Park Ranger to Describe the 'Trans-Mountain Road of the Smokies'
Western Carolina University's Mountain Heritage Center is hosting a presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 13 by Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranger Brad Free. The talk is entitled "Trade, Timber and Tourism: The Trans-Mountain Road of the Smokies," and centers around the Oconaluftee Turnpike built to connect North
Carolina and Tennessee in the 1830s.
The toll road was the only crossing in the Smokies for several years. It followed a Native American trail across passes and over high ridges through what is now the national park. Ranger Free will describe the changing landscape along that road and how it differs from other ecosystems in the Smokies.
Free is an experienced speaker. As an employee with the national park's Division of Resource Education and Visitor Services, he guides history hikes, presents campground evening programs and provides costume interpretation at the national park's Mountain Farm Museum.
The program begins at 5:30 p.m.
WCU's Mountain Heritage Center is on the ground floor of the H.F. Robinson Administration Building. For more information, call (828) 227-7129 or visit www.wcu.edu/mhc.
The toll road was the only crossing in the Smokies for several years. It followed a Native American trail across passes and over high ridges through what is now the national park. Ranger Free will describe the changing landscape along that road and how it differs from other ecosystems in the Smokies.
Free is an experienced speaker. As an employee with the national park's Division of Resource Education and Visitor Services, he guides history hikes, presents campground evening programs and provides costume interpretation at the national park's Mountain Farm Museum.
The program begins at 5:30 p.m.
WCU's Mountain Heritage Center is on the ground floor of the H.F. Robinson Administration Building. For more information, call (828) 227-7129 or visit www.wcu.edu/mhc.
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