Paddle: The French Broad River
Amboy Road River Park 180 Amboy Road, Asheville, NC“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“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, NCHistory 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, NCThis 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, NCAfter 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 NCJoin 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, NCReady 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“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, NCJoin 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 – Ellicott’s Rock
Bad Creek Trail, Cashiers, NC 28717 Bull Pen Rd, Cashiers, NCJoin the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, April 30 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 […]
WNCHA Hidden History Hikes and Tours: Rumbling Bald Hike
Chimney Rock State Park - Rumbling Bald Access 827 Boys Camp Rd, Lake LureJoin 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 […]