In and around Franklin and other parts of western North Carolina, gem mines draw tourists and serious rock hounds alike for the chance of spotting a deep purple sapphire or rich red ruby sparkling in sifting trays full of mud.
Queen City Neon
For a Mecklenburg County photographer, a high school project became an adult passion: documenting nostalgic signs and billboards across Charlotte.
A Peaceful, Easy Village
A country doctor created an idyllic ghost town of 19th-century log cabins in rural Catawba County. Five decades later, his granddaughter continues to nurture Hart Square Village, a living museum of pioneer life for new generations.
Public Reflections in the Queen City
In the first decade of the 21st century, Charlotte erected a pair of sculptures in two public spaces. The pieces have become symbols of the city itself.
A Worldly Celebration at Pura Vida
In Charlotte’s NoDa arts district, a Mexico-born store owner brings neighbors of all kinds together through the power of shared faith, art, and community spirit.
Big Memories in a Tiny Shack
In the shadow of Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County sits the Grimshawes Post Office, an eensy-weensy wooden building that old-timers fondly remember and newcomers visit on hiking excursions around Cashiers and Highlands.
