Paddle: The French Broad River
Amboy Road River Park 180 Amboy Road, Asheville, NC, United States“For the French Broad is, above all, a region of life, with all the richness and paradox of life. Water, forests, plants, animals, people: thronging here in rare and wonderful variety.” - Wilma Dykeman, The French Broad On Saturday, September 12, the Western North Carolina Historical Association, in partnership with Montreat College’s Outdoor Recreation Studies […]
Tour: Horace Kephart’s Bryson City
Bryson City Cemetery 80 Hillside Drive, Bryson City, NC, United States“The richness of the Great Smoky forest has been the wonder and admiration of everyone who has traversed it.” - Horace Kephart, Our Southern Highlanders On Saturday, November 14, the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) and WNCHA Vice President Geoff Cantrell will lead an interpretive walking tour of Kephart’s life in downtown Bryson City. […]
LitCafe Experiences: DuPont Forest History Hike with Danny Bernstein
DuPont State Forest 3051 Reasonover Rd, Cedar Mountain, NC, United StatesHistory Hike through DuPont Forest What is an airstrip doing in the middle of DuPont State Recreational Forest? Why the formal entrance into a state forest? And how did the lakes come to be? Come on a moderate all-day hike through historic DuPont Forest where we will walk, talk, take photos and even speculate. DuPont […]
LitCafe Experiences: History Hike with the RAIL Project
Point Lookout Trail, Ridgecrest Trailhead Mill Creek Road, Old Fort, NC, United StatesThis is one special hike you do not want to miss! John Ehle's The Road After reading and discussing John Ehle's work of historical fiction The Road, join WNCHA for a special hike exploring the real history of the incarcerated laborers who toiled and often died constructing the Western NC Railroad. We are joined by […]
LitCafe Experiences: History Hike with the RAIL Project (Hike 2)
Point Lookout Trail, Ridgecrest Trailhead Mill Creek Road, Old Fort, NC, United StatesAfter reading and discussing John Ehle’s work of historical fiction The Road, join WNCHA for a special hike exploring the real history of the incarcerated laborers who toiled and often died constructing the Western NC Railroad. We are joined by a special guest presenter, member of the RAIL Project committee and mayor of Marion, Steve Little. By popular […]
WNCHA Outdoor Experiences: Hickory Nut Gap Hike
Hickory Nut Gap NC, United StatesJoin us Saturday, May 22 as WNCHA leads a hike in the historic Hickory Nut Gap. In this exclusive hike, on a trail section not yet open to the public, we will explore the history of this area as a boundary and barrier, as well as a route connecting various people and places. Native Americans, […]
WNCHA Outdoor Experiences: The Buncombe Turnpike
Palmetto Trail Anders Road, Zirconia, NC, United StatesReady to hit the old dusty trail and explore the history of the Buncombe Turnpike? Join us Saturday, August 7 as special guest Lauren May of the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site partners with the Western North Carolina Historical Association to lead a hike in the historic Saluda Gap. This area was the southern terminus […]
WNCHA Outdoor Experiences: Paddle the French Broad
Amboy Road River Park 180 Amboy Road, Asheville, NC, United States“For the French Broad is, above all, a region of life, with all the richness and paradox of life. Water, forests, plants, animals, people: thronging here in rare and wonderful variety.” - Wilma Dykeman, The French Broad On Saturday, September 11, the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA), in partnership with Montreat College’s Outdoor Recreation […]
WNCHA Outdoor Experiences: Big Ivy Historical Park
Big Ivy Historical Park 550 Dillingham Rd, Barnardsville, NC, United StatesJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association Saturday, September 25 at 11am as we tour the Big Ivy Historical Park. NOTE: The planned hiking portion of this outing to Little Snowball Mountain is suspended unless road access and trail conditions improve. As of 9/1/21, we plan to offer only the tour of the historical park […]
WNCHA Hidden History Hikes and Tours: Rumbling Bald Hike
Chimney Rock State Park - Rumbling Bald Access 827 Boys Camp Rd, Lake Lure, United StatesJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, May 7 at 10AM as we hike below “Rumbling Bald” Mountain in the Hickory Nut Gorge. In February, 1874, the mountains at the eastern edge of the Hickory Nut Gorge began to tremble, shake, and emit plumes of dust, the day after a local preacher delivered […]
