About the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area - A Part of North Carolina, Appalachian, Cherokee and American History
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area was designated by Congress and the President in November, 2003 in recognition of the unique character, culture, and natural beauty of Appalachia and the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina. The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area has great significance, not only to historical North Carolina, but also to the history of our nation.
The federal legislation that designated the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area also created a nine-member board of directors. The board then formed a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization—which operates under the name the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership—to steward the federal funds that support the designation, develop a management plan, build partnerships in the region, attract matching funds, and implement projects.
The Mission of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
The mission of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership is to protect, preserve, interpret, and develop the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of Western North Carolina for the benefit of present and future generations, and in so doing to sustain our heritage and stimulate improved economic opportunity in our region.
A Region of National Significance - The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina are among the oldest mountains on Earth. The landscape is full of superlatives: the highest mountain (Mount Mitchell), deepest gorge (Linville Gorge), and highest waterfall (Whitewater Falls) in the eastern United States; the oldest river in North America (the New River); and the two most visited National Park lands in the country (the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park). The region is also blessed with a stunning diversity of plant and animal life; more, in fact, than the whole of Europe.
Appalachian History in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC is Cherokee, African American and European History
But there is more to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area than just its mountains, for out of those mountains grew a rich cultural heritage as well. The birthplace of the Cherokee's advanced early civilization, the region, is, today, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians which continues to preserve many facets of traditional Cherokee culture.
Beginning in the eighteenth century European and African settlers moved into the mountains. The relative isolation of mountain life helped these settlers nourish and preserve many traditions, especially handmade crafts.
Traditional Craft, Music and Arts Heritage in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina
The mountains also proved a fertile meeting ground for European and African music traditions, and over time these traditions melded to create the unique music of Appalachia.
The area has become the center of handmade art and craft in America, with a rich legacy of both traditional and contemporary craft schools and over 4,000 working craftspeople.
A land of mountain wilderness, waterfalls, Cherokee tradition, string bands, and craft studios, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is truly a region with a "personality" like no other.
Learn more about Blue Ridge Heritage by clicking the links below:
Historic North Carolina Agricultural Heritage
Natural Heritage of Appalachia and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Historic Sites in North Carolina
