Heritage Happenings for Your Halloween Weekend

Why stay at home this Halloween weekend, when there are plenty of treats that many cities, historic downtowns and historic sites have conjured up? There is something for everyone, whether you’re looking for kid-friendly activities, haunted history tours or just an enriching day out to enjoy the bounties of autumn.

Click on the events below for more information on each one. Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Briarhurst Manor’s Costume Party & Grand Ball, Historic Briarhurst Castle, Manitou Springs, Colorado, Oct. 29
Experience Halloween at a real haunted castle! This stately manor, built in 1874, has had a variety of residents over the years and certainly has its share of ghost stories to tell. It will be featured on the television show “Ghost Hunters” on Oct. 28 and the Grand Ball will be held the following evening. Reservations are required, so call ahead for details.

Fall Film Screening: Almost Famous, Museum at Bethel Woods, Bethel, New York, Oct. 29
As the site of the original Woodstock festival in 1969, the Museum at Bethel Woods is an ideal location for a screening of the classic movie about classic rock-and-roll. To get in the Halloween spirit, you can even come dressed as your favorite rock star! Pay homage in a karaoke competition, with prizes awarded for best costume and best performance.

Flashlight Tour of Thistle Hill, Thistle Hill, Fort Worth, Texas, Oct. 29
This special tour of Fort Worth’s majestic Thistle Hill mansion takes you to places you won’t see on the standard tour. Explore the mansion’s basement, Carriage House and servants’ quarters – entirely by flashlight. The flashlight is not included, so don’t forget to bring your own.

9th Annual Ghost Walk & Creepy Crawl, Lexington, Kentucky, Oct. 29-31
Take a 1 ½-hour guided walk through historic downtown Lexington, where you’ll hear tales of history, haunts, duels and disasters.

Natural Bridge Corn Maze, Natural Bridge, Virginia, Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Enjoy this favorite fall pastime while enjoying breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Plus, kids can hunt for the scarecrows hiding in the corn maze to win prizes!

5th Annual Fortress of Nightmares, Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island, Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Historic Fort Adams will unleash the restless spirits of its past during special haunted tours. You will make your way through spooky areas of the fort not usually seen on regular tours, and you will hear eerie, bizarre and macabre tales of the fort’s long history and legends told by the resident “spirits” themselves.

Halloweekend, Los Alamos, New Mexico, Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Thousands of trick-or-treaters will fill the streets of downtown Los Alamos for this annual weekend festival for young and old alike!

Halloween Candlelight Tour, Adsmore House & Gardens, Princeton, Kentucky, Oct. 31
Adsmore, a meticulously restored house museum, reflects the lifestyle of the prominent Smith-Garrett family at the turn of the 20th century. During this living history tour, the "Merry Maids," a group of young, unmarried ladies living in Princeton in 1905, delve into their futures looking for romance, adventure, happiness and just a little “fright."

Haunted History Tour, Natchitoches, Louisiana, Oct. 31
The Natchitoches Historic Foundation invites you to find out what's haunted about Natchitoches, while being terrifically entertained as it resurrects some of the most colorful characters in the history of the Louisiana Purchase.

Wee Faerie Village Halloween Costume Parade & Pumpkin Party, Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, Connecticut, Oct. 31
Enchanting faeries, devilish elves and everything in between are invited to join the Halloween Costume Parade through the Wee Faerie Village, a magical work of art handcrafted by the Lyme Art Colony. The parade will begin and end in the Hartman Education Center. Costume prizes will be awarded for Best Faerie or Elf, Very Very Scary and Laugh-Out-Loud Funny.

Historic Haunting, Historic Speedwell, Morristown, New Jersey, Oct. 31
Listen to terrifying ghost stories and participate in a variety of Halloween fun and games! Children are encouraged to come in costume and participate in an old-fashioned costume contest.

Tavern Ghost Walks, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, year-round
Spend your Halloween night on a one-hour guided walking tour, where guests learn of the ghosts that still haunt the taverns and historic buildings of Colonial Williamsburg.


