All Catawba County sites were chosen from the National Register of Historic Places, except Terrell Historic District and Texaco Station in Claremont. Some locations were chosen for their popularity and others to represent the entire county. The North Carolina locations were chosen from the book, Reader's Digest's Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to More Than 1,000 Scenic & Interesting Places Still Uncrowded and Inviting.

Maps are located on the cover sheet for both the Catawba County and North Carolina Virtual Tours for reference. We will start you off with of the most historical places in Catawba County.

Catawba County Virtual Walking Tour (Miles 0-122)

Stop 1/Mile 0 - Murray's Mill Historic District*, south of Catawba
Located south of the town of Catawba, Murray's Mill Historic District is 32-acre millpond surrounded by farmland. This historic district centers around a picturesque water-powered flourmill. The overshot wheel is 28 feet in diameter and powered by a man made dam on Ball's Creek. The fifteen buildings on the site include an 1890s old store building, an 1880s wheat house, the 1913 John L. Murray residence and three other residences. The original mill was built in 1883. In 1913, John Murray constructed the existing mill in order to expand and upgrade to a roller mill. It was once the center for commerce and trade among local traders. John's son, Lloyd operated the mill until 1967. It is the last remaining water-powered mill complex of its kind in Catawba County. As you are walking about the site, look for the graveyard. Murray's Mill is open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Call ahead during the winter months.

Stop 2/Mile 4 - Balls Creek Campground* near Bandy's Crossroads
Balls Creek Campground is a circa-1853 Methodist camp meeting site designed for an annual two-week camp meeting revival. The campground has an open-air arbor, a store, a cinderblock wellhouse, five cinderblock outhouses and nearly 300 tents. The oldest tent is No. 22 and is believed to date to the opening of the camp about 1853. The arbor, which is the shelter for the revival meetings, is approximately 80 by 100 feet. Following the pattern of the arbor, the tents are constructed like rowhouses with common walls between them. The Balls Creek Campground has been the site of week or two-week long Methodist revivals for almost every August since 1853. The services were suspended at the height of the civil war and during World War II. No camp meeting was held in 1888 because a local minister objected to that particular type of worship. Today, the attendance exceeds ten thousand with all denominations attending. The camp is the largest of its kind in North Carolina and one of the largest in the Southeast.

Stop 3/Mile 14 - Terrell Historical District
Terrell was once a remote rural enclave. Located on the shore of Lake Norman, it is now in the center of a growing resort area. Amazingly, it is the most intact crossroads community remaining in Catawba County. The Connor Store and Post Office was the heart of the community. Thomas Franklin Connor opened the store in 1885. Believed to be built in early 1900s by R. E. Gabriel, the gristmill once stood behind the country store. Two homes of architectural significance still remain. The T. F. Connor House, a handsome Queen Anne, stands just north of the crossroads. Built for Thomas Franklin Connor (1860-1947) in 1886, it is only one of three remaining homes in Catawba County designed by Charles Henry Lester, Catawba County's first architect. The Coleman-Caldwell-Gabriel House is one of the best examples of Greek Revival in the county. The oldest house in Terrell Historical District, this home is believed to have been built by Dr. Littleton T. Coleman shortly after he purchased the property in 1854. Organized before 1791, Rehobeth Methodist Church is considered the oldest Methodist congregation west of the Catawba River in North Carolina. The current building, built in 1889, has seen several remodelings.

Stop 4/Mile 39 - Memorial Reformed Church* in Maiden
Built in the heart of Maiden, the Memorial Reformed Church in Maiden is constructed of handmade bricks. The Carpenter family who was prominent in industry and agriculture largely financed the church. Henry F. Carpenter, his three sons - Lonnie, Martin and Perry and friend George Rabb founded the H. F. Carpenter, Sons and Company, which was a successful cotton mill. The Carpenter firm donated the two acre lot where the church sits. Construction of the church began in July of 1887 and the first service was held in the building on April 8, 1888. Organized in September of 1886, the reformed congregation decided to add memorial to the name of the church in memory of Perry Carpenter who died on July 9, 1886. In 1886, the church had 29 members. Being the only church in Maiden, the church quickly grew and boasted 112 by 1890. As the success of the Carpenter's grew, so did the town of Maiden and the church congregation. The attendance of the church peaked at 200. The church is now listed as the United Church of Christ.

Stop 5/Mile 52 - Anthony, Abraham, Farm* in Blackburn
Located in Blackburn, the Abraham Anthony Farm is one of the more architecturally intact nineteenth farmsteads in Catawba County. The 127-acre farm has eighteen structures including a handsome nineteenth century home place. The Greek Revival home was built by Abraham Anthony (1839-1906) in 1877. One of the most impressive outbuildings is the cobbler shop, where Mr. Anthony ran his shoemaking business. He fought in the Civil War where he had one of his legs amputated due to injuries. After the war, he married Emeline Susan Rudisill (1842-1912). Their two sons, Cephas and Abraham Rudisill Anthony inherited the farm. Upon the death of Abraham Rudisill Anthony, his only daughter, Rachel L. Sigmon, inherited the farm. Mrs. Sigmon still lives on the property with her daughter, Jean Chuci, and her family. Other notable structures on the farm include the 1888 barn and 1883 granary.