WNCHA Hidden History Hikes and Tours: Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School Tour
Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School Long Ridge Rd, Mars Hill, NC, United StatesJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, August 6 at 11AM. This event is free and open to the public. Influenced by the work of Booker T. Washington, in the 1900s, the Julius Rosenwald Fund helped create schools across the American South for African American students. Between 1929-1930, this funding helped construct one […]
WNCHA Hidden History Tour – Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School – 2nd Date
Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School Long Ridge Rd, Mars Hill, NC, United StatesJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, August 20 at 11AM. This event is free and open to the public. Influenced by the work of Booker T. Washington, in the 1900s, the Julius Rosenwald Fund helped create schools across the American South for African American students. Between 1929-1930, this funding helped construct one […]
WNCHA Hikes With a Historian: Newton Academy and South Asheville Cemeteries
Smith-McDowell House 283 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC, United StatesThe Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) invites you to join us for a special four-part Hikes With A Historian series where we explore the stories of several local cemeteries. Register for individual events, or for all four at a discount. The first tour, Wednesday, September 7 from 10:30AM – 12:30PM takes place in Asheville’s […]
WNCHA Hikes With a Historian: Absalom Dillingham Cemetery Walking Tour
Big Ivy Community Center 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville, NC, United StatesThe Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) invites you to join us for the second event in our special four-part Hikes With A Historian series where we explore the stories of several local cemeteries. Register for individual events, or all four at a discount. The first tour, Wednesday, September 14 from 11AM – 12:30PM takes […]
WNCHA Hikes With a Historian: Hot Springs Cemeteries Walking Tour
Hot Springs 64 Bridge St, Hot Springs, NC, United StatesThe Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) invites you to join us for the third event in our special four-part Hikes With A Historian series where we explore the stories of several local cemeteries. This tour, Wednesday, September 21 from 10AM – 12:30PM takes place in various cemeteries in Hot Springs, North Carolina. Hot Springs […]
WNCHA Hikes With a Historian: Guastavino Estate Ruins and Cemetery Tour
Christmount Conference Center 222 Fern Way, Black Mountain, NC, United StatesJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Wednesday, September 28 from 11AM – 12:30PM as we conclude our special Hikes With a Historian: Cemeteries tours at the Christmount Christian Assembly in Black Mountain. Renowned architect and builder, Rafael Guastavino and his wife, Francesca, retired to Black Mountain after he completed working on the Biltmore House […]
WNCHA Hikes With A Historian – Rebels and Loyalists: Mountaineers and the Battle of Kings Mountain
Bradley Nature Preserve Grays Chapel Church Rd, Rutherfordton, NC, United StatesJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, October 8 from 10-1PM as we explore the American Revolutionary War in WNC with a guided hike. Many of us are probably at least somewhat familiar with the 1780 battle at Kings Mountain, as well as the legendary “Overmountain Men” who marched across WNC in search […]
WNCHA Hikes With A Historian – Ellicott’s Rock
Bad Creek Trail, Cashiers, NC 28717 Bull Pen Rd, Cashiers, NC, United StatesJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, March 18 at 9AM as we hike to Ellicott’s and Governor’s rocks along the Chattooga River. Along the Chattooga River, the states of NC, SC, and GA intersect. From conflicts between Cherokees and white settlers, to the Walton War between Georgia and North Carolina over their […]
Park Day at the Smith-McDowell House
Smith-McDowell House 283 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC, United StatesThe Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) is proud to participate in the American Battlefield Trust’s annual Park Day. On this day, volunteers across the country team up to clean, maintain, and learn about the history of battlefields and site associated with the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War. Our event takes place […]