Join us on Monday, May 20 at 10:30am for a presentation by John Corkran, son of Black Mountain College professor David Corkran. John will share his experiences of growing up at Black Mountain College’s Lake Eden campus in the 1940s and 1950s, from climbing Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome to organizing student and faculty softball games outside the dining hall. The presentation will include a screening of a 12-minute film made about John’s experience.

Seating is limited. Please reserve your spot below.

About History Cafe
Ever wonder how Asheville came to get its drinking water from Black Mountain? What slavery looked like in western North Carolina (Yes, there were enslaved people here.)? How wagons, stagecoaches, and trains made it up the steep grade from Old Fort into Ridgecrest? Come to the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center one Monday each month at 10:30am for a discussion about local history. Come start off your morning getting to know our region a little better!

Cost: Free for museum members and students with ID. Please RSVP below. Nonmembers may pay $5 in advance online or a $5-15 suggested donation at the door. Coffee will be provided.

Designed for adults and modeled after the popular Science Cafes taking place across the nation, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center’s monthly History Cafe offers lectures and workshops led by local experts and researchers on regional history topics. These hour-long meet-ups engage the many stories that have shaped our southern Appalachian community as a place — from geological changes to native histories, musical innovations, pioneer experiences, and labor struggles — and will end with informal discussion bringing our shared history into context with contemporary issues.

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