Stop 6/Mile 67 - Baker Mountain in Mountain View.
The National Registry of Historic Places lists Baker Farm at the junction of Highway 127 and State Road 1132 in their registry. In the 1991 book, Catawba County: an architectural history by the Catawba County Historical Association, the Baker Farm was listed as one of the most picturesque nineteenth century farmsteads in Catawba County. We, however, could not locate it, but the history and the description of the farm was still fascinating to us. David Baker (1799-1874), one of the first German immigrants to inhabit Catawba County, established the Baker Farm. Mr. Baker purchased 564 acres located at the foot of Baker's Mountain from his father in 1822. The two-story mortise-and tenon frame home is believed to have been built shortly after the purchase. David Baker worked as a blacksmith as well as a farmer. He married Sarah Abernathy in 1843. The property was passed to their son, Calvin Baker who was an important civic and church leader. One of the founders of Mountain Grove Baptist Church and deacon for over fifty years, Calvin Baker was known for his gracious congeniality to visitors who crossed his land to picnic on Bakers Mountain. Calvin was also instrumental in the creation of the beautiful man-made lily ponds on the farm. The farm also has a collection of outbuildings that include a smokehouse, large frame barn, an usual log granary and springhouse. After Calvin Baker's death in 1936, the farm was left to his children. The farm stands at the base of Baker's Mountain. While you are in the area, visit Baker Mountain Park. One of the two Catawba County Parks, it is about five miles off of Hwy 127. You can locate it by following the small brown park signs. For more information, see Places to Walk in Catawba County.

Stop 7/Mile 85 - North Main Avenue Historic District* in Newton
The City of Newton was established as the county seat of Catawba County by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1842. This act created Catawba County from the upper section of Lincolnton County and authorized seven commissioners to select a site of at least fifty acres for the new town. Newton grew from a small farming town with 84 registered residents in 1850 to an industry-filled town with a population of 3,021 in 1920. As in many older towns, the courthouse is located in the center square. Built in 1923 to replace the 1847 Greek Revival courthouse, the former Catawba County Courthouse* is one of the finest examples of Neoclassical Revival architecture in North Carolina. Constructed of Indiana limestone, the two most striking features are the circular staircase and the stained-glass transom on the north end of the building. Erected in 1887-1888, the Grace Reformed Church* (currently the Calvary Baptist Church) is the most accomplished example of the Gothic Revival style surviving in Catawba County. The characteristic Gothic Revival features include gable roof, front corner towers of unequal height and arched doors and windows. The Pope-Rudisill-Gordon House on West Eight Street appears to be the oldest home in the district. Built in the 1840s in the Federal-Greek Revival style, the two-story house was moved from North Main Avenue sometime between 1901 and 1924 to its current location. Newton and its surrounding area are full of lovely older homes, including Bost-Burris, Foil-Cline, Perkins, Rudisill-Wilson, Self-Trott-Bickett and the Long, McCorkle and Murray Houses, which all are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. First Presbyterian Church (1878), Beth-Eden Lutheran Church (1929), and the former Newton High School (1905), are also places of historic and architectural interest.

Stop 8/Mile 88 - Old St. Paul's Church* and Cemetery, near Newton
As the oldest remaining church in Catawba County and one of the few log churches remaining in North Carolina, Old St. Paul's Church is a source of pride for our county. Henry Cline built the church in 1818 with logs used from an older church that stood on the lot. Although the exterior is fairly plain, the interior contains exceptional sounding board, moldings, and a triple-hung window with nine-light sash units. The original congregation was a mixture of Lutheran and Reformed denominations. In 1905, followers of the Tennessee Synod left to form a new church, which is the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Startown. Although new sanctuaries have been built, the Old St. Paul's Church is still a focal point, especially for Easter services and weddings. The adjoining cemetery is also of interest. Come by on a warm Sunday afternoon and wander through the graveyard and examine the old tombstones.

