A Drive Through History

Blue Ridge Mountains

For anyone who has visited this blog more than a couple of times, it’s no secret that I enjoy camping. It’s not that I enjoy bugs, or snakes, or some of that stuff that goes with camping, but I enjoy the opportunity to explore and capture what I see with my camera. This past weekend, I had just such an opportunity when I spent four days camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Boone, North Carolina. My last post described my feelings on seeing one of the sights along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Boone, North Carolina, as one might guess was named for Daniel Boone, who is thought to have regularly camped in the area when traveling back and forth between Kentucky and points east. As I drove north from Boone on the Blue Ridge Parkway I had thoughts that what I was seeing was somewhat timeless. The views from the scenic stopping points along the Parkway remain just as the appeared to Boone and other early explorers as the United States expanded westward.

Mountain Living

That’s not to say that there are no signs of modern society along the Parkway…after all, I was traveling in a  modern pickup truck meeting cars and motorcycles who were exploring the same area I was. And there are farms and homes, and small towns along the way as well. But the mountain scenes themselves are pretty much timeless. One of the attractions of the Blue Ridge Parkway are the many historical sites that have been preserved along the 469 miles of roadway that winds through North Carolina and Virginia. Construction on the Parkway was begun in the 1930s as a Depression-era project that took over 50 years to complete.

Brinegar Cabin

One of my stops over Memorial Day Weekend was the Brinegar Cabin which was built in 1885, and remained occupied until construction was begun on the Parkway in 1935. This simple farmstead has been preserved and is maintained as an example of what life in the Blue Ridge Mountains was like a century and a half ago. Viewing the cabin and the simple garden that has been planted was almost like stepping back in time. And the views around the cabin were absolutely breathtaking.

Brinegar Cabin Interior

I strongly recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway as a vacation destination to anyone interested in breathtaking views and an interest in history. Besides the Brinegar Cabin, there are functioning mills, historic homes, amazing examples of engineering feats required to construct the roadway, and wildlife and vegetation that will take your breath away. If so inclined, there are several campgrounds along the parkway where you can park an RV or set up a tent. And if you’re really ambitious, there are trails to hike that will take you the length of the Parkway and provide an experience of a lifetime.

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