Historic Sites

Thomas Jefferson called the victory of American patriots over British Major Patrick Ferguson's army at King's Mountain in October, 1780, the battle that "turned the tide of success" in the Revolutionary War.

Many of the militia men who achieved this stunning victory were known as the "Overmountain Men," citizen soldiers who came from southwest Virginia, today's eastern Tennessee, the piedmont of North and South Carolina, and as far away as Georgia, all joining to form an army that defeated Ferguson and his force at Kings Mountain, South Carolina.

Old Wilkes Jail

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley...

Tom Dula, the subject of the well-known folksong, was one of many colorful characters to be incarcerated in the historic Old Wilkes Jail, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Today, this North Carolina jail is one of the most authentically preserved 19th century buildings in the state.

Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts

The Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts in Waynesville, North Carolina, showcases distinctive art, handicrafts, and furniture created by North Carolina artists. An outgrowth of an annual State Fair exhibit, "Village of Yesteryear," the museum's displays include intricate woodworking, weaving, quilting, pottery, dolls, a Native American room, and many other artifacts.

Mountain Gateway Museum

The Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center, located in Old Fort, North Carolina, provides an excellent introduction to mountain lifestyle and history.

Old Fort has long been considered a "gateway" to the Blue Ridge Mountains and was the site of the westernmost pioneer outpost in North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary War. The Mountain Gateway Museum's exhibits, artifacts, photographs, and video interpret life in Western North Carolina from the earliest inhabitants through the settlement period and into the 20th century.

Linville

The town of Linville, located near the Blue Ridge Parkway, has long been a resort community. Visitors can see the careful planning that went into its development by taking a stroll through the Linville Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Historic Johnson Farm

Historic Johnson Farm, a late 19th century tobacco farm located near Hendersonville, North Carolina, gives visitors a peek into days-gone-by and a way of life that is rapidly disappearing across America—the family farm.