WNCHA Outdoor Experiences: The Buncombe Turnpike
Palmetto Trail Anders Road, ZirconiaReady 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 […]
Shiloh, Past and Present
ZoomJoin us (virtually) on Thursday, August 12 at 6:30pm as we bring you a multi-generational discussion of Asheville's historic Shiloh community. We are joined by a special moderator—Jefferson Ellison of JAWBREAKING Creative. Founded by newly freed people after the Civil War, Shiloh is one of Asheville’s oldest historically Black communities. Due to construction of the Biltmore […]
Exhibit Opening Reception & Pickin’ in the Parlor
Smith-McDowell House 283 Victoria Rd., AshevilleJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association for a reception marking the official opening of the exhibit, "Unearthing Our Forgotten Past: Fort San Juan," on Wednesday, August 18 from 5:30 - 7:30pm. We'll have refreshments, live old-time music, yard games, and more.
LitCafé: Anne Chesky Smith Presents Murder at Asheville’s Battery Park Hotel
Buncombe County Special Collections 67 Haywood Street, AshevilleJoin us in person at Buncombe County Special Collections Tuesday, August 24 at 6PM for a special LitCafé event. WNCHA Executive Director Anne Chesky Smith will discuss her new book Murder at Asheville's Battery Park Hotel: The Search for Helen Clevenger's Killer, out July 26. In 1936, Helen Clevenger's uncle discovered her bloodied body crumpled […]
LitCafé: Peter Barr Presents Exploring North Carolina’s Lookout Towers
ZoomLitCafé continues Tuesday, September 7 at 6PM. We are joined by Peter Barr who will discuss his recently-published book, Exploring North Carolina's Lookout Towers: A Guide to Hikes and Vistas. This event airs live and will be recorded as well. As usual, we will hold a Q&A session following Peter's presentation. About the Author: Peter […]
WNCHA Outdoor Experiences: Paddle the French Broad
Amboy Road River Park 180 Amboy Road, Asheville“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 […]
Guastavino Marker Dedication
Christmount Conference Center 222 Fern Way, Black MountainJoin the Guastavino Alliance, Swannanoa Valley Museum, and Western North Carolina Historical Association on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 10:30 am for the unveiling and dedication of a new NC Highway Historical Marker recognizing Rafael Guastavino’s vault and dome tile work and marking the site of his Black Mountain estate, Rhododendron. After the dedication, we'll […]
WNCHA Outdoor Experiences: Big Ivy Hike
Big Ivy Historical Park 550 Dillingham Rd, BarnardsvilleJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association Saturday, September 25 at 11am as we tour the Big Ivy Historical Park and then hike to the nearby Little Snowball Mountain. Buncombe County's Big Ivy region is a special place. Hemmed in by mountains and, more recently, national forest land, this valley which encompasses the communities of […]
WNCHA Experiences: Henry River Mill Village Tour
Henry River Mill Village 4255 Henry River Rd, HickoryJoin us Saturday, Oct 16 as WNCHA takes a private tour of the Henry River Mill Village outside of Morganton, North Carolina. From 1905 until the 1960s, the Henry River Manufacturing Company relied on hundreds of individuals and families manufacturing yarn in this mill and living in its constructed village. The main mill burned in […]