Photo Credit: Hanna Horwarth, Flickr

Historic Haunts: French Quarter, New Orleans

New Orleans is famous for many things, not the least of which is its rich history and multicultural heritage. In the heart of the City of Saints lies the French Quarter, a place that certainly has its share of stories from its history.

When visiting New Orleans, you can go on a haunted history tour where you’ll hear some of the more ghastly tales of the city’s past and see the places where actual events took place. In this video, you’ll hear the grisly story of “The Blight of New Orleans.”



Video Created by geobeats

Have you ever been on a haunted history tour? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below!

Heritage Halloween Happenings: Weekend Events

Halloween is almost here, and you don’t have to have kids to enjoy some of the treats that many cities, historic downtowns and historic sites have conjured up for the next couple of weekends. There is something for everyone, whether you’re looking for kid-friendly activities, haunted history tours or just an enriching day out to enjoy the bounties of autumn.

These events are happening this weekend, Oct. 23-25. Next week, we will post more happenings for the Halloween weekend – so you can make all your plans for All Hallows Eve!

Night Spirits, Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, Madison, Indiana, Oct. 23
This ghostly walking tour for mature audiences only tells macabre, but true tales from Madison’s past from the perspective of six “spirits” on the grounds of the Lanier Mansion. 7 p.m.- 9 p.m.

Fall Gallery Walk 2009, Manassas, Virginia, Oct. 23
Various merchants will host artists’ receptions throughout Old Town Manassas at the free Fall Gallery Walk. Follow the balloons to find the various stops on the walk, or pick up a Gallery Walk map. 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Haunted Heights Ghost Walk, Dumfries, Virginia, Oct. 23 & 24
This guided, evening walking tour through Dumfries' Haunted Heights includes a tour of the ghostly cemetery and information about the mystery and recent happenings of the most haunted house in Dumfries. Enjoy hot chocolate and cider by the campfire in Merchant Park. 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. Walks are scheduled on the half hour.

Island Oktoberfest, Galveston, Texas, Oct. 23 & 24
Celebrate that most popular of German traditions with Galveston’s rendition of Oktoberfest, kicking off in the coastal city’s historic downtown. Enjoy a family-friendly weekend of great music, authentic German food, libations, games and much more.

2nd Annual Viewshed Tour, Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, New York, Oct. 24
Olana was the home of American artist Frederic Edwin Church. It was named for an ancient Persian fortress and sits high above the Hudson River Valley, offering spectacular views of the river and the Catskill Mountains. Olana’s Viewshed Tour celebrates this very thing – the magnificent beauty surrounding the estate that Church called “the center of the world.”

The Fright at the White House Family Scavenger Hunt, Washington, D.C., Oct. 24
Kids and adults learn the creepy stories of the ghosts who have roamed the halls of the White House and other buildings in the area, while answering tricky questions about what they discover along the way. 4:30 p.m.- 7 p.m. Advance purchase of tickets is required, so visit the website for more information.

The Great Pumpkin Event, Blue Lake, California, Oct. 25
This free and family-friendly event is all about the pumpkin, featuring several pumpkin contests, pumpkin concoctions and general pumpkin fun! Area gardeners and farmers can also bring vegetables from their harvests to contribute to a stone soup, which will be served to event guests.

Great Pumpkin Festival, Landmark Center, St. Paul, Minnesota, Oct. 25
Find out if the Great Pumpkin really does exist at this fun-filled family event at St. Paul’s historic Landmark Center. Families can dig into the fun with arts and crafts projects, spook themselves silly with scary storytellers, get their faces painted to look like witches or pumpkins and even get up close and personal with a 300-pound pumpkin!

Autumn’s Colors, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, through Nov. 22
Celebrate the harvest season with pumpkin carving and artistic displays of gourds, squash and thousands of chrysanthemums. Weekends offer the tastes and sounds of autumn with seasonal treats and music.


Photo Credit: Scarecrow in Rural Maryland by Carol M. Highsmith

New Study Reveals Popularity of U.S. Cultural and Heritage Travel

As we started down the path of creating an online community devoted to cultural and heritage travel, we sliced and diced all of the research we could gather from a variety of sources. It didn't take long to realize there was great potential in reaching out to this underserved niche.

