by Great Smokies | History & Culture
Enjoy books? Stroll through downtown Bryson City and you find books for sale on almost every block. These are not Barnes & Noble big box stores, but local retail stores with sections for readers young and old. Most offer selections reflecting the theme of the...
by Great Smokies | History & Culture
Jeff Marley’s enthusiasm for the programs at the Nantahala School for the Arts (NSA) is contagious as he leads a tour through the 1943 Almond Elementary School building just west of Bryson City, NC in the Smoky Mountains. As Heritage Arts Department Chair,...
by Great Smokies | Activities, History & Culture
For many shoppers, antiquing inspires creativity in your home or cabin; for others, it’s a trip down memory lane. Yet according to one shop owner, “it’s not just nostalgia when young kids spend hours looking for ‘cool stuff’ – trains, comic...
by Great Smokies | Activities, History & Culture
In September 2013, NOC was the center of the paddling universe when it hosted the ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships. 200 athletes from 30 different countries competed for the title of Freestyle World Champion. Bryson City’s phenomenal growth as an outdoor...
by Great Smokies | History & Culture
Years before Bryson City had its well-known ‘Road to Nowhere’, there was another road that really did go somewhere. In the 1930s, NC 288 was the only road connecting Bryson City to Proctor, a lumber town in the western end of Swain County, and beyond. The...
by Great Smokies | History & Culture
Horace Kephart’s grave. Photo: plugitinhikes. An icon of the Southern Appalachian region, Horace Kephart (1862-1931) is best known for his efforts to protect the Smoky Mountains as a national park. He was also vigilant in efforts to establish the Appalachian...
