Blue Ridge Parkway
Although it is a scenic byway with plenty of natural attractions, the Blue Ridge Parkway also has a mission to interpret the culture of the region. Signage, exhibits, and restored historic structures help educate visitors about the history and culture of Appalachia. Of the Parkway’s 469 miles, more than half are located in North Carolina. […]
Center for Appalachian Studies
The Center for Appalachian Studies, a department of the College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University, was established in 1978 to coordinate and promote curriculum offerings, public programs, and research activities in the Appalachian region. Built on the work of generations of Appalachian scholars, including folklorists Amos Abrams and Cratis Williams, the Center […]
Folk Heritage Committee
The Folk Heritage Committee is a special committee of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and is made up of dedicated individuals charged with the mission of preserving and presenting the music and dance heritage of the Southern Appalachians for entertainment and education. The Folk Heritage Committee’s purpose is to produce two events: Mountain Dance […]
John C. Campbell Folk School
www.folkschool.com Founded in 1925 in the mountains of western North Carolina, the John C. Campbell folk School was the result of a collaboration between Olive Dame Campbell, Marguerite Butler, and the people of Brasstown. The Campbell Folk School has long played an active role in the continued vitality of traditional and contemporary crafts, music, dance […]
Mountain Heritage Center
From its beginning in 1889, Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, collected regional manuscripts and artifacts to celebrate its Appalachian history. In 1975, stimulated by a nationwide interest in heritage in general and a rediscovery of Appalachia in particular, Appalachian-born Chancellor H. F. Robinson announced plans for the creation of a formal museum and […]
One Dozen Who Care
One Dozen Who Care is an African American-led community development organization in the far western part of North Carolina. Members have come together to strengthen their leadership abilities and create community bonds through their common cultural interests. The group’s main goals are to increase and strengthen community leadership, assure the well-being of children and youth, […]
Southern Highland Craft Guild
The Southern Highland Craft Guild, which is headquartered in the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center in Asheville, is a non-profit educational organization with a membership of more than 700 crafts artists living and working in the mountain regions of nine southeastern states. Since its inception in 1930, the Guild has worked to instill and […]
Stecoah Valley Arts, Crafts and Educational Center, Inc.
The Stecoah Valley Center is a non-profit organization formed by a group of local citizens dedicated to the preservation and promotion of community life and mountain culture. The center provides local artisans with studio workspace, and it houses a library, family resource center, and a cooperative craft shop. Located in the old Stecoah school, built […]
Southern Appalachian English
The Southern Appalachian English website, compiled by Michael Montgomery of the University of South Carolina, contains audio clips and transcripts from 1939 interviews with elderly residents of the Smoky Mountains, including some who were born before the Civil War. This site also includes a thorough bibliography about Southern and Appalachian dialects, an extensive dictionary of […]
WPAQ Mount Airy
“WPAQ of Mount Airy, NC is a radio station in the classic southern tradition. Since signing on in 1948, it has featured live local and touring professional artists performing old time, bluegrass, and traditional gospel music. With uncommon consistency, the station has reflected the musical values of its community for nearly sixty years. WPAQ continues […]