Welcome to Blue Ridge National Heritage Area,
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.
Traditional Artists
- Lloyd Arneach Cherokee storyteller, Qualla Boundary (Cherokee) County
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- Lloyd Arneach tells stories to audiences of all ages. His personal style enlivens stories from Cherokee traditions, from his personal experiences, and from contemporary and historical events.
- Visit the Traditional Artist Directory
Featured Destination
- Mount Hardy
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- Located south of Waynesville, NC, Mount Hardy rises to 6,110 feet in the Great Balsam Mountain range and offers ambitious hikers an exhilarating climb from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Attractions Directory
Sights & Sounds of the Blue Ridge
The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, NC features an award-winning film about the Parkway and exhibits on natural and cultural heritage.