Stop 9/Mile 87 --Bolick Historic District* in Conover
The Bolick Historic District in Conover was named for Jerome Bolick (1858-1938), who ran a successful buggy business. His buggy manufacturing began some time around 1880, but it was his 1888 invention that made it successful. The "perfect steel spring wheel" was made of steel so it was not easily broken with sockets that would not work loose or decay. He received local fame for his invention and won a first prize award at the Jamestown Exhibition in 1907. In 1932, his buggy operation encompassed at least 10 buildings on Hwy 10 and Acme Street. With the help of five of his seven sons, Bolick gradually changed his business into the manufacture of custom trucks and buses, as the times demanded. They produced their first school bus in 1929 and eventually became one of the largest manufacturers of school buses in the South. In 1937, the company supplied 250 school buses for the state of North Carolina. When in the 1950's the school bus manufacturing was taken over by out of state dealers, the Bolick Company again modified their business - this time to making truck bodies for paneled trucks, vans and soft-drink vans. The 1883 Bolick Buggy Shop is believed to be the original building used by Jerome Bolick Sons Company. It is a one-story structure constructed with cut stones and brick. Three impressive homes are within the district. Jerome Bolick's son, Dorsey Edgar Bolick built a two-story brick veneer Colonial Revival-style house in 1937 at 1007 1st Avenue South. The Oscar W. Bolick House on 1008 1st Avenue South is an imposing Colonial Revival house with a brick veneer and a slate-tile, hipped and gabled roof. The home at 1005 1st Avenue South was originally owned by Jerome's oldest son, James F. Bolick. He sold it to a younger brother, Dorsey Edgar Bolick around 1911 when he moved to Virginia to be a schoolteacher. Built circa 1905, the home is a two-story, frame Colonial Revival house.

Stop 10/Mile 93 - Rock Barn Farm*, north of Conover and Claremont
The Rock Barn Farm is best known for the "Rock Barn" for which the farm and the road it is on are named. Originally a two-story building, it is believed to have been built around 1822. A flood in 1933 or 1934 caused the east and most of the south walls to collapse. To preserve the remaining portions of the stone wall, the owners replaced those collapsed sides with a lightweight framework covered with sheet metal. Also located on the farm is an unusual two-story farmhouse built shortly after the Civil War. Since the house originally faced two roads, both the north and east sides of the home are treated as primacy facades with porches and fancy entrances. Frederick Hoke who migrated to Lincoln County from York County, Pennsylvania, established the farm. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Mr. Hoke acquired through several land purchases a 1,078-acre farm along the Lyle Creek in northern Lincoln County. A prosperous farmer, wagonmaker and cabinetmaker, he was active in Lincoln County politics and was instrumental in the creation of Catawba County from the upper section of Lincoln County. When Catawba County was formed in 1842, he was appointed the first chairman of the new county court where he served as justice of the peace until his death in 1844. Local folklore claims that the rock barn was used as a polling place during Hoke's stint as justice of the peace. The farm passed from Frederick Hoke to his daughter-in-law Rebecca Hoke. After her death, the farm was sold to Daniel Roseman, whose wife, Annie was a daughter of Frederick Hoke. They replaced the Frederick House with the present frame structure that was later moved by their son Frederick Roseman. Frederick Roseman's daughter, Wilberta and husband, Henry L. Herman purchased 58 acres including the house and rock barn. Their son Kenneth Joe Herman still owns the farm as of 1991 when Catawba County: an architectural history was written.

Stop 11/Mile 105 - Claremont High School Historic District* in Hickory
The Claremont High School neighborhood developed northeast of downtown Hickory in the 1880s near Claremont Female College. Founded by the Reform Church, the college was operated from 1880-1916. On its site, is the former Claremont High School built in 1925. The three story, H-plan red brick building is trimmed in terra cotta. Both the gymnasium and auditorium wings are faced with two story arcades. Currently, it is the Arts and Science Centers. Nearby is the Adolphus Layette Shuford House*, which is also known as Maple Grove. Built in 1875, the home was originally a farmhouse for the dairy operation of Mr. Shuford. As the fortune of the railroad agent and early business leader grew, so did his home. In 1883, he added the two story Italianate main block with a two-tier porch to the front of his current home. The Harper House (Shular-Harper) at 310 N. Center Street is most elaborate Queen Anne house in Hickory. The North Carolina Department of Archives and History considers this home to possess the "finest Queen Anne interior styling in the entire state." Daniel Webster Shular, who founded Hickory's first bank, had the house built in 1887. The Thorton Family owned the home from 1892 to 1916. Marcellus E. Thorton, a former lawyer, a newspaper editor, an entrepreneur with Thorton Light & Power Company, and novelist, is reported to have married the wealthy widow Elizabeth (Camp) Thorton "for her money." Her supposed response about him was, " I married the first time for love, the second for money and the third time for the hell of it." Finley Gwyn Harper, Sr., who operated the Harper Motor Company, purchased the home in 1923 from Minnie C. Taylor. It remained in the Harper Family until December 21, 2000, when his four daughters and his wife, Mary Banks McPherson Harper generously arranged its acquisition by the Catawba County Historical Association. The association restored the home, including the two elaborately carved wooden mantles that had been removed and stored in the basement by Gwyn Harper, Jr. who found the interior too extravagant for his taste. Despite losses due to urban growth and renewal, the nearby downtown area still contains several early twentieth century buildings. Of historic and architectural interest are the Hickory Passenger Depot (1912), the U.S. Post Office (1914), the Harper Ford Showroom (1930), the First National Bank Building (1941), the former Hickory Municipal Building* (1921) and the First Presbyterian Church* (1906). The National Register of Historical Places lists three other areas of Hickory as historic districts: Kenworth*, Oakwood*, and Second Street Place Southwest* Districts. From the Claremont Historical District in Hickory, we are going to travel to the town of Claremont.