We all know the economy has changed dramatically in the past year, so we wanted to commission new consumer research targeting the U.S. cultural and heritage traveler. We were pleased to learn that the desire to participate in cultural and heritage travel remains strong and lucrative.

One of the most satisfying statistics reveals that the number one driver for future cultural and heritage travel is the desire to seek authentic experiences. One survey respondent said, “I seek travel experiences where the destination, its buildings and surroundings have retained their historical character.”

Listed below are a few of the survey highlights. More information about the survey can be found in the press release.

• 78% of U.S. leisure travelers (118 million adults) participate in cultural and/or heritage activities when traveling.

• Fully 40% of all leisure travelers in the U.S. alone can be classified as those who actively engage in cultural and heritage travel.

• 24% of U.S. leisure travelers (36 million) will take a cultural/heritage trip within the next 12 months.

• Cultural/heritage travelers took an average of 5 trips in the past year compared with slightly less than 4 trips for non-cultural/heritage travelers.

• These travelers spend more money on cultural/historic trips ($994 on average) than is spent on the average U.S. trip ($611). Half of these expenditures are spent on activities, dining and shopping.

• Two-thirds of cultural/heritage travelers visited historic sites.

• More than half visited museums/galleries.

• 58% want their travel to be educational and make an effort to explore and learn about the local arts, culture, environment and history.

• 45% spend more money on cultural/heritage activities than on other activities while on a trip.

• 37% would pay more for lodging that reflects the cultural/heritage destination they visit.

• 57% of these travelers use websites as their travel information source.

• Cultural and heritage travelers are active online; 67% use Google and 42% use Facebook.

The Cultural and Heritage Traveler Research was sponsored by Heritage Travel, Inc., commissioned by the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce and conducted by Mandela Research.

I look forward to reading about your cultural and heritage travel experiences on Gozaic.

Regards,

John I. Williams, Jr.
President & CEO
Heritage Travel, Inc.


Photo Credit: Downtown Harpers Ferry, West Virginia by Carol M. Highsmith

Historic Haunts: Farnsworth House Inn, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg is one of the most popular destinations in America, not only for Civil War buffs, but also for those interested in the paranormal. This historic Pennsylvania town, famous as the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, as well as President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal Gettysburg Address, is host to thousands of visitors who flock there every year on and around Halloween to catch a possible glimpse of one of its many ghostly residents.

Farnsworth House Inn is located in Gettysburg and has a few ghost stories of its own to tell. Watch the video to hear just a few of the terrifying tales.


Video Created by geobeats

Have you ever stayed in a haunted hotel? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below!

Heritage Q&A with Rob Shenk of the Civil War Preservation Trust

As we continue our series of questions and answers from people with a passion for heritage and cultural travel, we interview Rob Shenk, director of Internet strategy and development for the Civil War Preservation Trust. Rob is also the leader of Gozaic's Civil War History Buffs Circle.

Prior to joining the Civil War Preservation Trust, Rob served as senior vice president of E*TRADE Financial, where he helped to develop E*TRADE’s Web and retail banking offerings. Rob’s redesign of the E*TRADE Web banking platform led to a 2005 Webby Award and top rankings from Forbes, SmartMoney, and Money Magazine. Prior to working at E*TRADE, Rob spent six years at America Online (AOL), where he was responsible for the development and operation of the Personal Finance Channel, the most heavily visited interactive financial site of its time. Prior to his time at AOL, Rob spent five years in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer for Strike Fighter Squadron 147 on the USS Nimitz and in the Naval Surface Warfare Command.

Rob received a master’s degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and a bachelor of arts in Political Economy from the University of California at Berkeley.

Where is your hometown?
Menlo Park, California

Where do you live now?
Great Falls, Virginia

Is there one place in the world you would recommend that people visit?
Tough question, there are so many places! Having just returned from a visit to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Park in Illinois, I know that I could strongly recommend a visit. At New Salem, Abraham Lincoln’s hometown while he was a young adult, you truly get the sense of how adventuresome, industrious and rugged our American ancestors truly were.

