
The Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) invites you to join us for the third event in our special four-part Hikes With A Historian series where we explore the stories of several local cemeteries. This tour, Wednesday, September 21 from 10AM – 12:30PM takes place in various cemeteries in Hot Springs, North Carolina.
Hot Springs (formerly Warm Springs), North Carolina lies along the route of the former Buncombe Turnpike and later became a popular tourist resort as well. Its cemeteries contain travelers, early settlers from the 1800s, enslaved and free African Americans, and German POWs who were later reinterred. These stories and more intertwine in the cemeteries we will tour on this outing exploring local history in a mountain town.
Meet: 9:45AM at the Dorland Presbyterian Church (64 Bridge St, Hot Springs, NC 28743)
- Park in the shared parking lot behind the church. We will carpool to various cemeteries within a two mile radius.
Hike Length: approximately .5 miles (easy difficulty)
What to Bring: Water, snacks, comfortable and sturdy shoes, weather appropriate clothing, any needed medications.
Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled. The alternate rain date will be rescheduled promptly.
Tickets: $10 WNCHA members/$20 general admission. We also have two no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.
Hike Leader:
This outing is led by Taylor Barnhill. Taylor is a native North Carolinian and has lived in Madison County for forty-four years. Taylor currently enjoys wearing several hats ~ one as an architect, one as a consultant for non-profit organizations, and one for the Appalachian Barn Alliance documenting the historic barns of Madison County. His early architecture practice began as a way to serve disadvantaged communities and evolved to provide an integrated approach to sustainable design and community development. In his non-profit professional capacity, he has served as executive director with several regional conservation organizations. He spends his free time with friends and kids soaking up the local culture and hiking the region’s forests.