Saturday October 11th

This event will be structured as a stop-and-go tour of the North Fork area. Attendees will visit several prominent historic sites and enjoy talks from local historians and descendants of North Fork families. Speakers will explore the development of the North Fork community,  homesteads and prominent people, and influential historic institutions including Moore General Hospital, Black Mountain College, and the Asheville Watershed.

PLEASE NOTE: This hike is best for experienced hikers with a limit 15 participants. All hikers must be pre-approved. Those interested can register below and will be contacted shortly after by a hike leader to be approved.

Starting at the Montreat Nature Center, this challenging 13-mile route with an elevation gain of 4000 feet will cover portions of the Greybeard Trail, the historic Old Toll Road, and the Buncombe Horse Range (Bridle) Trail, culminating in a 1,000-foot climb from Camp Alice to the Summit of Mount Mitchell. We will have drivers waiting at the top of Mt. Mitchell to take you back to your cars at the Nature Center.

Meet: 8:15 am – Montreat Nature Center (301 Lookout Road, Montreat).

Step outside the museum and into the past on this exclusive guided tour of Cataloochee Valley! Explore historic structures like the Palmer Chapel & Cemetery that remain as a testament to the past. Hear Stories of the Past from local historian John Buckner. Keep an eye out for local wildlife! (Elk Season)

Date: October 16th, 2025
Time: 9am – 6pm
Cost: $60 Nonmembers, $50 Members

Thursday, October 16th: Threads of Memory: The Art and History of Hairwork 

Once a cherished art form in Europe and America, hairwork transformed strands of hair into jewelry, keepsakes, and intricate designs that carried deep personal meaning. This presentation traces its history from European origins to the delicate techniques used by artisans, while also highlighting the Charleston women who practiced the craft. Blending artistry, memory, and local history, it offers a warm glimpse into a tradition that is both intimate and enduring.

About the Lecturer:  Gina Iacovelli is the founder of Mementos Entwined, a jewelry brand devoted to the art of hairwork and the enduring stories it carries. For nearly a decade, she has studied and practiced this forgotten craft, weaving delicate strands of human hair and pet fur into bespoke keepsakes that honor both love and loss. Growing up near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania sparked her love of Victorian history, which later drew her to Charleston for its rich tradition of historic preservation. In addition to her jewelry, Gina also works as an architectural designer, bringing the same care for craft and history into the built environment.  

October 18

In the 1800s and early 1900s the top of Brushy was an important meeting spot for hunters. It divides the large drainages of Bee Tree Creek (Right Fork), Laurel Branch, and Sugar Fork. The high top of Bee Tree is the highest point on the Swannanoa Rim. The Bee Trees run south from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Grovemont and Swannanoa, separating the North Fork drainage from the Bee Tree Creek drainage. The Museum’s hike provides a tour of these mountains from White Oak Flats, just south of Brushy Ridge, to the gap near Eden Rock, above the Granny and Laurel Branches.

Difficulty: Difficult, 4.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,909 feet

Join The Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center Haunted History walking tours in downtown Black Mountain’s historic district. Traveling some of Black Mountain’s most storied streets, visitors will learn about the humorous, haunting and harrowing history of the Swannanoa Valley while being visited by some of its most famous spirits. This event, which is a fundraiser for the museum, will highlight local tragedies and triumphs- and the many ghosts, friendly and frustrated, born from these events.