Morganton NC Overthemountain Victory National Historic Trail

Please lend your support,comments and letter writing opinions to the below contact -
to help us bring a great piece of history and heritage to the town of Morganton, North Carolina. We feel the local involvement ( schools and individuals ) to past history and the preservation of such historical threaded events in our towns past make it an ideal location to house and exhibit portions of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. Please take some time to help us in making the below proposed site a reality for the people and town of Morganton NC.

This trail and exhibit area would add to our already rich Morganton History and present places of interest like the McDowell House at Quaker Meadows, Wall Center For Archaeological Research, The Joara Spanish settlement and Indian town, Berry Dig site and Daughters of the American Revolution women who died supporting the cause of freedom and were buried here in Morganton. The city of Morganton is rich in history and was prevalent in the fight for independence and freedom.


Overmountain Victory NHT
Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment for a Headquarters and Visitor Center

The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to establish a new Headquarters and Visitor's Center (HQ/VC) for the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, a 330-mile long non-motorized route for public use that traverses portions of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

In recent years, the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail has dramatically increased its visibility and regional importance. Currently, more than one million people use marked trail sections annually. As a result of this increased regional presence and involvement, as well as growing public support for the trail and its history, additional NPS presence is needed to accomplish operational and administrative tasks and assist partners with various projects and initiatives. However, expanded and regional NPS presence is currently inhibited by the lack of a dedicated and centrally located facility.

This Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment (FS/EA) will analyze four different sites and assess the impacts that could result from the establishment of a new facility at each location. The FS/EA also analyzes the no action alternative, which is the continued use and operation of the current headquarters at King's Mountain National Park, located in Blacksburg, SC.

Contact Information and any public comments can be sent to:

Paul Carson
Superintendent
Overmountain Victory NHT
2635 Park Road
Blacksburg, SC 29702

http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=400&projectId=25061

Asheville North Carolina Appalachian Trail and George Masa

The beauty of the Asheville, North Carolina area, Appalachian trail and the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and it's splendor of gifts would be unknown to many had it not been for the drive, vision and work ethic of George Masa. An artist of fine landscape photography and collector of data - George Masa a Japanese immigrant, made it his life's work to hike, measure and record all the Appalachian mountains ( name many with friend Horace Kephart ) and to make possible the building of the Appalachian Trail and photography its vastness and the people who shared its abundance of life. Masa was a lover of the mountains, the people and a visionary in preserving its natural beauty for other generations to enjoy. Below is a great blog to follow for more information on this great man's journey as well as a beautifully done DVD " The Mystery of George Masa " by Paul Bonesteel and his company Bonesteel Films.

http://georgemasa.blogspot.com/

To purchase the DVD:

http://www.bonesteelfilms.com/masa.html