This Week at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

Apr 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM - SCHOLARS and SCONES:  The Steel Rails That Opened the High Country. Join Johnny Graybeal as he tells the story of the ET and WNC and the little engine known as "Tweetsie"; The railroad that transformed the High Country of Western North Carolina.

One hundred years ago the Lost Provinces of northwestern North Carolina were somewhat isolated from the rest of the country. It took steel rails coming from East Tennessee to open up the area to the outside world. The narrow gauge East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad and its sister company, the Linville River Railway, eventually connected Johnson City, TN, with the North Carolina towns of Elk Park, Newland, Linville, Foscoe, Shulls Mills, and Boone. Best known by its nickname "Tweetsie", this little train wound its way along rivers and ridges, and into the hearts of the people it served.

Economics and floodwater closed the railroad, but it came back as a theme park tourist attraction. Come hear the story of how a little train changed the destiny of the High Country forever The talk will be accompanied by locally-baked goods and coffee from Boone-based Hatchet Coffee Company.

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is located at 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC.