100 Years of Hope and Home: American Children’s Home celebrates Centennial
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, the American Children’s Home will celebrate its 100th anniversary at its historic campus located at 3844 NC Hwy 8 South, Lexington, NC 27292. The public is invited to attend the Centennial Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., which will include guided campus tours, historical exhibits, and family-friendly activities.
Founded in 1925 by the Junior Order of United American Mechanics to care for orphans of its members, the American Children’s Home has grown into a comprehensive care provider, serving children across North Carolina with residential cottages, foster care support, and a child development center.
“What began as a simple act of compassion has grown into a mission-driven organization that touches thousands of lives,” said Kat Berrier, President and CEO of the American Children’s Home. “This is not just a celebration of our history—it’s a celebration of the lives we’ve been privileged to touch. We are proud of our past, grateful for the present, and excited about the future.”
The event will include the unveiling of the newly refreshed ACH Museum, featuring historic photographs, memorabilia, and campus artifacts that help tell the story of the Home’s transformation over the past century. Attendees can enjoy food trucks, a kids’ zone with bounce houses, and hear reflections from former residents and community leaders.
Licensed and COA-accredited, the American Children’s Home supports children from birth through age 21, with a capacity of 50 youth across six family-style cottages. The 300-acre Lexington campus, built between 1925 and 1932, features five historic Colonial Revival–style buildings, including the landmark Administration Building and Samuel F. Vance Auditorium.
One hundred years later, the American Children’s Home remains true to its mission: to nurture and empower children in North Carolina through residential services, foster care, and child development programs. As the ACH reflects on a century of service, it continues to look forward, grounded in history and committed to healing.
