Historical and Cultural Preservation

You can revive the live version of the Overmountain Victory Celebration. The reenactment highlights the march leading up to the pivotal Battle at Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War. The three-day event at milepost 331, near Spruce Pine, N.C., includes educational demonstrations and workshops, ranging from candle making to writing with a quill pen, for hundreds of public and homeschool students.

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

Light up the stage with your generosity! Last year, a lightning strike damaged the amphitheater’s lighting console and processing unit. In addition to illuminating a stellar slate of talented performers, the new system will pave the way toward replacing old fashioned, high wattage bulbs with low-voltage LED bulbs that will be more energy efficient and better for the environment. The fundraising goal for this project is $20,000.

With your help, the new Milepost Music sessions on summer Sunday afternoons will share mountain music with a wider audience of Parkway 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 at Humpback Rocks, Peaks of Otter, Roanoke Mountain Campground, Mabry Mill, and Doughton Park. The fundraising goal for this program is $20,000. donate

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.