Mountains, rivers and coast
Peaks, gorges, rivers, sounds, inlets and islands, and the parks that keep them. 57 places on the trail.
Colonial North Carolina, 1585-1774
- I-58BLACK RIVER CHURCHPresbyterian. Organized 1740. Present building constructed 1859. First regular pastor was the Rev. Colin Lindsay.
- I-77CAPE FEAR BAPTIST CHURCHConstituted in 1756 as Particular Baptist. Stephen Hollingsworth, first minister. Present (1859) building 2 mi. E.
- B-37COLINGTON ISLANDGranted to Sir John Colleton, Sept. 8, 1663. Colonized in 1665 by a company under Peter Carteret. Two miles W.
- C-35CORE SOUND MEETINGQuaker center for more than 100 yrs. after 1733. Migration west was one cause of decline. Meeting house was 50 yards W.
- J-49DEEP RIVER FRIENDS MEETINGWas begun in 1753 and organized as a Monthly Meeting, 1778. Present building erected 1875.
- E-88FALLS OF THE TAR CHURCHConstituted as Particular Baptist, 1757; Rev. John Moore & Joshua Lawrence among early ministers. Now Primitive Baptist.
- Q-4JUDACULLA ROCKSoapstone boulder carved with Indian symbols between 500 & 1700 A.D. Sacred to the Cherokee. Petroglyphs 3 1/2 mi. SE.
- C-4OCRACOKE INLETOnce chief trade inlet of N.C. In 1718 pirate "Blackbeard" was killed near there, 17 mi. N.E., across Pamlico Sound.
- C-34RICHLANDS OF NEW RIVER CHAPELSite of three successive Protestant congregations: Anglican until about 1758; Baptist until 1877; and Disciples of Chris...
- H-73ROCKY RIVER CHURCHBaptist, organized about 1757. Used by Regulators for meetings after 1768. Stands 200 yards east.
- K-51ROCKY RIVER CHURCHMissionary Baptist. Began before 1772 as a branch of Little River Church; was independent by 1790. Present bldg. 3 mi. N...
- L-77ROCKY RIVER CHURCHPresbyterian. Founded in early 1750s. Hugh McAden preached here 1755. First regular pastor, Alexander Craighead, 1758. P...
- H-84ROCKY RIVER FRIENDS MEETINGEstablished under care of Cane Creek Meeting, 1753; a Monthly Meeting since 1908. Fourth building was constructed in 192...
- O-77TRYON MOUNTAINLandmark on Cherokee boundary, negotiated by Gov. William Tryon and Cherokee chiefs, 1767. Elevation 3,231 feet.
- F-40WHEAT SWAMP CHURCHDisciples of Christ since 1843. Organized about 1760 as Free Will Baptist. Part of present church built in 1858. One mil...
Revolution and founding, 1775-1789
- O-1BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAINOvermountain Men from Tenn., Va., & N.C. led Patriots to victory over British, Oct. 7, 1780. Site 7 miles south.
- B-45FLAT SWAMP CHURCHPrimitive Baptist. Begun in 1776. First pastor was John Page. Second building on site. Two miles S.
- J-60HIGH ROCK FORDGen. Nathanael Greene maintained headquarters here, Feb. 28-Mar. 12, 1781, before meeting Cornwallis at Guilford Courtho...
- P-82HOWARD GAP ROADRoute used by Indians & settlers in crossing the Blue Ridge. Named for Capt. Thomas Howard, 1776 militia leader.
- O-5KINGS MOUNTAIN BATTLEGROUNDSite of decisive British defeat on Oct. 7, 1780. National Military Park located 5 mi. southeast in South Carolina.
- B-35LAKE COMPANYJosiah Collins, Sr., and partners drained part of 100,000-acre tract near Lake Phelps with 6-mile canal, completed 1788;...
- G-65MOUNT BETHEL METHODIST CHURCHNon-denominational meeting house built ca. 1784 by Archer Harris. By 1808 Methodist. Home church to Washington Duke.
- I-51RAFT SWAMPAfter the Tory victory at McPhaul's Mill, the Whigs routed the Tories near here on Oct. 15, 1781, and broke their resist...
- N-32SWANNANOA GAPUsed by Indians and pioneers in crossing Blue Ridge. General Rutherford's expedition against Cherokee passed here, Septe...
- N-5YELLOW MOUNTAIN ROADAlong a route nearby the "Over-Mountain Men" marched to victory at King's Mountain, 1780.
The young state, 1790-1860
- D-66BALD HEAD LIGHTHOUSEOriginal lighthouse was erected in 1794. Present tower, "Old Baldy," built in 1817. Used until 1935. Stands 3 miles sout...
