Culture
Shape Notes
Shape note singing at Mountain Heritage Day Shape notes were invented in the late 18th century to simplify teaching people to sight-read unaccompanied sacred musical scores. They were called shape notes because, instead of drawing all of the music scale’s seven notes...
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...
Economy
Cradle of Forestry
In the early 20th century, the Appalachian forest was subjected to devastating large-scale commercial exploitation for the first time. At the same time, pioneering conservationists were devising reforms for forest management. In 1889, George Vanderbilt hired a young...
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...
Land
Appalachian Geology
The geology of the Appalachian Mountain system is unique and complex, especially in the Blue Ridge Province. Unlike most regions of the earth where the youngest rock is the most visible, in the Blue Ridge, the younger rocks are covered by those...
Brown Mountain Lights
Since the early 1700s, travelers have reported seeing the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights on clear, moonless nights. According to local folklore, the lights are actually the spirit of a slave searching for his lost master across ridges and through the valley....
People
Gar Mosteller and Doyle Barker, 2008
Two Cherokee County natives, fiddler Gar Mosteller (right) and guitarist Doyle Barker, were named recipients of WCU’s Mountain Heritage Awards during a ceremony at WCU’s Mountain Heritage Day. The duo has performed “Appalachian swing” music at the festival since 1990....
Cradle of Forestry in America, 1997
Recipient of the Cradle of Forestry in America, receiving the Mountain Heritage award, 1997.
Institutions
Riverside Cemetery
Riverside Cemetery, located in Asheville’s historic Montford District overlooking the French Broad River, was established in 1885 to serve a growing city. The beautiful and historic cemetery’s 87 carefully landscaped acres. . .
Jackson County Courthouse
Jackson County, created in 1851, built a brand new town named Webster to be its county seat. Court was held at Daniel Bryson’s home and at Alan Fisher’s store until the courthouse was finished. In 1887, a second courthouse was built, but the new railroad had bypassed Webster three years earlier. . .