Welcome to 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.
Congress designated the mountains of North Carolina the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in recognition of their natural abundance and richly varied cultural history.
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area nonprofit organization works to preserve, interpret and celebrate this heritage for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area includes the Cherokee Qualla Boundary and 25 Western North Carolina counties.
Traditional Artists
- Walker Calhoun Cherokee singer, dancer, banjo player, Qualla Boundary (Cherokee) County
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- Walker Calhoun, respected Cherokee elder, sings the traditional sacred dance songs of the Cherokee, and has played an important role in maintaining and passing on these traditions to the next generation.
- Visit the Traditional Artist Directory
Featured Destination
- Crossnore Weavers and Gallery
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- A vibrant piece of Southern Appalachian history lives on today at the Crossnore Weavers and Gallery in Crossnore, NC. This working museum features a fine art gallery, weaving studio, museum, and a retail sales shop whose proceeds benefit The Crossnore School, a non-profit children's home.
- Attractions Directory
Sights & Sounds of the Blue Ridge
The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, NC features an award-winning film about the Parkway and exhibits on natural and cultural heritage.
