Junior Johnson

Back in the 1930s and 1940s, when moonshining was a means of survival in the mountains of Western North Carolina, a young man emerged who would go on to become one of NASCAR’s founding fathers. He reinforced the romanticized, cultural stereotype of a “noble rogue.” His name was Junior Johnson.

Cornhusk Crafts

A Corn husk Family from Allenstand, part of the John Parris Collection Appalachian people, of Cherokee, European, and African origin, all share a long history of making useful and decorative items from the outer leaves of ears of corn, known as cornhusks, or corn...

Horace Kephart

In 1934, the United States Congress officially established what is today the most popular National Park in the country, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As a result, over 500,000 acres of scenic. . .

Woolly Worms

Not too many generations ago, before snow plows, central heat, and supermarkets, winters in Appalachia were a much different experience than they are today. Many basic necessities such as mobility, heat, and food were not taken for granted. . .

Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual

Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, located on the Cherokee Indian reservation in North Carolina, was founded in 1946. Its goal is to preserve Cherokee arts and crafts, and provide Cherokee people with a means to sell their crafts year-round. Today, Qualla Arts and Crafts...

Culture

Old Christmas in Appalachia

Old Christmas in Appalachia

Christmas in Appalachia was not always celebrated on December 25th. Whether because calendar reform in 1752 had removed 11 days, turning December 25th into January 6th, or because January 6th marked. . .

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Economy

Elisha Mitchell

Elisha Mitchell

Yale educated Elisha Mitchell moved from Connecticut to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1818 to become Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. . .

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Ben Long

Ben Long

Ben Long, an internationally acclaimed American painter, grew up in Statesville, North Carolina. In the 1970s the then unknown artist persuaded the priest in charge of two small, rural Episcopal churches. . .

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Land

Ghost Towns

Ghost Towns

Towns do not survive forever. Western North Carolina has a number of its own lost towns. They disappeared for a number of reasons.

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Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain

Over 700 million years ago two gigantic plates within the earth’s crust slammed together. Among the results was the creation of one of the highest peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountain range, Grandfather Mountain. At 5,964 feet, the mountain is one of Appalachia’s most visited attractions and one of its most unique natural wonders.

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People

Asheville Citizen-Times Publishing Co., 1981

Recipient of the Mountain Heritage Award 1981.   Citizen-Times Wins Heritage Award Bryson City: Smoky Mtn. Times 10/1/81 Western Carolina University gave its 1981 Mountain Heritage Award Saturday to the Asheville Citizen-Times Publishing Company as the “greatest...

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Amanda Swimmer, 2009

  Cherokee pottery-maker Amanda Swimmer was honored at WCU’s Mountain Heritage Day festival on Saturday as the individual recipient of the university’s Mountain Heritage Award. Swimmer has demonstrated pottery making at Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee for...

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Institutions

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