Historical and Cultural Preservation

The Blue Ridge Parkway has more than 5,000 original maps and drawings dating from 1934 to the present. Many of the older maps and drawings, located in the parks engineering offices and archives,  are not digitized and are in very poor condition.   With your support, you can fund the work of archivists who will locate, identify, pack and ship historic maps and drawings to National Park Service’s Denver Service Center for inventorying and digitizing. Digital copies will be made accessible to the public and staff online. 

Mabry Mill is the beloved centerpiece of a collection of fascinating historical structures at milepost 171 in Virginia. In fact, the rustic mill reflected in the adjacent pond is said to be the most photographed scene on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The mill, including its wheel and roof, and surrounding structures are in dire need of repairs. With a donation, you can support rehabilitation projects that will preserve the complex and make the site more accessible for all visitors. 

Each year, the Foundation prints and distributes maps of the Cone estate to help guide visitors on the 25 miles of carriage trails and share the past of the historic gem. Your gift will ensure more visitors can appreciate the backstory and beauty of this park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The fundraising goal for this project is $5,000. Donate

Lighting plays a vital role in the many aspects of the Blue Ridge Music Center's operation. You can make the venue, exhibits, and even the parking lot shine with support for these critical enhancements.

With your help, summer Sunday afternoons will be filled with mountain music at popular destinations along the Parkway, allowing the Blue Ridge Music Center to reach a wider audience of visitors. Akin to the down-home Midday Mountain Music presentations at the Music Center, this free series of intimate outdoor concerts will showcase local musicians playing traditional music in Virginia at Humpback Rocks, Peaks of Otter and Mabry Mill, and in North Carolina at Doughton Park Picnic Area and the Asheville Visitor Center.

Matching Gift Opportunity! In 2017, Congress provided $20 million for projects across the country through the Centennial Challenge program. These funds will be matched by $33 million from more than 50 park partners to improve trails, restore buildings, and increase visitor access to parks. This project has been selected for a Centennial Challenge grant! That means your contribution will be doubled by matching funds from the federal government, so you can feel twice as good about your gift.

The sounds of the fiddle, banjo, and guitar will welcome you when you visit the Blue Ridge Music Center, where the music of our mountains is preserved, interpreted, and celebrated. Cultural preservation is a core element of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s mission, and we advance that goal by supporting projects and programs at the Music Center at milepost 213 in Virginia.

You can give to address crucial repairs and maintenance at Flat Top Manor as well as trail work and landscape restoration for this treasure listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

MATCHING GIFT OPPORTUNITY! In 2016, the National Park Service is celebrating its Centennial. In preparation for the anniversary, Congress designated $10 million toward a competitive bidding process called the Centennial Challenge to make improvements in National Parks across the country.