Hurricane Helene: Appalachian History

A tradition that dates back almost ten thousand years, basketry is an integral aspect of Cherokee culture. Cherokee Basketry describes the craft's forms, functions and methods and records the tradition's celebrated makers.

In the mountains of Western North Carolina, stunning baskets are still made from rivercane, white oak and honeysuckle and dyed with roots and bark. This complex art, passed down from mothers to daughters, is a thread that bonds modern Native Americans to ancestors and traditional ways of life. Anna Fariello, associate professor at Western Carolina University, reveals that baskets hold much more than food and clothing. Woven with the stories of those who produce and use them, these masterpieces remain a powerful testament to creativity and imagination.

Situated just south of the Carolina border in the scenic foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Cherokee County offers the charm of small-town life and country living with the convenience of nearby metropolitan areas.

In 1897, the year of its founding, the county inherited a rich history that began with the Cherokee Indians. Home to two American Revolutionary War sites, Cowpens National Battlefield and Kings Mountain Military Park, as well as the Overmountain Victory National Trail, it exists as a bevy of historical sites that date before the county was established.Cherokee County pays tribute to this community's decisive history and celebrates the local architecture, business establishments, and residents, both past and present. Historic views, coupled with informative text, highlight the 1914 Carnegie Library, the charming railroad depot, the Limestone Quarry, and construction of the towering smokestack of Gaffney Manufacturing Company. Vintage photographs depict downtown Gaffney, settled almost a century before Cherokee County became a political entity, and historic Blacksburg, known as Black Station before 1888, while bringing to life the evolution of the 1845 Limestone Springs Female High School into the state's popular Limestone College of today.

Explore the sacred homeland of the Cherokee people

Created in 1920, the 650,000-acre Cherokee National Forest lies north and south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in the sacred homeland of the Cherokees, it pays tribute to its heritage in its name and protects ancient indigenous burial caves and portions of the Trail of Tears. By car, foot, horse, or watercraft, visitors explore the natural beauties of the region, such as the Roan, Max Patch, Unicoi, and Unaka mountains and the Ocoee, Hiwassee, Nolichucky, Watauga, and French Broad rivers. The Appalachian, Benton MacKaye, and John Muir trails and other pathways lead to mountain-top views, rock cliffs, forested coves and gardens of abundant wildflowers.

Local author Marci Spencer tells the stories of these wonders and the early settlers, railroad workers, loggers and miners who lived and worked among them.

Discover the stories, history and meaning of Cherokee pottery and artists.

The intricate designs and complex patterns of Cherokee pottery have been developed over centuries. Both timeless and time-honored, these singular works of pottery are still crafted by the proud hands of Cherokee women in Western North Carolina. Cherokee Pottery recounts the history of a tradition passed from elder to child through countless generations. Anna Fariello, associate professor at Western Carolina University, explores the method and meaning molded into each piece, along with the stories of the potters themselves.

Located in the rolling hills of the Carolina Piedmont, rows of cherry trees line the Old Post Road leading into Cherryville.

Originally called White Pine, the town was renamed for the ubiquitous cherry trees that are still celebrated with an annual cherry blossom festival. The village was spun from the wilderness during the mid-1700s, when Scots-Irish and German immigrants settled the area around Beaver Dam and Indian Creeks. These settlers brought with them their languages, religions, music, and customs; the German tradition of shooting in the New Year with muskets and black powder continues today after 250 years. With a storied history from the Revolutionary War, the advent of the railroad, and the international firm of Carolina Freight Carriers Corporation in 1932, Cherryville has grown into a sophisticated, modern town.

Chimney Rock and Rutherford County honors the accomplishments of one of North Carolina's most scenic counties. More than 200 vintage images, culled from postcards, newspapers, business files, and personal collections, offer a window into the county's past. Readers will learn of the county's defining moments, from its separation from Lincoln County to its supreme sacrifice during World War II of 149 young men, as well as the county's historic places, like Pine Gables (1700s), the Lake Lure Inn, and the Bechtler's Mint (1831). Readers also have the singular chance to meet well-known Rutherford County figures, including textile magnate Raleigh Rutherford Haynes, screenwriter Earl Owensby, radio announcer Jerrell Bedford, and Sheriff Damon Huskey, who served the county for 24 years.

Amid the rocky crags and misty hollows of North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountainsgrew a generation of hardy, fascinating characters became the stuff of legend.

This entertaining collection of biographical portraits captures the essence of the historic figures of the Smokies. Discover the tale of the bold Captain Kennedy and his ragtag band of Mohican and British comrades, who became French and Indian Warheroes; how Henry Von Plott became a renowned bear hunter and breeder of the world's premier hunting dog; and the story of Yonaguska, considered to be the last truly great chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Join Von Plott's great-nephew and prolific local author Bob Plott as he weaves the lively stories of these vibrant characters and their lasting legacy on the people who will always call the area home.

Explore the dark side of Davidson County’s past.

After killing his brother-in-law in 1904, wealthy businessman Henry Clay Grubb of the Churchland community was himself killed in 1913. In 1918 an adulterous affair led Graham Hege to kill his best friend, Frank Deaderick. Though most perpetrators were caught, if not convicted, the identity of the murderer of Sarah Holland Springs remains a mystery to this day. These twelve stories explore the shadowy side of this portion of the Piedmont.

Join author Caleb Sink, a lifelong resident of Davidson County, on his quest to uncover two centuries of secrets.

Davie County, carved out of Rowan County and named for a Revolutionary War hero in 1836, boasts a rich history.

The Great Wagon Road brought many settlers to the area in the 18th century, including Daniel Boone's parents--buried in Joppa Cemetery in Mocksville. The National Historical Register includes 16 county sites, among them the Cooleemee Plantation, home to the Hairston family since 1817. Davie County's agricultural heritage is complemented by its progressing commercial and retail development. Images of America: Davie County commemorates the area's communities, people, livelihoods, pastimes, and traditions, including the annual Masonic Picnic, observed for over 130 years.

Early Tourism in Western North Carolina celebrates the rise of tourism from 1900 to 1950 in the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Sites featured include the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, Blowing Rock, Asheville, Mount Mitchell, Chimney Rock, the Biltmore Estate, and the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

Born of the Industrial Revolution, Easley started with a single rail line brought to the area by Robert Elliott Holcombe at the end of the Civil War, along with his promise to build and donate the first depot.

That single line expanded, and cotton rolled in, spawning the thriving textile industry prominent in so many small Southern towns. If it was industry that gave birth to Easley, it was its perfect location amidst the breathtaking beauty in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a feeling more akin to family than community that gave the town life. Minutes from gorgeous mountain vistas and lakes, a few minutes more from larger cities, and a day's ride from the coast made Easley a perfect place to live, work, worship, and play year-round.