Juneteenth History Hike

827 Boys Camp Road,Lake Lure NC 28746

19 June, 2022

Description

Join us on a hike exploring the lives and stories of those enslaved across WNC – particularly here in and around the Hickory Nut Gorge. Southern Appalachia is often thought of as a place where little slavery existed prior to the American Civil War. Yet for those individuals held against their will in various places across the mountains, their experiences were just as real as their desire for freedom. In honor of Juneteenth, celebrating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans at the end of the Civil War, join us on this short hike exploring the lives and stories of those enslaved across WNC – particularly here in and around the Hickory Nut Gorge – as they sought and found freedom before, during, and after the war. Trevor Freeman is a western North Carolina native and alumnus of Appalachian State University and East Carolina University, where he holds an MA in American History. He has worked or interned in several parks and battlefield sites including Chimney Rock State Park and Cowpens National Battlefield He is now the public programs director for the Western North Carolina Historical Association based in Asheville. His research interests include the American Revolution as well as Appalachian and environmental history. His 2020 MA thesis focuses on the service and lives of North Carolina’s 460+ identified African American or Black soldiers in the American Revolutionary War. An avid hiker, paddler, and fly fisher, you will often find him exploring or leading outings in the places he writes about. www.wnchistory.org “The Rumbling Bald Trail is a loop trail that meanders through a beautiful hardwood forest along the south face of Rumbling Bald Mountain, revealing huge boulder fields and the base of the cliff areas.” Rumbling Bald Climbing Access loop trail, 1.5 mile moderate hike Sunday June 19th 3-6pm Registration required through Eventbrite link