The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile-long national park spanning through Virginia and North Carolina, offering stunning landscapes, stunning rivers, and rich historical sites connected to the indigenous culture of the region. With such a vast expanse, visitors will find no shortage of options for adventure including road trips, hiking, picnicking, and learning about the tribes that have called this area home since before the time of the dinosaurs.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a source of national pride for the United States, stretching from the western parts of Virginia and North Carolina. As America’s longest linear national park, it connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. The parkway provides stunning natural landscapes, beautiful forests, and rivers, as well as a reminder of the rich history of the area. During the summertime, visitors can take advantage of the open passages to explore the region on road trips or hikes. For those seeking an adventure, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a one-of-a-kind experience.

Native American Tribes

Native American tribes have inhabited the Appalachian Mountains for thousands of years. The Cherokee people, for instance, are some of the oldest inhabitants, having been in the area since 11,000 years ago. They developed the ‘Three Sisters’ method of agriculture, which is still visible today at the base of the mountains, and had a matrilineal culture that passed on inheritance through the mother’s side of the family.

The Appalachian Mountains are a renowned mountain range, having formed from a collision of tectonic plates 500 to 300 million years ago – even before the age of the dinosaurs. Time and weather have weathered them down, yet they remain an impressive sight, with Blue Ridge portions made up of metamorphic and igneous rocks. Rivers like the Potomac, James, and Roanoke have carved themselves through the ridge, creating ideal tourist attractions. The region has been home to many Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee, since 11,000 years ago. The Cherokee people developed the ‘Three Sisters’ method of agriculture, which is still visible today at the base of the mountains, and had a matrilineal culture that passed on inheritance through the mother’s side of the family.

In 1540, contact with Europeans began during Hernando de Soto’s expeditions. Even though many Cherokee people perished from the diseases brought by the Europeans, contact between the two parties was limited until the late 17th century. The Cherokee were later granted autonomous borders to their lands and treated as one of the ‘Five Civilized Tribes’ by George Washington in early American nationhood. The Cherokee society evolved through contact with the colonists, adapting Western methods of agriculture and industry, and sending their children to be educated in English missionary schools. Sequoyah, a Cherokee man who was interested in the colonists’ communication by writing, developed a distinct alphabet for his people, which remains to this day. Despite the efforts of the Cherokee, President Andrew Jackson ordered their relocation to Oklahoma, known as the Trail of Tears. However, some Cherokee managed to escape or avoid capture, and some returned to their ancestral lands in North Carolina. Their descendants still live in Cherokee, North Carolina, and maintain the Oconaluftee Indian Village, a popular site on the North Carolina portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Proud History of the Mountain Folk

The Mountain Folk: the Colonists of the Blue Ridge

Governor Spotswood of Virginia bravely led the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe on an expedition in 1716, across the Blue Ridge which opened up the Shenandoah Valley to settlement by Virginia colonists. The settlers were predominantly of Scots-Irish descent – descendants of Ulster Protestants who supported William of Orange, the Protestant King of England and Scotland. It was from their love for “King Billy” that these settlers first received the name “hillbillies”. This proud people brought with them their traditions and history, adding richness and culture to the Blue Ridge region.

As the settlers spread southward from Virginia to east Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia they were joined by other groups such as German and Scandinavian settlers who brought with them the Plott Hound and the log cabin, establishing an Appalachian culture of self-sufficiency and hard work. This distinct culture was so different from other parts of Virginia that it eventually led to the split of West Virginia during the Civil War.

The Establishment of the Blue Ridge Parkway: A Significant Achievement

In 1925, two national parks were authorized in the eastern United States – Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park – to provide access to a wilderness area to populations who lacked easy access to western parks like Yellowstone. Senator Harry Byrd saw the park as an opportunity for economic growth in Virginia and began fundraising for the project soon after authorization. Despite the difficult circumstances created by the chestnut blight and drought of 1930, the land was still able to be developed into the awe-inspiring Blue Ridge Parkway. This was a significant achievement that benefited America with an accessible and beautiful natural landscape.

Despite the challenges faced in acquiring the land, Shenandoah National Park was established in 1936 and has since been a source of recreation for millions of visitors.

The Blue Ridge Parkway was soon to follow, and during its early years, much of the work was completed by locals through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) – providing jobs for Virginians during the Great Depression. Despite the hard work and labor required in its construction, progress was halted when the US entered World War II, leaving only half of the parkway finished by the 1950s. To meet its targeted completion date of 1966, the National Park Service implemented Mission 66 which successfully saw the majority of the parkway ready by the end of that year. Finally, the Linn Cove Viaduct in North Carolina opened in 1987, completing the entire project.

This paved the way for writers from the Blue Ridge communities to tell their stories, providing an authentic narrative of life in the mountains. Earl Hamner’s novel, “The Homecoming: A Novel About Spencer’s Mountain”, was based on his childhood memories of a Christmas in 1933 when his father had to walk home 6 miles through the snow. His success would inspire the popular TV series, The Waltons, which ran for nine years during the 1970s and early 80s, spurring tourism for the Blue Ridge Parkway and creating interest in its natural beauty and culture. Today, a museum dedicated to The Waltons remains in Schuyler, Virginia – a testament to the impact it had on the area.

Historical Sites

The Blue Ridge Parkway proudly presents an array of attractions for tourists of all ages. From picturesque small towns such as Bedford, Buchanan, and Salem to historical sites like Mabry Mill, Johnson Family Farm Trail, and Cascade Falls Trail, visitors can experience a wide range of beauty and culture. Not to mention the Cradle of Forestry, the first forestry education site in the U.S., situated in North Carolina. With its stunning landscape and diverse offerings, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers an unforgettable journey for anyone who visits.

The Blue Ridge Parkway serves as a connection between Virginia North Carolina and Tennessee that has a variety of memorable experiences to offer to all kinds of visitors. Not only is its sprawling beauty and landscapes enough to keep even the most avid adventurers satisfied but there is also much history in the mountain range that dictates its uniqueness. From the rich culture of the Indigenous people who have lived on these lands for centuries to Sequoyah’s development of an alphabet adapted to fit the traditions of his people – the Blue Ridge Parkway has an expansive story and connection with neighboring citizens that helps contribute to its significance today. With knowledge comes appreciation and what lies within the Highlands of Appalachians could be considered America’s secret gem.

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