Historical and Cultural Mountain Stories and Tales

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Welcome to the Blue Ridge Highlander Library of Historical and Cultural Tales. We hope you enjoy the stories we have created for your entertainment. Below is a photo and short description about each story, click the photo or title to go to the full story. New stories will continue to be added, so check back occasionally to enjoy the new additions.

Long before any man ever set foot on the North American Continent, the Black Bear of Northeastern America could often be seen standing upright on its hind legs surveying its territory from horizon to horizon. Masters of their domain, the great Black Bear enjoyed the prosperity of all that the earth had to offer. When the first Native Americans began to appear, they found benefit in revering the Black Bear both as a source of prey and as a spiritual guide. As brothers often do, they disputed over territory. Even with the loss of a bear's life or the life of a native hunter, they chose to live in continual respect of one another, developing a close relationship both in the physical and spiritual world....read on...

Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center

Foxfire Museum, Heritage Center and Literary Organization. The deep lines in their faces tell of hard times, like memories carved into the very fabric of their being. The language of their ancestors, the very accents of their kinsmen sound out like a recording on a vintage Victrola. Their traditions and culture reflect the cycles of the seasons like the circular rings of the internal tree lines. Their personal marks are everywhere, on the lands, in the homes, at the church and in the history laid down for generations to come. They revered the land, their families and their persistent faith. They tamed a wilderness, capturing a land that they dominated for nearly 200 years.

Biltmore Estate in Asheville North Carolina

Welcome to Biltmore Estates in Asheville, North Carolina. I'm not sure exactly what was going through George Washington Vanderbilt’s mind when he visited Asheville, North Carolina in 1888. The historical facts state that he fell in love with the mountains while on a visit with his mother Mrs. Maria Louisa Vanderbilt. They were drawn to the breathtaking scenery, hot springs and the mild mountain climate that brought in a steady flow of tourism and summer residents. It was the Gilded Age, a time when wealthy “Victorian Era” Americans were living for social fare, travel and leisure.

John C. Campbell Folk School...Keeping the Art Alive. We are all born with an innate creative instinct. Self expression excels in those who are aware of their creativity. Although there are some who are not aware of this inner resource. They might be afraid to delve into themselves, into the unknown. Worried that they may not have the creativity that they have seen in others, they don't open the door apprehensive over what they may find, wondering if it will be good enough. These people are locking away a treasure, a wealth of growth, accomplishment and self-discovery.

History of the Ocoee

History of the Ocoee....In the upper reaches of the highlands, mountain springs release pure natural water down the mountain slopes. These waters gather themselves into streams that find their way to creeks, flowing along until they merge with mountain rivers as they journey across the land and out to sea.

Blue Ridge Province

The Blue Ridge Province....Mountain summits, lush valleys, raging white waters, pristine lakes, hidden waterfalls, wildflowers, hardwood forests, and wildlife are the heart of the Blue Ridge Province. These natural wonders have a majestic appeal, captivating the mind with their presence.

Christmas at the Front
The Christmas program at Fort Loudoun offers us a vintage look at “Christmas Past.” A view of a more simple and humble time for those isolated far from home and country. No light shows, no fancy decorations, no grand hoop-la just the Spirit of a sacred time, a time of giving and reflection.

Living history makes Fort Loudoun not only a unique historical stage but also an educational theater concerning the lifestyles of Early Americans.

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