Stop 12/Mile 119 - Texaco Station in Claremont
The former Texaco Station located on West Main Street in Claremont is a fine example of Art Deco service stations that dotted the national countryside in the early days of automobiles. Built sometime around 1930, the one-story masonry structure has been stuccoed. The squared corners and fluted pilasters that terminate at the pyramidal point above the roofline are typical of the Art Deco architecture. The roof is covered with ceramic tile.

Stop 13/Mile 121 - Bunker Hill Covered Bridge*, 2 miles east of Claremont
Located two miles east of Claremont, the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is one of only two remaining covered bridges in North Carolina. The 80-foot bridge may be the last wooden bridge in the United States with Haupt truss construction. Builder Ramsour, a sawmill operator, also constructed the famous 1,000-foot covered toll bridge over the Catawba River that was destroyed in the flood of 1916. He originally built the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge as an open span in 1985 to cross the Lyle Creek. The County Board of Commissioners brought action against Ramsour for not maintaining a covered bridge. Over the next five years, the county built a new covered bridge or covered the original one (depending on the source). Restored by the Catawba County Historical Association in 1994 and maintained by the association and the North Carolina Department of Archives and History, it is open to the public and accessible by a pedestrian trail. Leave your penknives and spray paint at home to avoid the temptation to vandalized the bridge, as so many have done, and come enjoy this rare historic site.

Stop 14/Mile 123 - Catawba Historic District*
Catawba Historic District is remarkably intact with chiefly early twentieth century commercial buildings and homes. Catawba was established as a station along the Western North Carolina Railroad around 1858. Their first post office opened in December 1859. The Sherrill Tobacco Company was organized in the spring of 1889. The Sherrill Tobacco Company Building (Coulter and Little Store) stands on southwest corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. The exact date of construction is not known, but it was after 1891. It manufactured plug tobacco for chewing under such names as "Ten Cent Cotton," "16 to 1" and "Little Marian". Closing around 1900, it succumbed to intense competition from the powerful American Tobacco Company. Although the city became a somewhat diversified mercantile center with agriculture, fishing, mining, and manufacturing enterprises, including textile mills, Catawba still has a small town atmosphere. Today, a great deal of the business activities takes place in the Main Street's early commercial structures. The (former) Coulter Grocery on North Main Street is a two-story building brick building that was constructed sometime around 1895. Also on North Main, the Catawba Drug Company/Musgrove Fountain has been operated continuously as a drug/confectionery store since about 1915. The Lowrance Shoe Shop is one of the few buildings that survived from the initial building period in the 1880s. A one-room, frame commercial building, it was moved from Main Street to its present location. Many of the town's residents live in homes that date from the 1870s to the 1920s with scenic open fields nearby. The James H. Trollinger House on the southeast corner of West Second Street and South First Avenue is one of the most striking Gothic Revival homes in Catawba County. Built circa 1870, it is a two-story, three bay, gable-roofed structure with remarkable pointed cathedral windows. With a central section dating to 1875, the Catawba Baptist Church's stained glass windows also reflect the Gothic Revival style. Take a scenic walk around town and you will see many other beautiful older homes and buildings.

You have now completed the virtual walking trip in Catawba County. You are now ready to walk virtually around North Carolina. Our North Carolina trip begins on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near the town of Little Switzerland. Get your virtual walking shoes on because it is 80 miles to our next stop.

North Carolina Virtual Trip (Miles 203-1,692)

Stop 1/ NC Mile 203- Crabtree Meadows Recreation Area
Crabtree Meadows Recreation Area is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 339.5. This 253-acre picnic and camping area is named for the pink blossoms of the flowering trees that bloom in the meadows in May. Look for other natural flowers, such as showy orchids, lady's slippers, crested dwarf iris, and columbines. While you are stopping to admire the flowers, listen to the songbirds and be on the lookout for critters. Raccoons, opossums and white-tailed deer are known to visit this location. Stay on your toes because black bears and bobcats also live in the area. Bring a picnic lunch with you and have your lunch in "the loggy patch" named by local farmers in the early 1800's. In this era, trees were usually killed by girdling so crops could be grown underneath. However, in the loggy patch, the trees were left standing until they fell, making the land more suitable for cattle farming than raising crops. "The rye patch" and "the wheat patch" also date back to the early 1800s. From the picnic ground, it is a 40-minute walk to the Crabtree Meadow Falls via a trail shaded by hemlocks and birches. Open May through October, the park also offers naturalist programs and other nature and hiking trails.

