Hikers visit Dry Falls in Franklin County.

Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to

A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

Hidden History: This series tells the little-known stories of our state, featuring documentary-style videos with archival footage of the anecdotes, artifacts, and quirky ephemera that pepper the backs of North Carolinians’

Food

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

Lew Powell’s Memorabilia Collection

A devoted collector finds treasures in items that were once the stuff of everyday life in North Carolina. His growing collection, housed in UNC Chapel Hill’s Wilson Library, is invaluable to understanding our state.

by Brad Campbell

The Lew Powell Memorabilia Collection compiles touchstones of life in North Carolina, from the State Fair to the UNC marching band, from Ocracoke to a 1940s auto race in Charlotte, from Pitt County string beans to a Hatteras fishing tournament.

Photography courtesy of Lew Powell Memorabilia Collection, North Carolina Collection, The Wilson Library, UNC Chapel Hill

Hidden History: This series tells the little-known stories of our state, featuring documentary-style videos with archival footage of the anecdotes, artifacts, and quirky ephemera that pepper the backs of North Carolinians’ memory banks. Click here to read the story from our May 2025 issue.

Click below to hear Brad read his column aloud. Our Storytellers podcast brings the pages of the magazine to life, featuring the voices of six Our State writers.