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.
Ramona Church grew up in Wilkes County listening to her grandfather
play banjo in an old two-finger style and hearing her mother's family
sing gospel music. She has been playing banjo and performing since she
was a young girl.
The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, located near Brevard, NC, offers unique indoor and outdoor exhibits and programs on the state's wildlife and mountain habitats.