Sign # 63 Where the Foothills End & the Blue Ridge Begins

This was a crossroads called Pace’s Gap, where drovers passed through herding livestock to ports in South Carolina. But once the ﬁrst train came though on July 4, 1878, the area came to life and, by 1881, had been chartered as the town of Saluda – named for a Cherokee Indian Chief whose name means Corn River.

Imagine the sounds of a steam-powered locomotive pufﬁng up the steep grade, with smoke spewing from its stacks as it blows its steam. Getting off the train are lowlanders from further south who are escaping the sweltering heat and pesky mosquitoes. Among these are artists, writers and musicians retreating to the natural beauty of the Saluda Mountains for inspiration, cool Main Street Saluda, circa 1920. Among the passengers, were Saluda residents waiting for arrival of summer folks to sell produce and artists and writers looking for a mountain retreat. give carriage rides to one of 37 inns and boarding homes in Saluda.

breezes, and healthy mountain air. Town folks have parked their buggies, wagons and motorized vehicles along the dirt-covered Main Street. Farmers greet the trains to sell fresh produce to visitors and Saluda residents.

Saluda became the “summer home” of many artistic people hoping to hide away so they could paint, write or just relax. The arts in Saluda started out

Photo by by Wendy Auman as being functional—potters, wool dyers, rug makers and furniture makers. Saluda’s art colony continues to ﬂourish. Many are nationally acclaimed for their work, and all are celebrated annually.

Visit saluda.com for more information.

Left and bottom right: Train coming up Saluda Grade. The Saluda Grade is the steepest standard gauge main-line railroad grade in the United States. Top right: Saluda is embraced and protected by natural geographical borders; the Green River, the Gorge, and the Grade. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 64 Welcome to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

A place unlike any other on Earth, where ancient landscapes enchant the eye and age-old traditions warm the heart.

You are now in one of America’s most cherished and celebrated natural landscapes, the mountains and foothills of Western North Carolina. The natural heritage of these ancient mountains, some of the oldest in the world, combined with the cultural heritage of the people who have lived here over centuries have created a place so special in our country it has been honored with the Photo by Bill Lea Photo by Hugh Morton designation of “National Heritage Area.” From high mountaintops to secluded coves, the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area meets the eye at every turn.

Here, you’ll ﬁnd… • The highest mountain east of the Mississippi—Mount Mitchell • The deepest gorge in the Eastern United States—Linville Gorge • The oldest river in North America—the New River • The most visited National Park lands in the country—Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway • Cherokee heritage—more than 10,000 years old • America’s largest home—Biltmore Estate • Music born and bred in these mountains—bluegrass, old-time, gospel and more that has inﬂuenced many styles of American music. • Handcraft traditions—unmatched anywhere in the country • Fresh, delicious food from local farms—in restaurants, stores, and farmers markets.

Visit our kiosk inside this Welcome Center to learn more, or go to www.blueridgeheritage.com.

The North Carolina mountains and foothills were designated the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in recognition of their natural beauty and living traditions of music, craft, agriculture, and Cherokee culture. This location is part of a regional trail of distinctive heritage The music born and bred in these ancient mountains has widely influenced the development of other genres of American sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers. music. The region was honored as a National Heritage Area for its rich cultural heritage--the 10,000 year old history of the Cherokee, craft traditions, foodways and farms, and music as well as its natural scenic beauty. Top, from L to R , photos taken by or courtesy of: Cherokee Historical Association; Robin Dreyer, Penland School of Crafts; Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; Jerry Nelson Photography, courtesy of the Folk Heritage Committee. Lower photo by Donna Absher. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 65 Mill Spring Agricultural Center

The 40,000 square foot Mill Spring School, built in 1924, served children of all grades in Polk County until 1998. After sitting vacant until 2010, the building is now serving the community in a new way—the Mill Spring Agricultural Center. This new community center includes a local food farm store, agricultural food hub, small business center, auditorium for technical and cultural events, meeting space, art studios, and demonstration and exhibition gardens, greenhouse, and orchard.

The Center was brought to life by the care and concern of over a thousand community volunteers and through donations from their homes and hearts. Photo by Patrick Mclendon Photoby Travis Williams Kacy Spooner, an AmeriCorps member, prepares the The Farmers’ Market mascots welcome guests at AmeriCorps Project Conserve members served yearly, logging a combined vegetable garden for a biointensive planting for exhibition to the Ag Center for the Farm to Fork Dinner. 17,000 hours in the ﬁrst 5 years of the Ag Center. Their dedication and local farmers. community service helped the Center transform into its new purpose.

A bird’s eye view of the community coming together to A highlight of the Center is the gardens. Over 450 varieties are grown in the celebrate local farmers and food during the Farm to Fork Dinner. Rose Exhibition Garden. The vegetable gardens provide exhibition and demonstration of local crops and heirloom varieties of vegetables. The Fruit Orchard exhibits trees as well as raspberry, blueberry and blackberry gardens. The Medicinal, Culinary and Dye garden teaches about various plants that can be used for dying, culinary and herbal uses.

The Mill Spring Ag Center is owned and operated by the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District and is not tax funded. This building will always be here for its citizens.

Taken from a yearbook of Mill Spring School, this photo shows the school in its original manifestation before additions were added on. Circa 1930s. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com

Sign # 66 Pearson’s Falls and Glen – Saluda, North Carolina

Welcome to Pearson’s Falls and Glen, a botanical preserve comprised of 268 acres. This sanctuary has been owned and maintained since 1931 by the Tryon Garden Club, a nonproﬁt 501(c)(3) organization.

