Synopses & Reviews
This portable field guide to the historic architecture of western North Carolina covers 1,200 historic buildings in 25 counties in the foothills and mountains. It introduces readers to the region's rich and diverse architectural heritagefrom the log farmstead to the opulent mountain retreat, and from ancient earthen mounds of the Cherokee to twentieth-century hydroelectric dams and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Featuring more than 370 photographs and 36 maps, the guide is written for travelers and residents alike. It offers concise entries on notable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities, emphasizing buildings that are visible from the road and indicating sites that are open to the public.
A project of the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office of the Division of Archives and History and its western office in Asheville, the book reflects more than twenty-five years of fieldwork and research in the agency's statewide architectural survey and National Register of Historic Places programs. A previous volume covers eastern North Carolina and a future volume will cover the piedmont region.
Review
[A] prototype in establishing an increased level of accessibility for those wishing to explore architecture from a regional perspective.
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians
Review
The book is a pleasure not only to read but also to use in the field.
Journal of Southern History
Review
[F]ully demonstrates that there is no better evidence of the region's richly varied past and socioeconomic range than its architecture.
John C. Inscoe, author of Mountain Masters: Slavery and the Sectional Crisis in Western North Carolina
Review
Western North Carolina is blessed with marvelous historic architecture and this wonderful book captures it all.
Richard Moe, president, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Review
A stunningly articulate, witty, artful, but dry-eyed introduction to the architecture of western North Carolina.
North Carolina Historical Review
Synopsis
Introducing readers to the region's architectural heritage, this portable field guide features 1,200 historic buildings of western North Carolina. 370 photos. 36 maps.
Synopsis
This illustrated field guide to the historic architecture of western North Carolina covers 1200 buildings in 25 counties, from Cherokee mounds to the Biltmore House.
Synopsis
[A] prototype in establishing an increased level of accessibility for those wishing to explore architecture from a regional perspective.
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians The book is a pleasure not only to read but also to use in the field.
Journal of Southern History A stunningly articulate, witty, artful, but dry-eyed introduction to the architecture of western North Carolina.
North Carolina Historical Review [F]ully demonstrates that there is no better evidence of the region's richly varied past and socioeconomic range than its architecture.
John C. Inscoe, author of Mountain Masters: Slavery and the Sectional Crisis in Western North Carolina Western North Carolina is blessed with marvelous historic architecture and this wonderful book captures it all.
Richard Moe, president, National Trust for Historic Preservation
About the Author
Jennifer Martin is National Register coordinator at the State Historic Preservation Office. She and Michael Southern were formerly preservation specialists with the Western Office of Archives and History in Asheville.
Table of Contents
ContentsPreface
Introduction
The Blue Ridge Parkway
Foothills
Surry County
Wilkes County
Alexander County
Caldwell County
Burke County
McDowell County
Rutherford County
Polk County
Mountains
Alleghany County
Ashe County
Watauga County
Avery County
Mitchell County
Yancey County
Madison County
Buncombe County
Henderson County
Transylvania County
Haywood County
Jackson County
Macon County
Swain County
Graham County
Clay County
Cherokee County
Glossary
Bibliography and Sources of Information
Photography Credits
Index
Historical and Geographical Maps
North Carolina, showing principal regions, cities, and routes
Principal mountain ranges and river basins in western N.C.
Cherokee lands and sites in western N.C.
Collet map of N.C., 1770, showing part of the western region
Principal railroad construction in western N.C. to 1926 and western N.C. railroads as of 1998
Principal hydroelectric power sites in western N.C.
The Blue Ridge Parkway in N.C.
Regional and Site Maps
Western North Carolina
County map groupings
County
1. Surry
2. Wilkes
3. Alexander, Caldwell
4. Burke, McDowell
5. Rutherford, Polk
6. Alleghany, Ashe
7. Watauga, Avery
8. Mitchell, Yancey
9. Madison
10. Buncombe
11. Henderson Transylvania,
12. Haywood
13. Jackson, Macon
14. Swain, Graham
15. Clay, Cherokee
City
Mount Airy
Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro
Lenoir
Morganton
Marion
Rutherfordton
Tryon
Boone
Asheville
Hendersonville
Flat Rock
Brevard
Waynesville