Where was your last work project?
I work for the Civil War Preservation Trust, and we all just returned from our Grand Review event in Springfield, Illinois. From there we were able to visit a tremendous number of the historic sites associated with Abraham Lincoln, from his family home to his law office, the Old State House, New Salem, the new Lincoln Museum and more.

Where was your last vacation?
My last vacation was at our family cabin in the Mother Lode section of the Sierra Nevadas in California. There are many great California Gold Rush towns all around, including Jamestown, Sonora, Angel’s Camp and Columbia, and each is filled with all sorts of great gold rush history.

In your travels, have you found any heritage or cultural place that made you say "this is where I belong," "this place defines me," or "I am home," "I must work here"?
In my line of work I have the great privilege of being able to visit the battlefields and historic sites associated with the American Civil War. From my first visit to a Civil War battlefield as a young high school student to my frequent wanderings today, I am always mesmerized by the very places where this great conflict played out: deep inside the gun galleries of Fort Sumter, standing in Robert E. Lee’s bedroom at Arlington House, crawling over boulders at Little Round Top, following Stonewall Jackson’s forested path at Chancellorsville, standing amongst the plain graves at Carnton, crawling through the forts of Mobile Bay, to looking upon Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theater – each fills me with a sense of history and wonderment.

Is there one heritage site or destination that you always wanted to visit, but never had the time?
The list grows and grows! Here are a few places that are on my shortlist of sites that I really want to see: Fort Ticonderoga, Missionary Ridge near Chattanooga, the Alhambra in Andalusia, Tikal and Istanbul.

Historic Haunts: Casablanca Inn, St. Augustine, Florida

Many historic sites in America have very sordid pasts and come complete with their own spine-tingling tales of disappearances, tragedy and even murder. They have become some of the most haunted places in America, where visitors regularly report all kinds of paranormal activity – from ghostly apparitions and self-moving furniture, to eerie sounds and unexplained “bumps in the night.”

One of these haunted historic places is the Casablanca Inn, located in St. Augustine, Florida. Watch the video as the innkeeper talks about some of the creepy disturbances that staff and guests have experienced.


Video Created by geobeats

Have you ever stayed in a haunted hotel? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below!

Heritage Q&A with Ginny Sullivan of the Adventure Cycling Association

Next in our series of questions and answers from people with a passion for heritage and cultural travel, we interview Ginny Sullivan, who is the special projects director for the Adventure Cycling Association. She is also the leader of Gozaic's Cycling Through History Circle, where her passion for exploring history by bicycle is helping to educate and inspire others to embark on two-wheel journeys of discovery.

Ginny works with newly-developed bicycle routes mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association, including the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. This historically based, long-distance bike route celebrates the courage of those who fled slavery and those who provided safe passage. Additionally, Ginny works with the U.S. Bicycle Route System, an interstate bike route network integrating new and established local and regional routes and trails. Ginny also coordinates activities that promote Adventure Cycling’s 38,000-mile bike route network and other programs.


Where is your hometown?
Highwood, Montana, a small ranching and farming community in central Montana. I graduated with 12 kids.

Where do you live now?
Missoula, Montana, and I’ve been here for almost 20 years.

Is there one place in the world you would recommend that people visit?
The Smithsonian Institution museums in Washington, D.C. and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Where was your last work project? How about vacation?
Last work project was a presentation at the Ontario Bike Summit about the popularity and potential of bicycle touring, as well as our efforts to create a nationally designated bicycle route system.

My last vacation was actually a working vacation on which I staffed the bicycle tour, Heart of the Underground Railroad, in Ohio last summer.

When you travel to somewhere you’ve never been before, what must you do to feel that you have truly experienced a culture?
Walk or bicycle around to the local restaurants, parks or locally owned shops. I typically ask for recommendations of what I shouldn’t miss. Answers vary from “the local brew pub” to “the city art museum.”

Is there one heritage site or destination that you always wanted to visit, but never had the time?
I’ve always wanted to visit Fallingwater, the house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; this house happens to be accessible via the C&O Canal Great Allegheny Passage trail – another destination I’ve wanted to visit.