Photo courtesy of Rob Meeske

Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Falls and Glen have been designated as a North Carolina National Heritage Area, a North Carolina Birding Trail Site, and included in the Smithsonian Institute Archives of American Gardens, Washington, D.C.

Over 200 species of native deciduous and evergreen trees, ﬂowering plants, wildﬂowers, algae, mosses, fungi and fern thrive. A unique thermal belt provides a long freeze-free growing season. The Pearson Family Trail to the 90-foot waterfall is a 1/4 mile moderate hike along Colt Creek with scenic overlooks.

Literature on the history and preservation of this pristine sanctuary is available at the ticket booth. Questions and concerns may be directed to the caretaker. Tryon Garden Club supports its mission of Preserving, Protecting and Treasuring Pearson’s Falls and Glen.

Photo courtesy of Chris Bartol More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 67 Nantahala Outdoor Center

In 1972, three childhood friends from Atlanta converted the Tote ’n’ Tarry Motel into a whitewater rafting and paddling outﬁtter at the ﬁnish of the Nantahala River. They named the business Nantahala Outdoor Center, and within the decade NOC became the heart of American paddlesports, offering competitive paddlers full-time employment and attracting river lovers from around the nation with dependable year-round whitewater.

Today, NOC takes more guests down whitewater rivers and teaches more people to canoe and kayak than any other outfitter in the world. And NOC’s Nantahala River campus is one of the Southeast’s most iconic roadside Photo by Steven McBride Photo by Steven McBride The Nantahala River runs past the NOC Thousands of spectators crowd the banks of the Nantahala attractions, offering shopping, riverside restaurants, outdoor activities and a Outfitter’s Store on a summer day, providing a for the semi-finals of the 2013 ICF Freestyle Kayaking scenic break for passer-bys and visitors in the World Championships, which attracted 200 athletes from full calendar of outdoor festivals and races. Nantahala Gorge. over thirty countries for the seven-day competition.

An important training site for aspiring athletes, over 20 of the company’s employees have represented the United States in Olympic canoe and kayak events, including the United States’ only Olympic gold medalists Joe Jacobi and Scott Strausbaugh.

Also a notable competition site, NOC has won bids for major international competitions such as the 2013 ICF Freestyle Kayaking World Championships and the 2015 ICF Wildwater Junior World Championships, solidifying Western North Carolina’s reputation as a premier destination for international paddlesports championships.

Photo by Steven McBride sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers.

A family enjoys a guided whitewater rafting trip down the Nantahala River. The Nantahala, beloved for its mild but exciting rapids, is the nation’s most popular entry-level whitewater river. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 68 Cradle of Forestry

Nestled in the valley below is the Cradle of Forestry in America, the birthplace of science-based forest management and a living legacy made possible by George and Edith Vanderbilt of the nearby Biltmore Estate. Some 87,000 acres of the Vanderbilt’s “Pisgah Forest” tract viewed from this point became the nucleus of the Pisgah National Forest, established in 1916.

This 6,500-acre historic site was created by Congress in 1968 to “preserve, develop, and make available to this and future generations the birthplace of forestry and forestry education in America.”

Photo by Arlon Harris Photo by Fred Racey Hands-on nature programs and tours are offered from Special events celebrate forest heritage and volunteers bring April to November. history to life at the Cradle of Forestry and the neighboring Pink Beds Valley.

Today, the Cradle of Forestry is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and is open to visitors from mid-April to early November. As you enter the main gate (4 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 412), you will be rewarded with the opportunity to explore the past, present, and future of environmental sustainability and stewardship - brought to visitors through paved interpretive trails, interactive exhibits, ﬁlm, music, drama, guided tours, nature programs, craft demonstrations, and special events. A sustainably designed Forest Discovery Center with its gift shop and café welcomes visitors to the historic structures and to a relaxing walk through the woods or neighboring Pink Beds Valley.

www.cradleofforestry.com • (828) 877-3130

The North Carolina mountains and foothills were designated the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in recognition of their natural beauty and living traditions of music, craft, agriculture, and Cherokee culture. This location is part of a regional trail of distinctive heritage sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers. National Forests of North Carolina Historic Photographs, D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville The Cradle of Forestry preserves many original structures associated with Pisgah Forest and the Biltmore Forest School (1898-1913), ﬁrst in the U.S. to train professional foresters. The one-room community school and church (pictured here) became the forestry school’s classroom. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 69 Blue Ridge Parkway National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Mountain Building and Mountain Erosion

Before you stands one of the most popular sights along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Looking Glass Rock. This granite monolith reflects both the mountain building and destruction process throughout the Appalachian region. Looking Glass has weathered the test of time as the mountains around it, made of softer rocks, succumbed to the Photo courtesy of Alex Armstrong Photo courtesy of RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide elements, eroding into lower elevations. The name "Looking Glass" Red salamander, common in the area. Looking Glass Falls. comes from its appearance when the sun reflects off of rainwater or ice, reflecting like a mirror. The land along the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a great diversity of habitat and thus supports more plant species than any other park in the United States. The overall geology of ancient mountains, varied topography, and elevation, along with a temperate climate has given rise to a wonderland of natural heritage in Western North Carolina.

In fact, botanical studies have documented over 4,000 species of plants, 2,000 species of fungi, and 500 species of mosses and lichens in the region. The North Carolina mountains are home to more species of salamanders than any other place in the world.