Did You Know?
Parkway construction began in September of 1935 at Cumberland Knob near the North Carolina and Virginia state line (at Milepost 217.5). Photo from NPS Archives
Dates
September 9, 11am - 4pm
Cost
Free
Contact
Banner House Museum
Caitlin Morehouse
828-898-3634
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bannerhousemuseum.org
Location
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Banner House Museum, 7990 Hickory Nut Gap Road, Banner Elk NC
The Banner House Museum, Avery County’s only house museum, is a restored 1865 home that is owned and operated by the Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation. We are open for tours from mid-June through October each year, and present a variety of cultural events as well. Heritage Day is our biggest event, held annually near the end of our season. This year, we are striving to raise the awareness, attendance, and profile of the event. Therefore, we are holding it during Labor Day weekend (Saturday, September 4th) and are devoting the event to celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The two presenters we have scheduled are Anne Mitchell Whisnant, author of several books about the Parkway, speaking on her book Super-Scenic Motorway; and Dr. Neva J. Specht, Appalachian State University History Professor and University Liaison to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Dr. Specht will give a talk on the Parkway’s history, called “Not Just Another Scenic Road: The Blue Ridge Parkway and Its History”, which was also the title of two weeklong workshops he conducted at ASU last summer.
Our aim is to increase awareness in our community of the national treasure that lies less than five miles outside of Banner Elk. The Parkway has long brought travelers through our area, and the nearby Linn Cove Viaduct is a marvelous attraction. Additionally, Heritage Day will have live local musicians, House Tours, Walking Tours of Banner Elk, and traditional crafts people displaying and selling their wares. The idea behind the event is to educate attendees on the uniqueness and splendor of the Blue Ridge Parkway, while concurrently celebrating the Appalachian culture that it typifies and helps preserve.