Read Ginny's Latest Circle Posts
The Bicycle Tourism Train
Tour the National Parks by Bicycle
Bike Tours: Self-Contained or Supported: Which One is for You?

Heritage Road Trips: Fall Foliage Viewing in Indiana's Amish Country

If you’re planning a fall foliage viewing trip, Elkhart County (Indiana’s Amish country) is a scenic and heritage-rich option. Peak color-viewing time is the end of September through mid-October, and Elkhart County’s Heritage Trail takes you through the heart of some of the Midwest’s most picturesque countryside.

The Heritage Trail self-guided audio driving tour is an ideal way to enjoy fall color while hearing the story of this area’s history and heritage and learning interesting and fun facts about the area along the way. Better yet, the entertaining narrative also gives turn-by-turn directions to help you follow the route.

The Heritage Trail begins in Elkhart, and the route follows the St. Joseph River. Martin’s Landing in Elkhart is a great spot to see the wide expanse of water with vibrant fall colors reflected there.

The route continues to historic Bonneyville Mill, the centerpiece of Bonneyville Mill County Park. The barn-red mill provides the perfect backdrop for the sycamore, ash, cottonwood, oak, maple and walnut trees that fill the park. The mill stays in operation and grinds flour through October. Take a free tour and buy a bag of freshly ground flour.

The route travels through rural Amish country past tidy farms and fields that change from green to golden. You’ll often see more buggies than cars on these rural roads, and in autumn Amish men guide huge teams of Belgian workhorses in perfect precision as they work the fields. Stop for freshly picked apples, pumpkins and sweet apple cider at roadside stands and country stores along the way.

The city of Goshen is dubbed “Maple City” and for good reason. Huge maple trees alive with color line neighborhood streets. Kercher's Harvest Fest Oct. 11-12, provides family fun at one of Indiana’s largest orchards (on CR 38). Find free hayrides, you-pick apples, pumpkins, food and entertainment.

The route travels to Nappanee where Amish Acres, a historic Amish farmstead in the National Register, celebrates Fall Harvest Days through October. Scarecrows, corn stalks and pumpkins decorate walkways, apple butter bubbles, and the farm’s historic cider mill rumbles into action.

Follow the route into Wakarusa, where a towering “Pumpkin Tree” built with more than 200 pumpkins decorates the center of town Oct. 9-25.





Jackie Hughes
Elkhart County, Indiana Convention & Visitors Bureau

Photos courtesy of the Elkhart County, Indiana Convention & Visitors Bureau

Experience the Visual Wonders Along the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

Discover gold in the North Carolina mountains… gold, copper, bronze, vermillion, orange and a thousand variations of those hues as the rich mix of deciduous trees in the ancient mountains perform their annual autumn extravaganza.

Visitors to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area -- the mountains and foothills of western North Carolina -- can enjoy the fiery beauty from October through early November, with the trees turning first on the higher elevations. Gradually, the color show makes its way down the slopes and into the valleys and gorges.

The colors are beautiful any time of day, but the special glow of late afternoon sunlight seems to enhance the already vivid hues to best effect. In addition to mountaintop vistas, views across the open farmland, on hillsides and in valleys are stunning. Many rural areas have added colorful barn quilts to buildings, and they are fun to spot on a road trip.

The best way to enjoy the vistas is by getting off the main roads and onto the many scenic byways that lace western North Carolina. The granddaddy of these is the Blue Ridge Parkway, extending in North Carolina from the Virginia border south to Cherokee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Soon to celebrate its 75th anniversary, the parkway winds through both high mountains and lower elevations and offers many safe scenic overlooks along the way.

Reaching more than 5,000 feet in elevation, the Cherohala Skyway in the far western corner of the state is another breathtaking drive for leaf peepers. There are 21 official North Carolina Scenic Byways in the region.

Although October days are generally warm, it can get cool at high elevations, so layering up is advised. Keep binoculars and cameras handy. This is the time for autumn hawk migrations. Stopping for a picnic or just to stretch your legs, you may spot a deer, wild turkey or even an occasional black bear. Warning: do not feed the bears or try to approach them. Bears are generally docile, but can be dangerous when provoked, especially a mother bear with cubs.


