The Asheville Museum of History is excited to announce our three-part 2023 Cemetery Series. Register for individual events, or all three at a discount. The third and final tour, Wednesday, September 13 from 10AM – 1PM takes place near Morganton, North Carolina.
Quaker Meadows, just outside Morganton, was one of the first plantations established in the WNC foothills before the eve of the American Revolutionary War and was connected to a wide array of social and political history. Home to the McDowell family (forebearers of the McDowells who later lived in the Smith-McDowell House), the cemetery established at Quaker Meadows contains the graves of many prominent early settlers and political leaders. We will explore these stories with a guide from the Historic Burke Foundation.
Guests also have the option to tour the nearby grave site of Frances “Frankie” Silver, the first woman executed for murder in North Carolina. Her famous trial and death are the subject of many local books and lore. This burial is approximately 9 miles west, down a gravel road. The hike to the cemetery is approximately 1/8 mile uphill through woods),
Guests may also wish to see the nearby History Museum of Burke County which contains exhibits relating to the Silver trial and story.
Details:
When: Wednesday, September 13
Time: 10M – 1PM
Meet: 9:45AM at Tractor Supply in Morganton (111 Independence Blvd, Morganton, NC 28655). We will carpool to the nearby Quaker Meadows Cemetery (127 Branstrom Dr, Morganton, NC 28655)
- Note: We are limited to six vehicles at this parking area.
- (Optional) We will later commute/carpool to the Silver burial site (9 miles away)
Hike Length: approximately 1/2 mile (easy-moderate 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:
- For single event – $10 for AMoH members/$15 general admission.
- For Series: $20 AMoH members (You only need to register for the first event and will be automatically added to the others)
We also have no-cost, community-funded tickets available for each event. 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.
Emergency Contact Form: Registrants must fill out the emergency contact form in advance. Those registering for the series only need to sign the form once. https://forms.gle/pui11o9aj5WdWURv7
Hike Leader:
This outing is led by a docent from the Historic Burke Foundation and by Trevor Freeman, AMoH public programs director. He has an MA in American history and is interested in both Appalachian and environmental history. He is also wilderness first aid/CPR certified.
For questions, please contact Trevor Freeman at [email protected]
LET THE HEALING BEGIN:
READY, SET, LEAF! 
