On the eastern edge of the state, our barrier islands are shaped and reshaped by the whims of wind and water, and people who put down roots on these changing lands continue to adapt.
LIVING IN NORTH CAROLINA
How Sanford Became Brick City
Look around Sanford. It’s practically all red. The Piedmont city is so famous for its clay and brick that it was once nicknamed “The Brick Capital of the USA.” Locals aim to preserve that distinction.
Old as Dirt
The variety of soils found across North Carolina have a long history and shape the landscape and lives of everyone who has, and will, call the state home.
Folk Family: A Homegrown Thanksgiving Tradition
Each year, families forgo a traditional Thanksgiving weekend to gather in Black Mountain for intergenerational fun through folk dancing, crafts, music, and games.
The “Newcomer”
After moving to North Carolina in the 1960s, a former Northerner has found excitement in small towns and cities across the state.
Seagrove
Close to the Sandhills, a community of talented ceramicists continues the multi-generational legacy of Seagrove pottery.
Meet the Mushroom Man
Finding fungi in Henderson County is easier when you have a self-described “fun guy,” like the owner of Deep Woods Mushrooms, helping you hunt.
Carolina Barn Dance
Every Saturday night from May to October, in a cavernous hall in Maggie Valley, cloggers celebrate North Carolina’s official state folk dance — and, in the process, preserve a treasured tradition.
Houses of the Holy
Churches have played many roles in western North Carolina. During the week, they once drew children from miles around to attend school. On Saturdays, they became community centers for potlucks and dances. And on Sundays, parishioners still gather to worship, answering the call of the church bell’s peal.