Three Day Trips in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

In the High Country
In the early weeks of October, go to elevations greater than 5,000 feet. From Asheville, take the Blue Ridge Parkway north to Mount Mitchell, highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Near Milepost 365, turn left onto N.C. 128 and enter Mount Mitchell State Park. Stay on 128 all the way to the top, where there is a parking lot, museum, gift shop, concession stand and the new viewing platform. On clear days, you can see the high peaks of western North Carolina in a 360° view.

Return to the parkway and travel north again. If you are interested in stretching your legs on a short hike, stop at Linville Falls near Milepost 317. Directions to the lower falls are available at the visitor center located there.

Just north of the Linville Falls Visitor Center, exit the parkway at N.C. 181 to visit Grandfather Mountain, which soars to 5,890 feet and is one of the world’s most environmentally diverse nature preserves. The park is privately operated, and there is an entry fee, but the views are well worth the stop.

If you choose to remain on the parkway, traveling north you will come to one of the country’s most outstanding engineering achievements, the Linn Cove Viaduct, which was built as a bridge around the mountain in order to cross the environmentally fragile Black Rock area of Grandfather Mountain. The viaduct can be viewed from below at the Linn Cove Visitor Center, Milepost 304, on the south side of the viaduct.

Further on, the Julian Price Memorial Park, near Milepost 300, has a beautiful lake that reflects the autumn colors and makes for a great photo opportunity. A 2.3-mile loop trail around the lake leads into an oak forest and puts visitors in the heart of the color.

At Milepost 294, take time to visit the stunning Moses Cone Manor and Memorial Park. The Parkway Craft Center, located in the manor, is filled with high-quality crafts made by members of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild.

Exit the Parkway about 2 miles north of the Cone Manor and visit the charming village of Blowing Rock, which boasts great restaurants and shopping.


Through Waterfall Country
This drive combines a stretch of the parkway with a portion of the North Carolina Scenic Byway known as the Waterfall Byway, so named for the 200 waterfalls that surround the route as it winds for 98 miles through the far western part of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. Various elevations make this a good leaf-peeping drive in mid-October.

Leaving Asheville, travel south on the parkway, stopping first at Mount Pisgah, elevation 5,721 feet. An ideal place to experience breathtaking scenic vistas is the Pisgah Inn restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a wall of windows that offer a dramatic panorama of the mountains to the south.

Further along the parkway southbound, you’ll see stunning views from Looking Glass Rock, Graveyard Fields and Devil’s Courthouse overlooks. If you’re up for hiking, you will discover three waterfalls along the trails of Graveyard Fields.

Just past the Devil’s Courthouse, turn south onto N.C. 215 and travel to Rosman. The Waterfall Byway begins at the intersection of U.S. 64 and N.C. 15. Turn right onto U.S. 64, and during the ensuing miles you will come across some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area: Toxaway Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls and Cullasaja Falls. En route, you will pass through the communities of Sapphire, Cashiers and Highlands, each with its own special charm and history.

To shorten the tour, at Franklin take U.S. 441/23 to Dillsboro and Sylva, then follow 23/74 to return to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Or continue to the end of the Waterfall Byway, which ends in Murphy.


In the Foothills
Later in leaf season, fall color brightens at lower elevations and can be viewed by traveling other North Carolina Scenic Byways, such as the Black Mountain Rag. Popular as a short day trip, this road runs between the towns of Black Mountain and Bat Cave along the curving, winding N.C. Highway 9. Bat Cave is named for a nearby cave that is habitat for the rare and endangered Indiana bat.

A visit to Hickory Nut Gorge, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is just a short detour off the Black Mountain Rag Scenic Byway. At Bat Cave, turn left and follow U.S. 64/74A/N.C. 9 East. The Broad River carved the Hickory Nut Gorge and runs to the right of the highway. It is popular with waders in hot weather. The gorge is 14 miles long and drops about 1,800 feet along the way.