Stop 2/NC Mile 279 - Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site*
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located on Little River Road in Flat Rock. This is the last home of poet and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Carl Sandburg who died there in 1967. Previous owners who compared the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains to those in western Ireland named the home "Connemara." The 1830s home is large, but not pretentious. The interior reflects the personality of the man. His guitar is leaned against his favorite chair in the living room. A photograph of Carl Sandburg hangs over the fireplace. In his office, stacks or boxes of books used for research surround his typewriter. His green eyeshades lay on the desk. The whole room gives the impression that he has just stepped out for a walk on his 260-acre farm. From the house, take the self-guided lead to the farm areas, pastures and woodland. The 2 ½ round trip trail leads up to Big Glassy Mountain where you will enjoy wildflowers and bluebirds. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy your lunch in the small wooded picnic area near the visitor center. You might have to fight for a table if you come in the busy seasons, late spring and foliage season. The home and grounds are open year round, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Stop 3/NC Mile 374 - Nantahala Gorge
Located 12 miles southwest of Bryson City, the Nantahalia Gorge, carved by the Nantahala River, is eight miles long. Named by the Cherokee Indians, Nantahala means "land of the noonday sun." The canyon is so narrow and deep that the sun only shines on the river during the middle of the day. The locals joke that the sun rises at 11 and sets at 2. This narrow gorge has an elevation difference as much as 1,800 from the top and bottom. Its most narrow area is only 100 yards wide. The Nantahala River and Gorge are most known for the white-water rafting. The Nantahala Power and Light Company releases water for about 12 hours nearly every day, creating an exhilarating, but not too challenging ride. Canoes, rafts and kayaks can be rented. Bring a picnic dinner and a fishing pole. The stream is stocked with trout, but the fishing is better in the evening when the waters are calmer.

Stop 4/NC Mile 449 - Biltmore Estate* - Asheville, NC
With 175,000 square feet of interior space, the Biltmore House is the largest private home in the United States. It was built by George Washington Vanderbilt II, son of William Henry Vanderbil between 1888 and 1895. After several visits to Asheville with his mother, he decided to build a winter estate to rival the summer houses of his older brothers and sisters who had built in places such as Newport, Rhode Island and Hyde Park, New York. The house is a French Renaissance inspired chateau designed to imitate several Loire Valley chateaux, including the Chateau de Blois. The first guests were received in 1895 on Christmas Eve. The original estate of 125,000 acres included poultry farms, cattle farms, hog farms, a dairy, even its own village and church. The village and church are now part of the Biltmore Village. Unfortunately, the estate was not self-supporting, as Mr. Vanderbilt had hoped. Between the cost of the estate and his lack of attention to family business, he had almost depleted his inheritance by the time he died of complications from an appendectomy in 1914. His widow, Edith Dresser Vanderbilt, sold much of the original acres to the federal government, which became the center of Pisgah National Forest. Today, the estate is owned by Biltmore Company, which is controlled by Vanderbilt's grandson, William A. V. Cecil. It has over 8,000 acres and includes a dairy farm, winery, an inn, several restaurants, shopping, and outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, kayaking, horse back rides and carriage rides. Come and plan to spend the day and take in all the estate has to offer. At the price of the tickets, the Biltmore Estate needs to be viewed more as a theme park, where you spend the entire day, instead of a quick home tour. Open year round, adult tickets range from $24 to $48, depending on the time of year. For more information, visit www.biltmore.com.

