The Swannanoa Valley This is Home: Western North Carolina, Past and Present Series explores key historical, cultural, and ecological aspects of the Western North Carolina region with monthly evening lectures, taking place February thru November at the Education Room of the Black Mountain Public Library (105 N. Dougherty Street). These hour-long meet-ups engage the many stories that have shaped the Swannanoa Valley as a place and look at the human and natural forces that have shaped the region, bringing these histories into a present-day context. Each presentation ends with a Q&A discussion bringing our shared history into context with contemporary issues. T
When & Where: WNC, Past and Present lectures take place once a month, February thru November on Thursday evenings from 6:00pm to 7:15pm at the Education Room of the Black Mountain Public Library (105 N Dougherty St., Black Mountain, NC 28711) unless stated otherwise.
Cost: Tickets are $5 for museum members who use their promo code, $10 for general admission. Some fees may apply. If you are not financially able to afford to attend this series, please contact the Swannanoa Valley Museum at 828-669-9566 for scholarship availability.
Cancellation Policy:
We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise. You may cancel your enrollment in the program for a full refund up to 48 hours before the program start date.
- Cancellations made 48 hours or more before the program start date will receive a full refund.
- Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the program start date will not be eligible for a refund.
- A full refund will be offered if the museum cancels the program due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Please Note:
- We strongly recommend notifying us of your cancellation in writing via email to swannanoavalleymuseum@gmail.com
- You will receive a confirmation email upon processing your cancellation request.
2025 Entire Series Schedule
| Name | Date |
| Moonshine & Motorsports in Appalachia | Thursday, February 27th, 6:00-7:15pm |
| Viewing of The Last One *At White Horse Black Mountain* | Thursday, March 6th, 6:00-7:15pm |
| Civil War and the Aftermath in WNC | Wednesday, April 9th, 6:00-7:15pm |
| Conquistadors in North Carolina: Excavating the Berry Site and the Exploring Joara Foundation | Thursday, May 8th, 6:00-7:15pm |
| Thursday, June TBD, 6:00-7:15pm | |
| Thursday, July TBD, 6:00-7:15pm | |
| Thursday, August TBD, 6:00-7:15pm | |
| Thursday, September TBD, 6:00-7:15pm | |
| Thursday, October TBD, 6:00-7:15pm (online ZOOM) | |
| Thursday, November TBD, 6:00-7:15pm (online ZOOM) |
2025 Upcoming Event Details & Registration
Thursday, February 27th: Moonshine & Motorsports in Appalachia
Dr. Dan Pierce, professor at UNCA and contributor to Moonshine & Motorsports Trail, will discuss the history of moonshining in North Carolina and greater Appalachia and how that birthed the multi-billion-dollar industry of stock car racing that we know today.
Thursday, March 6th: Viewing of The Last One
The Swannanoa Valley Museum will be hosting a viewing of the 2009 Emmy Award winning documentary, The Last One. Set in the wilds of Southern Appalachia, Neal Hutchenson tells the story of the late Popcorn Sutton and the history, tradition, craft, and danger of bootlegging moonshine. **Event taking place at White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711**
Wednesday, April 9th: Civil War and the Aftermath in WNC
On the 160th anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union forces , Steven Nash will address how the main issues of the Civil War period played out in western North Carolina. Addressing issues like the myth of a solidly Unionist Appalachia and the idea that slavery didn’t exist in the mountains, Nash will discuss what led western North Carolinians into a war that would transform their society. Using diaries, letters, and a variety of government documents, Dr. Nash’s talk will show how the Civil War and Reconstruction impacted the people of western North Carolina.
Steven Nash
Steven Nash is a Professor of History at East Tennessee State University. He is the author of Reconstruction’s Ragged Edge: The Politics of Postwar Life in the Mountain South (UNC Press, 2016), which received the Weatherford Award for Nonfiction awarded by Berea College and the Appalachian Studies Association. In 2010, he helped organize the Society of Appalachian Historians and helped plan its annual meetings through 2023. He maintains a strong interest in public history, serving as President of the Mountain History and Culture Group, a non-profit support board for the Zebulon B. Vance State Historic Site in Weaverville, North Carolina.
Thursday, May 8th : Conquistadors in North Carolina: Excavating the Berry Site and the Exploring Joara Foundation
Mike Carpenter will discuss the Spanish exploration and occupation in North Carolina (1521 – 1587); discovery and excavation of the Spanish settlement of Cuenca and Fort San Juan in Burke County; and public opportunities made available by the Exploring Joara Foundation.
Mike Carpenter’s Bio
Mike Carpenter is a native of Catawba County, now living in Hickory with his wife Gina and their Maltese, Piper. He has helped with excavations at the Berry Site in Burke County since 2007. He served as a staff member of the Berry Site Archaeology Field School in 2022, 2023 and 2024. He has also helped with excavations at both the Town Creek Indian Mound in Montgomery County and the Carson House in McDowell County. He is on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Archaeological Society and the Exploring Joara Foundation. The Exploring Joara Foundation educates and engages the public through hands-on archaeology and history programs, events, and opportunities to discover our diverse cultural and historical past with a focus on Native American and early colonial history. Exploring Joara is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.