Come see the Museum's new, incredibly cool map quilt

The Swannanoa Valley Museum will open on Sat. April 10th, with a special presentation by quilter Stephanie Wilds, who created a one-of-a-kind  map quilt of the Swannanoa Valley, it's historical landmarks and pathways, as a gift to the Museum.

The doors will open at 10 am, with the presentation at 11 am.  Stephanie will show how she combined the tradition of quilting with modern computer technology to create the topographical effect of the terrain.  She also used images from the Museum's photo collection to create embroidered replicas of such landmarks as Robert E. Lee Hall, Gombroon, the Monte Vista Hotel, and others. 

Stephanie spent hours researching the historical pathways that have run through the Valley, and each are stitched in a different color to show how people have accessed the Valley over time. The quilt will remain on permanent display in the Museum. 

This season's themed exhibit, "Protecting Our Natural Scenic Beauty--A Flood Runs Through It," will be on display throughout 2010.   Oh, and you won't want to miss the special whimsical corner exhibit, "Blowdowns," featuring chairs from the Front Porch of Western North Carolina.

Museum hours:  Tues.-Fri. 10 am to 5 pm; Sat. Noon-4 pm; Sun. 2 to 5 pm.  Admission:  $2.  Museum members and children under 12 free.

Photo:  Volunteer John Reeves levels the map quilt upon installation.

Birds and wildflowers and bikes...oh, my!

Join the Museum for three wonderful adventures  in late April and early May!

Birds!

On Saturday, April 24, we will travel to Riverbend Park near Hickory for a ranger-led birding walk in that bird-rich sanctuary.  Not only will the migrating birds be passing through, the park, which is on the Catawba River, is home to many native species of woodland and water fowl. Park visitors often see great blue herons, Canada geese and wood ducks.  American bald eagles have also been spotted.

Details:  Meet at Black Mountain Savings Bank at 7 am to carpool to the park.  Bring a brown bag lunch for an apres-birding picnic.  We will return in the early afternoon.  Cost:  $10 for Museum members; $20 for non-members.  Reservations, please.

Wildflowers!

On Saturday, May 8, treat yourself to a spring morning high atop Alpine Mountain, overlooking the Swannanoa Valley, as hike leader Harriet Styles knocks your socks off with her knowledge of wildflowers.   Excursions in two directions will end up at Jesse's High Top, where you'll be able to view the entire Swannanoa Rim.  Bring a lunch for a plein-air picnic!

Details:  Meet at Black Mountain Savings Bank at 9:30 am to carpool to Alpine Mountain.  Bring lunch and water, cameras, sketch pads, etc.  Cost:  $10 for Museum members; $20 for non-members.  Again, reservations please.

And bikes, oh, my!

Then on Wed. May 12, we'll travel to Damascus, VA, for our second Virginia Creeper bicycle adventure along the famous bike path.  The Virginia Creeper is a 17-mile downhill bike trail established along the "retired" railway corridor of the Virginia-Carolina railroad, with a gentle slope and well-groomed surface.  The bike rental vendor has bikes for all sizes, ages and abilities.  So come along and join the fun!

Details:  Meet at Black Mountain Saving Bank at 6:45 am to carpool to Damascus, Va, an approximately 2 hour drive.  Cost is $35 for Museum members; $45 for non-members, and includes bike rental and safety gear.  (If you wish to bring your own bike, cost will be $21 for Museum members; $31 for non-members.)  We will stop for lunch at a small cafe along the way.  Participants are responsible for their own lunch.

For this one, we'll need paid reservations.  Please make your check payable to the Swannanoa Valley Museum, and mail to P.O. Box 306, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

Please note:  On all Museum-organized events such as these, we charge $10 above our cost to provide income for the Museum.

Photo courtesy of Paul Tilley, Black Mountain Digital Media.

Mitchell Falls Hike Visits Historic Waterfall

In June,1857, Dr. Elisha Mitchell set off from Jesse Stepp's lodging house, headed up the mountains to meet with bear hunter and guide Big Tom Wilson.  His mission: to prove once and for all that the peak that now bears his name is indeed the highest in the eastern US.

Dr. Mitchell never made it to Big Tom's place, and a search party of more than 200 men scoured the mountains to find him.  It was Big Tom who tracked him to the falls where he met his death.

On Saturday, May 1, the Museum will host a hike on a private land preserve, with permission of the owners, to what is now known as Mitchell Falls.  The hike is moderate, with a steep descent into the falls themselves. 

Details:  Meet at 8 am in the parking lot of Black Mountain Savings Bank to carpool to the hike site in Yancey County, about an 1.5 hour drive.  Bring lunch, snacks, drinks, hiking stick, cameras, etc.  Cost is $50 for Museum members; $75 for non-members.  For reservations, call 828-669-9566, or email swannanoavalleym@bellsouth.net.  Pre-payment would be appreciated.

The Museum in the News

Last week's Mountain Xpress featured the Museum's recent cemetery hike on the front cover!  Click here to view the story, "A Walk Through Time," authored by Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt.  Photographs are by Jonathan Welch.

Also, check out the April issue of The Laurel of Asheville, which will carry a half-page story about the Museum's opening and the map quilt.

And watch the Black Mountain News for stories about the Swannanoa Rim Explorer™hiking series and other Museum events.