Stop 5/NC Mile 507 - Broughton Hospital* - Morganton, NC
Broughton Hospital is an interesting entry in the National Register of Historic Places. Just the name of the facility brings up feelings of dread and fear for many individuals. The buildings appear as gothic and foreboding as the scenes that we imagine that take place on a daily basis there. Actually, the National Register lists the architecture as Colonial Revival and Art Deco. Gothic seems more appropriate. The hospital campus is 3,370 acres in size with 60 buildings. In 1875, it was estimated that over 700 North Carolinians were insane and needed care. The one state funded state run psychiatric hospital, Dorothea Dix, was not sufficient to care for all these individuals. In March of the same year, the General Assembly voted to provide $75,000 to establish a second hospital. Believe it or not, four cities, Statesville, Hickory, Morganton and Asheville competed for the honor. Of course, we know that Morganton was the winner. Two hundred, sixty-three acres were obtained by the state through purchases and gifts. Construction began almost immediately. Fifty inmates were taken from prisons to make the bricks. According to one source, the hospital admitted its first patient, a medical doctor, on 1883. At that time, the facility was named Western Carolina Insane Asylum. Obviously, that was before political correctness became fashionable. The name changed to State Hospital at Morganton in 1890 and again in 1959 to Broughton Hospital, in honor of Governor J. Melville Broughton. Do you think he was flattered or insulted? After World War I (1918), attitudes and support of these institutions changed and they seemed to be forgotten. Funds were not allotted for maintenance and they were grossly understaffed. Staffing records indicate that there was only one physician for every 355 patients and one attendant per fifteen patients. Ward attendants slept on the units and only received one Sunday off a month. The nurses didn't fare much better. They worked fifteen hours shifts, including Sunday. They did; however, get four hours off one afternoon a week and four hours one evening a week. My job looks better all the time!! The cost of caring for a patient was less than $150 per year. Today, Broughton Hospital, the largest of the three state psychiatric hospitals, is a modern, adequately staff facility dedicated to the humane care of psychiatric patients. Despite the recent emphasize on de-instituting patients, Broughton Hospital serves over 4,000 patients a year at a cost of $583 per day per patient. For more information or a look at the campus, buildings, landscape and flowers, visit their website at www.broughtonhospital.org.

Stop 6/NC Mile 611 - Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site*
Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site is an 840-acre park on Route 200, west of Stanfield. This is the site of the first authenticated gold "find" in the United States, which rushed in the nation's first gold rush. In 1799, the young son of the farm's owner found a shiny 17 pound rock in Little Meadow Creek. Unaware of its value, John Reed, a German immigrant used it as a doorstop until a jeweler offered him $3.50 for it in 1802. Before long, Reed established a mining company. In 1831, he expanded the mining from just creek panning to underground mining. This mine was continued under several owners until 1912. Today, you can take guided tours through a maze of mine shafts. At the panning area, you will be instructed on how to separate gold from sand. Give it a try because lucky panners may keep their strikes. A large building near the mine is a restored 1895 stamp mill. Here, they will demonstrate how to extract gold from quartz with several crushing blows. Again, bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the self-guiding nature trails that transverse over fields and forests. The park is open year round. A fee is charged for panning.

Stop 7/NC Mile 696 - Indian Museum of the Carolinas
The Indian Museum of the Carolinas is located at 607 Turnpike Road in Laurinburg. The permanent collection at the museum contains more than 200,000 artifacts, some dating as far back as 10,000 years. For over 12,000 years, 45 different Indians cultures have called our state home. North Carolina has the highest Indian population in the eastern United States and tribes include Cherokees, Catawbas, Coharies, Tuscaroras, and Waccamaw-Siouans. Although their main emphasis is on the early Indians of the Carolinas, artifacts from other parts of the United States and South American are on display for comparison. The 40 different displays exhibit pottery, stone tools and weapons, jewelry and dugouts. Staff archeologists conduct tours of the museum and slide presentations. Outside the museum, visit the Native American Gardens. A guide booklet for the garden can be purchased in the gift shop to explain the various plants and their uses as food, dyes, fibers and medicines. The museum is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sunday afternoons.

Stop 8/NC Mile 823 - Fort Fisher State Historic Site* and Marine Resources Center
Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Marine Resources Center have something for the history buff and the wildlife lover. Fort Fisher was built during the Civil War as a countermeasure from the Union blockade of southern ports. In foggy weather and moonless nights, brave Confederate blockade-runners made daring trips to land the essential war supplies. Fort Fisher was built to protect these Confederate sailors entering Cape Fear River on their way to Wilmington. Extending for one mile along the Atlantic Coast, it was the South's largest earthwork fort. The fort's 47 guns were utilized to provide protection for a mile seaward and one-third mile inland. Due to erosion from wind and rain, today only a few mounds remain. The fort museum explains its history from December 1864 to January 1865, when the fort finally fell to the Union forces. The Marine Center located nearby contains an aquarium. On the two nature trails, look for egrets, blue herons, ibises, brown pelicans and on a rare occasion, a roseate spoonbill has been spotted. The fort is open year round except for Christmas. The center is open year round.

Stop 9/NC Mile 938 - Fort Macon* State Park
Fort Macon State Park is located in the Beaufort Inlet, a hideout for the pirate Bluebeard in the early 1700's. Named for Nathaniel Macon, a North Carolina senator, the fort's construction began in 1826 and was completed in 1834. This five-sided brick fort saw action only once. On April 25, 1862, it was shelled by Union forces and captured the next morning. Inside the fort, there is a bakery, kitchen, garrison quarters, storerooms, the restored commandant's quarters and a small museum. Bring your bathing suit, picnic lunch and fishing gear. Open year round, the park has a protected ocean swimming area and picnic grounds. Fisherman can try their hand (or pole) at surfcasting.

