High Country Life

The High Country is a region brimming with historic charm, culinary pleasures and alpine adventures. Find yourself mesmerized by charming family wineries and inventive meals created from locally produced ingredients.

Beechworth, one of Victoria’s premier High Country destinations, inspired AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson to write The Man from Snowy River and is home to legendary bushranger Ned Kelly. Soak up its rich heritage!

History of Watauga County

Watauga County today is an exquisite region enriched with historical roots. As North Carolina’s mountainous county, Boone serves as its main hub.

Watauga County’s history can be traced back to its first Euro-American settlers who arrived in the region during the mid eighteenth century. Although these families hailing from diverse European backgrounds, they came together under one common bond: admiration of Watauga’s natural beauty and rugged terrain. Furthermore, their sense of social justice was demonstrated through support for the American Revolution and refusal to participate in any illegal activities.

Watauga Association was created as an independent community in 1772, becoming one of the first communities to regulate its own affairs in North America, making history books as it became one of the first milestones of American independence. Adopting Virginia laws and managing both commercial and judicial affairs independently while not depending on colonial governments of North Carolina or Virginia for military defense; instead financing and conducting negotiations with Indians, local militia companies, agents of British authorities.

Watauga County was known for its impressive agricultural production. By 1780, when Ashe County still existed, Watauga had already achieved 19th in terms of flax fiber production value and 10th for buckwheat production; additionally it was one of the leading producers of maple sugar production.

Due to its challenging terrain, people began building permanent homes in Seven Devils, Beech Mountain, Valle Crucis Sugar Grove and Blowing Rock. Its topography is dominated by the Appalachian Mountains with notable physical features including Calloway Peak Grandfather Mountain State Line Ridge being some of the more striking ones.

By the eve of the Civil War, most residents identified with the Union cause. Yet slavery remained a powerful economic force and caused great division within communities like western North Carolina. Still, residents remained loyal to their nation and willing to make great sacrifices for its prosperity.

Watauga County Museum

Watauga County Museum serves to preserve and share its region’s rich history through exhibits, artifacts, documents, photos and public programs that educate and inform about local heritage and culture. Their collection contains many historic buildings, artifacts, documents and photographs from that era as well as photographs taken over time.

Watauga, Avery Mitchell Alleghany and Wilkes counties of North Carolina’s High Country have long drawn visitors with their hospitality, natural beauty and rich culture – attracting visitors for centuries with its distinct geography and shared sense of community. Collectively these regions make up what is referred to as High Country.

Tourism is the cornerstone of Watauga County’s economy, drawing visitors who appreciate nature’s splendor to explore this scenic county. There are mountains to climb; cliffs to scale; rivers for swimming, rafting or canoeing; rivers with wildlife-rich rapids for tubing or tubing; campgrounds offering camping; trails offering hiking; rare species of plants and animals that will amaze even seasoned travelers; as well as magnificent vistas that will leave any traveler speechless.

Cultural attractions in Watauga County include Horn in the West, an outdoor drama depicting Daniel Boone and his involvement with the Revolutionary War in Western North Carolina; Appalachian Museum; Grandfather Mountain Nature Park; Blowing Rock Stage Company and Tweetsie Railroad, an old theme park featuring western rides. Also located here is Appalachian State University which was initially known as Watauga Academy when it first opened its doors in 1899 but is now part of University of North Carolina system.

Watauga County was formed in 1849 from parts of Caldwell, Ashe, and Wilkes Counties and named for the Watauga River (Watauga is an Indian word meaning beautiful river). Boone became its county seat as Daniel Boone is celebrated as its namesake.

Watauga County Historical Society’s goal is to make the area’s rich and complex history easily accessible for everyone. They’ve embarked on an ambitious endeavor called the Digital Watauga Project that seeks to digitize and preserve this history for posterity; donors can share digitized versions of their historical materials while still owning them; this online portal was introduced in 2014 and supported with grants from North Carolina Humanities Council grants.

Watauga County Historical Society

Watauga County Historical Society (WCHS) is a non-profit organization with the mission of preserving, interpreting and promoting Boone and surrounding Appalachian region heritage through collection of materials that illustrate local history, culture and literature; honoring individuals who have made notable contributions to history of the High Country or region through honorary membership; providing educational programming on local history topics etc.

The West Carolina Historical Society houses an expansive selection of historical records and artifacts, some available to the general public while others can only be accessed for research. It is located at 221 N. King Street in Boone, NC.

One of the WCHS’s greatest historical resources is its extensive collection of photographs, maps, and documents depicting Boone, Appalachian Mountains and North Carolina history. Many records were donated directly by various individuals; while its photo collection contains over 20,000 images depicting local landmarks, people and buildings.

Other WCHS holdings that are open to the general public include architectural drawings, survey records, and historic maps that document buildings from late nineteenth century through to present day. These documents can be viewed at our Dougherty Reading Room.

The Western Caros Historical Society boasts an impressive library of books, manuscripts and ephemera related to Boone and the High Country history, some of which can be accessed online while some can be viewed within our archives. We also house Bobbie Jean Rivers-Coffey’s ephemera collection; her contributions in helping maintain our area’s history are recognized with this honorary collection.

The Western Carilion Historical Society’s (WCHS) historic record collection encompasses photographs, maps, postcards and letters that provide insight into everyday life in Boone and Appalachian communities. Furthermore, audio/video recordings exist containing interviews of former occupants of historic homes as well as music by local musicians – providing further insights into daily life at this time in history.

Watauga County Library

Watauga County Library is a public library offering a range of services and programs for its patrons. Their goal is to foster learning, creativity, and community; their collection includes historic materials as well as staff who are always ready to answer questions about them; additionally they host many special events and programs throughout the year.

The library offers an abundance of resources, from books and magazines to movies and audiobooks. Furthermore, free access is offered to internet resources as well as meeting rooms available to the public.

Boone Library is part of the Appalachian Regional Library system and was established in 1974 to serve the local community. Over its history, this library has earned numerous awards and recognitions, most recently receiving 11 consecutive Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Awards (and is thus one of the top 15% libraries nationwide).

Historic High Country is an area in North Carolina encompassing Avery, Mitchell, Ashe and Alleghany counties that is widely renowned for its hospitality, natural beauty and vibrant culture. The mountainous terrain makes the region perfect for hiking and outdoor recreation activities; additionally it is home to multiple breweries and wineries.

In this region there are many historic sites and buildings worth seeing; many of these landmarks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places while others are being restored or preserved.

Visits to this region require careful preparation, particularly during the summer. As the climate can be unpredictable, visitors should ensure they bring appropriate attire and come equipped with maps as well as knowledge on how to reach local authorities should an emergency arise.

The library is an invaluable resource for both students and researchers, housing over one million items in its collections ranging from local histories, maps, genealogy records and more. Furthermore, their website serves as an effective means for researching family history – featuring many links to websites with information about the region plus an advanced search function which allows users to find specific items.