Mary Crowe pictured along the summit to the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower.
From the top of Clingmans Dome, the ancient mountain range is visible for miles.
One of two interpretive signs at Clingmans Dome.
The summit of Clingmans Dome can be tricky to reach despite the half-mile trail being paved because of the steep elevation gain. But those who make the journey are rewarded with boundless views of the Smokies.
“Our point has nothing to do with Thomas Clingman the person, but everything to do with the mountain and the history of the Cherokee people.” —Lavita Hill, EBCI Treasury Specialist
Thomas Clingman.
Asheville’s Pack Square once held a monument to Zebulon Vance, a former North Carolina governor who owned slaves. The obelisk was eventually removed and destroyed in May 2021 after legal battles between the city and historic preservation societies.
“We had neighborhood names for decades, but new development is claiming space and carving out new names, but not necessarily speaking to the history of those places.” —Leonard Jones, AAHC member and advocate
At Bacote Branch, a sign stands to share the origins of the creek’s name.
The waterway, which runs through the heart of the River Arts District, honors the legacy of Asheville’s Black community and preserves Bacote’s history for future generations.
The thick Smoky Mountain fog creates an erie, hallowed atmosphere that often limits the views from the top of the observation deck.
As a team, Hill and Crowe worked together to inspire community support for the name change proposal. Crowe is a lifelong activist, and founded the Eastern Cherokee Defense League, which handles environmental, economic, and social justice issues faced by the Qualla Boundary.