Stop 10/NC Mile 1,009 - Portsmouth Village*, North Carolina
Portsmouth, a 250-acre historic preserve of the National Park Service, is definitely off the beaten path. The once prosperous port of the 1850s and 1860s was almost deserted after the shoaling of the inlet ended the shipping business there. Today, this village stands as reminder of the struggle between men and the sea on the Outer Banks. Some 20 or so buildings remain in this picturesque town. It can be reached by ferry from Ocracoke or by car-carrying ferry from the town of Atlantic. However, the ferry from Atlantic dock at the southern end of Portsmouth Island is 20 miles from the village. Since there are no roads, only four-wheel, over-sand vehicles can make the trip. For information about the ferry schedule, contact the park headquarters at (919) 728-2121. Weathering permitting, it is usually accessible.

Stop 11/NC Mile 1,039 - Buxton Woods Nature Trail
The Buxton Wood Nature Trail winds through a 2,000-acre forest of stunted trees and fragile undergrowth. The wind and salt spray of the Outer Banks make forests there a rarity. The nearly four mile wide island with a whopping elevation (for the Outer Banks) of 60 feet above sea level create a forest haven with an ecological interdependence. The trees provide a protective canopy for the undergrowth that stabilizes the soil for the trees to grow. The woodland area offers a wider variety of wildlife not seen on most of the Outer Bank islands. White-tailed deer, raccoons, otters and minks are among the mammal residences that are rare for the Outer Banks. Birds, including wetland egrets, heron, grebes and woodland songbirds also make this island their home. Bring your bug repellant, especially during the summer, and walk the three-quarters mile loop of the pleasant self-guiding nature trail. It is open year round.

Stop 12/NC Mile 1,072 - Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, a 5,915-acree island, is a favorite of bird watchers. Pea Island is one of the eastern coast's finest vantage point for observing the spring and fall migratory birds. Peregrine falcons along with over 250 other birds can be seen during migration seasons. Nesting birds of the island include egrets, herons, ibises, least terns and ring-neck pheasants. The New Field Observation Area and two observation platforms make bird watching more enjoyable. The island's shifting dunes extend for more than 12 miles. Otters, muskrats, nutrias as well as loggerhead, sea and snapping turtles enjoy the salt marshes and freshwater ponds. The island is easily accessible by road and is open year round.

Stop 13/NC Mile 1,091 - Nags Head Wood Preserve
Nags Head Wood Preserve is on Ocean Acres Drive at Kill Devil Hills. This 640-acre preserve is an outstanding example of a mid-Atlantic maritime forest. Jockey Ridge and Run Hill are the two largest dunes on the East Coast of the United States. Along with others, these high dunes protect the delicate plant and animal inhabitants from the wind and salt spray. Over 60 different biotic communities are supported here along with 40 small woodland ponds containing duckweed and rare water violets. This habitat is ideal for deer, river otters, herons, egrets, geese, swans, and ducks. Guided tours are given on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. The preserve is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays year-round.

Stop 14/NC Mile 1,154 - Somserset Place State Historic Site* and Pettigrew State Park
Somerset Place State Historic Site was named by its English owner, Josiah Collins for his home county. Built by his grandson around 1830, the clapboard mansion was once part of a coastal plantation. The home boasts marble fireplaces, wide porches and a 1850 Wilson sewing machine. The estate includes a formal garden with crape myrtle, boxwood, holly and several majestic trees. The adjacent 17,368 park is named for General James Pettigrew who is buried here. Along with General George E. Pickett, General Pettigrew was instrumental in the famous charge at the battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. The park has more than five miles of trails through virgin forest of swamp chestnuts, huge oaks and other hardwood trees. Bring a picnic lunch, sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature as red-shouldered hawks, pileated woodpeckers and deer hopefully venture by. If you enjoy fishing, check out Phelp Lake, the second largest lake in North Carolina. It is famous for its largemouth bass. Geese and ducks may be seen on the lake, especially in the winter. Open year round and located in Creswell, the park also has a camping area and boat ramp.

Stop 15/NC Mile 1,216 - Merchants Millpond State Park
Located on Route 158 in Gatesville, the 760-acre lake and adjoining swamp is popular with fisherman who drop bait for largemouth bass, catfish, gars, bream and speckled perch. The lake was created in 1811 by a dam that was built to power a sawmill and gristmill. However, man is not the only dam builder here. Beaver dams as high as six feet have been spotted. Hikers may get the chance to see white egrets, great horned owls, eagles and another 180 species of birds among the towering bald cypresses and tupelo gum trees. The Chowan Swamp canoe trail offers a four or more day adventure. Open year round, this park also has picnic, tent and camper areas.

