ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, local historians and cultural leaders in Western North Carolina are inviting residents to reflect on a central question: When are we “us”?
Buncombe County Special Collections and North Carolina Historic Sites will host a full day of America250 programming Feb. 27 at the Lord Auditorium inside Pack Memorial Library in downtown Asheville. The free public event will feature lectures, a film screening and live readings centered on immigration, integration, emancipation and voting rights in North Carolina.
Organizers say the event, supported by the North Carolina Division of Natural and Cultural Resources, aims to connect national themes to regional history.
The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with historian Dr. Steven Nash discussing the aftermath of slavery in the Mountain South. Nash, author of “Reconstruction’s Ragged Edge,” will examine how emancipation reshaped Western North Carolina during Reconstruction, followed by a question-and-answer session.
At 10:30 a.m., literature scholar Rebecca Godwin will present “A Woman of Her Own Making,” a talk on Julia Wolfe, who operated the “Old Kentucky Home” boardinghouse in Asheville. Wolfe was the mother of famed author Thomas Wolfe, and her boardinghouse became immortalized in his autobiographical novel “Look Homeward, Angel.”
After a midday break, the program resumes at 1 p.m. with a screening of “Urban Renewal Impact,” a documentary examining the legacy of urban renewal in Asheville and its lasting effects on local Black communities. Filmmaker Todd Gragg and community historian Priscilla Robinson will lead a discussion following the film.
The final session at 3:30 p.m., titled “Open Envelope,” will feature live readings of historical documents in partnership with Asheville Community Theatre. The presentation will explore the symposium’s theme — “When Are We US?” — and conclude with an opportunity for audience questions and dialogue with local historians.
All events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Pack Memorial Library is located at 67 Haywood St. in downtown Asheville.
