charles Warner can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 14, or by email at cwarner@civitasmedia.com.