- B-54CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSETallest brick lighthouse in nation at 208 feet. Constructed, 1869-1870, to mark Diamond Shoals. Replaced 1802 structure.
- C-24CAPE LOOKOUT LIGHTHOUSEConstructed, 1857-1859, to replace the original 1812 tower. The present lighthouse, standing 150 feet tall, is 4 miles S...
- K-54CEDAR FALLS MILLChartered 1828; opened 1836. Jonathan Worth, N.C. governor (1865-68), its president. Supplied clothing for Confederate w...
- A-12DISMAL SWAMP CANALConnects Albemarle Sound with Chesapeake Bay. Begun 1790; in use by War of 1812.
- O-75MOUNT HARMONY UNITED METHODIST CHURCHCongregation organized by 1791. Cemetery and present building, the church's fourth, are one mile west.
- J-104MOUNT HECLA MILLFirst steam-powered cotton mill in N.C. Operated ca. 1834-50 in large brick building that stood 2 blocks N.
- A-43MOUNT LEBANON CHURCHA.M.E. Zion. Organized about 1850 as mission to serve black Methodists. Since 1856 congregation has met 1 1/2 blocks N.
- L-65MOUNT PLEASANT COLLEGIATE INSTITUTELutheran junior college for men, 1903-33, on site of North Carolina College, 1853-1902. Two blocks north.
- E-7ROCKY MOUNT MILLSSecond cotton mill in State. Building begun, 1818. Federals burned, 1863. Soon rebuilt.
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
- BB-4BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND
- D-71CAPE FEAR CLUBFounded in 1866; oldest men's social club in N.C. Guilford F. Dudley, first president. Building here in use since 1913.
- C-41HUGGINS ISLAND FORTConfederate 6-gun fort guarding the entrance to Bogue Inlet; burned by Union troops, Aug. 19, 1862. Remains, 1 mi. S.W.
- BB-5NAVAL BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND
- M-28ORE KNOB MINECopper mine operated intermittently, 1850s to 1962. Site of Ore Knob, boom mining town, inc. 1875. Shafts 1 mile N.
The New South, 1878-1929
- I-8BURNT SWAMP ASSOCIATIONBaptist churches serving Lumbee and other tribes. Association was formed in 1881 at Burnt Swamp Church, then 2 1/2 mi. N...
- O-82CHIMNEY ROCKGranite monolith. Site acquired by Lucius Morse in 1902. Developed into tourist attraction. State park, 2007. One mi. S.
- P-72MOUNT MITCHELL RAILROADOpened Black Mountains to logging and tourism. Built, 1911-1914. It ran from point nearby to Camp Alice, 21 mi. NE.
- B-66PEA ISLAND LIFESAVERSOnly U.S. Lifesaving Station manned by black crew. Led by Richard Etheridge, 1880-1900. Operated near here.
Modern North Carolina, 1930 on
- P-64BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGEEst. in 1933; closed 1956. Experimental school with emphasis on fine arts & progressive education. Campus was 3 mi. NW.
- F-43MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGEOriginal Free Will Baptist. Chartered in 1951 as junior college. Moved here, 1953. Senior college charter granted in 198...
- M-26PILOT MOUNTAINLandmark for Indians and pioneer settlers. Elevation 2,420 feet. State park since 1968. Stands 3 miles west.
- A-48ROANOKE RIVEREarly channel of trade, its valley long an area of plantations. Frequent floods until 1952; since controlled by Kerr Dam...
- B-34ROANOKE RIVEREarly channel of trade, its valley long an area of plantations. Frequent floods until 1952, since controlled by Kerr Dam...
- E-53ROANOKE RIVEREarly channel of trade, its valley long an area of plantations. Frequent floods until 1952, since controlled by Kerr Dam...
- E-54ROANOKE RIVEREarly channel of trade, its valley long an area of plantations. Frequent floods until 1952, since controlled by Kerr Dam...
- E-56ROANOKE RIVEREarly channel of trade, its valley long an area of plantations. Frequent floods until 1952, since controlled by Kerr Dam...
- I-78WHITE LAKE CCC CAMPAn installation of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Initiated modern park improvements. Est. here 1935; closed 1942.
Battlefields, sites and undated markers
- P-45FLAT ROCKLandmark for Indians and the pioneer white settlers of this area, lies nearby. Town of Flat Rock named for this natural ...
- P-27PAINT ROCKPictographs on cliff face were created by Indians ca. 2500 B.C. & long have been landmark for travelers. 5 1/2 mi. N.W.
- D-124SEABREEZE AND FREEMAN BEACHES
- H-42SMILEY'S FALLSRuins remain of locks and dams built by the Cape Fear & Deep River Navigation Company in 1850s. Rapids extend upstream 1...