Stop 16/NC Mile 1,349 - Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace* - Wayne County
Governor from 1900-1904, Charles B. Aycock was known for modernizing the state's public education system and building many new schools. The youngest of 10 children, Aycock was born in 1858 in the simple, unpainted frame house that is the centerpiece of this 19th century farm. The home was been restored with many items of the era, but only the pine chest, 1869 almanac and family Bible are original to the home. The original stables, smokehouse and corncrib remain. An 1870 one-room schoolhouse has been moved to the site. Guided tours are available and begin in the visitor center, which houses a small museum. Demonstrations of candle dipping, butter churning, lye soap making and other home crafts are given occasionally on weekends. The site is open year round Monday through Saturday and on Sunday afternoons. There is a small charge for craft demonstrations.

Stop 17/NC Mile 1,374 - The Country Doctor Museum - Bailey, NC
The Country Doctor Museum is located at 515 Vance Street in Bailey. Once used by two local country doctors, two nineteenth century connected buildings house the museum. The museum is a tribute to the country doctors who did it all from setting broken legs, to delivering babies and making house calls. The front room is an apothecary complete with jars and a large rolltop desk with cubbyholes for prescriptions. Instruments and equipment from the 1800s to the early 1900s are on display including Civil War surgeons' amputation kits, turn-on-the-century obstetric instrument and a hinged leather artificial leg. A model horse and buggy are on display. Medicinal plants can be seen in the small garden on the way to the buggy shed. The museum is open year round Sunday through Wednesday.

Stop 18/NC Mile 1,436 - Historic Halifax State Historic Site*
British general Lord Cornwallis stopped in Halifax in 1781 on his march to Yorktown where the decisive battle was fought that ended the Revolutionary War. At that time, Halifax was a busy commercial and social center. Today, the restored buildings reflect that era from 1760 to the late 1870's, at which time the railroad decided not to make Halifax a major stop. The visitor center has an audiovisual show, displays and guided tours. The tour includes the Constitution-Burgess House. Legend reports this as the location for the framing of the first constitution of North Carolina. The tour also takes you to see two tavern-hotels, town clerk's office, an early jail, and typical homes of the local merchants and planters. Special events are held throughout the year. Open year-round.

Stop19/NC Mile 1,581 - Alamance Battleground State Historic Site*
Located in Burlington, Alamance Battleground State Historic Site is the site of the first documented resistance of the colonist against British rule. On May 16, 1771, three years before the Boston Tea Party, 2000 North Carolinians fought in a brief battle. These frontiersmen, known as "Regulators," had been voicing their dissatisfaction with the corrupt British rule since 1768. Unfortunately, their righteous indignation along with their poor training and leadership was no match for the well-trained British army. However, their efforts inspired others and set the stage for the American Revolution. A granite monument commemorates their efforts. Flags of the battleground indicate where each side stood. A bronze map explains the details of the battle. Also on the grounds, is the 1780 Allen House. This ash and oak log dwelling is typical of those built by early settlers to North Carolina's western frontier. Open year round, the visitor center houses periodic weapons and uniforms. Take time to watch the audiovisual show.

Stop 20/NC Mile 1,692 - Stone Mountain State Park
In the most northwestern part of the state, Stone Mountain State Park is a treat for fishermen and hikers alike. This 11,285-acre park has creeks stocked with rainbow, browns and "brookie" trout. Bullhead Creek is a catch and release stream where fly-fishermen can hone their techniques. Rainbow trout as long as 26 inches have been caught. Hikers will enjoy the granite outcropping, narrow dirt roads and waterfalls. Thirteen different climbing trails lead to the 2,300-foot summit of rugged Stone Mountain. Check the trails out before beginning, as many are difficult and not recommended for beginners. Other trials through mountain laurel and rhododendrons lead to Stone Mountain Falls, Cedar Rock and Wolf Rock. Trilliums, lady's slippers, bluets and other wildflowers can be spotted among the ferns in the densely forested area. Take a picnic basket, sit quietly and look for the wildlife. Deer, beaver, otters, red-tailed hawks, black vultures, wild turkeys, and owls may be glimpsed. Keep a watchful eye out because bears and cougars, however rare, have been spotted.

Sources of Information:

National Register of Historic Places
www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com

Catawba County: an architectural history by the Catawba County Historical Association
Sidney Halma, Project Director. The Downing Company Publishers, Virginia Beach, VA, 1991.

A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Piedmont North Carolina by Catherine W. Bishir & Michael T. Southern. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC, 2003.

Catawba County Historical Association Web Site: www.catawbahistory.org

Reader's Digest Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to More Than 1,000 Scenic & Interesting Places Still Uncrowded and Inviting, 1987.

Broughton Hospital Web Site: www.broughtonhospital.com

www.rootsweb.com/~asylums/morganton_nc/index.html

Biltmore House Web Site: www.biltmore.com