Appalachian History

Two of the world’s oldest family businesses are Appalachian

Stuart Land Co. of VA ranks at #96 on the Oldest 100 Worldwide list (it’s the 17th oldest company in the USA). Henry Smith started it in 1774.

Here’s the Tater Valley Schoolhouse, active 1850-1950, moved from Tater Valley in Anderson County, TN to the Museum of Appalachia.

Ray Hicks was best known for his traditional storytelling and for preserving the original Beech Mountain ‘Jack Tales’ of western NC.

The park’s centerpiece: world’s largest display of the 10 Commandments. Letters 5 ft tall, 4 ft wide, spelled out in white-painted concrete.

The best archeological guess is that it was built between 500 B.C.-1500 A.D., with the highest probability that it was built around 500 A.D.

Developed by Thunderbolthost