The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area has received grant funding to develop a region-wide system of interpretive signage to raise awareness of the National Heritage Area designation, help increase visitation, and deepen appreciation for the national significance of our region's heritage.

The project is made possible by an enhancement grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and by partner organizations across the region that are providing local matching funds for each sign. Haywood County is providing administrative assistance.

As originally envisioned, the program consisted of 80 interpretive signs at major heritage attractions and 20 gateway signs at major entrance points and welcome centers. The interpretive signs were to be placed at 80 natural and cultural heritage sites identified by the Governor's Year of the Mountain Commission. However, the owners of some of those sites elected not to participate in the program, and some property owners chose to have signs placed at different locations. Currently, the project consists of 60 sites, and we are awaiting authorization from the North Carolina Department of Transportation to proceed with design and fabrication of the signs.