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.

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. . .

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...

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

Mountain Balds

Mountain Balds

The Southern Appalachian Mountains are not high enough to have a natural tree line or Alpine zone, yet the region has hundreds of treeless areas called balds. Their origins- whether or man-made or the product of climatic changes- still remain a mystery.

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Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock

In 1885 Chimney Rock began its long history as a tourist attraction when the first stairway to its 315-foot granite summit was completed. Missouri native Lucius Moore purchased the spectacular rock outcropping overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge in 1902.

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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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