One of the best known attractions in the gorge is Chimney Rock Park. The Chimney is a stunning, 500-million-year-old geological formation where visitors enjoy spectacular 75-mile views. The 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls on park property is visible from the highway. The park and Hickory Nut Gorge provided the backdrop for the movie “Last of the Mohicans.”

Past Chimney Rock you will come to placid Lake Lure, with a sandy swimming beach, restaurants, boat tours and a marina. The movie “Dirty Dancing” was filmed at Lake Lure.

To return to the Black Mountain Rag Scenic Byway, backtrack to the intersection of U.S. 64/74/N.C. 9 and turn left toward Hendersonville. For the next six miles, you will pass through some of the region’s finest apple orchards. This scenic byway ends at Mill’s Gap Road.

Fall is a wondrous time to discover the beauty of nature.

Jill Jones
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

Photos courtesy of the Blue Ridge Heritage Area

National Park Experiences: Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

In our ongoing features of experiences from employees, we’re pleased to have Lisa Turgeon-Williams, the manager of product development for National Trust Tours, shares her experience from a recent visit to the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C.

“This past July 5th, I attended a reenactment of the speech that Frederick Douglass gave at an event on July 5, 1852, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was biting oratory, in which Douglass told his audience, ‘This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.’ And he asked them, ‘Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak today?’ This speech was a part of American history that I was not aware of, and stood as a reminder to me of how far we have moved forward with civil rights as a nation and yet how much more room we have to grow.

Frederick Douglass freed himself from slavery and through decades of tireless efforts he helped to free millions more. His life was a testament to courage and persistence that continues to serve as an inspiration to those who struggle in the cause of liberty and justice.

After the end of the Civil War he moved to Washington, D.C., to carry on his work on behalf of black Americans. He served Washington in many ways: including international affairs, in the Council of Government for the District of Columbia, and finally as U.S. Marshal for the District. In 1877, he purchased his last home, the home that he named ‘Cedar Hill,’ located in Anacostia in southeast Washington, D.C.

I have lived in the D.C. area for more than nine years, but I am still a “newbie” to Anacostia. The recently restored Frederick Douglas House is a located a short walk from my own home. A visit to this historic site in Anacostia gives you the sense of viewing the past as it once was, and viewing history as it is now taking place, both in the surrounding neighborhood and in the country itself: a progression of positive growth and renewal for the entire community.”

Fall Foliage in New England's Blackstone Valley

When people think of fall foliage, they often think of New England. Stretching from Worcester, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island, Blackstone Valley is a panoramic region revered for its vibrant fall foliage, and a great place to take a heritage excursion this fall. The best time for viewing the changing colors is from Columbus Day weekend through late October, and there are many opportunities to enjoy the foliage in the Blackstone Valley by boat, train, bicycle and on foot.

Visitors can enjoy the spectacular reflections of the autumnal hues while floating down the river aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer. Cruises take place every Sunday through Columbus Day weekend, and they offer a relaxing way to enjoy the crisp air and vibrant colors.

The fall colors can also be enjoyed by train. The annual Fall Foliage Train Excursion to Putnam, Connecticut, which takes place this year on Saturday, October 24, travels through both the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and the Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Corridor.

There is wonderful hiking and biking to enjoy along the Blackstone River Bikeway and at various parks, such as Lincoln Woods, the Monastery grounds at Cumberland Library, and one of my favorite spots at this time of year, the Blackstone Gorge in Blackstone, Massachusetts. Another particularly nice hiking spot is the Lookout at King Phillip Rock in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, within a short drive from the Blackstone River State Park at Riverbend Farm. From here you can enjoy some of the most wonderful views of the valley.

There are also several fall festivals to enjoy during this harvest season. Heritage Homecoming in Massachusetts, celebrating the 11 historic Blackstone River Valley area communities, is on October 3, and Autumnfest 2009 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island is over Columbus Day weekend. Both events are part of the Preserve America Footsteps in History Program, and many more events will be happening throughout October in Blackstone Valley.

Enjoy the beauty of the world around us this fall!

Patti McAlpine
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council


Photos courtesy of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council.