Sautee Nacoochee in White County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Blacksmith Shop

African American Heritage Site

Photographed by Tom Bosse

1. Blacksmith Shop Marker

Inscription. Essential to settlers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, many small farm blacksmith shops dotted the landscape in these hills and valleys. Larger industrial foundries and commercial blacksmith shops were located at intersections of commerce, mining, and milling operations in the Sautee and Nacoochee valleys. Blacksmiths in these shops constructed and repaired horseshoes, plows, wagon wheels, nails and all manner of farm equipment.

Near this site stood a small blacksmith shop used to teach the craft to male students at the Nacoochee Institute. Fire destroyed the Institute in 1927, ending the formal instruction at Nacoochee. After the fire, Rabun Industrial School merged with the former Nacoochee Institute, thus creating Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.

In 2012 the White County Commission funded construction of this blacksmith shop. It serves as a demonstration site for living history programs as well as a meeting place for local blacksmiths whose skills pay tribute to those craftsmen of the past.

Erected by Sautee Nacoochee Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education •

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Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.

Location. 34° 41.19′ N, 83° 40.575′ W. Marker is in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, in White County. It can be reached from Georgia Route 255 0.2 miles north of Unicoi Turnpike ( Route 17), on the left when traveling north. Marker located near the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sautee Nacoochee GA 30571, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Emancipation Wall (a few steps from this

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 5, 2018

2. Blacksmith Shop Marker

marker); Slave Garden (a few steps from this marker); Cooling Vat (a few steps from this marker); Slave Dwelling (a few steps from this marker); Millstones (a few steps from this marker); African American Heritage Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Joe Brown Pikes (approx. 0.7 miles away); Bishop Marvin A. Franklin (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sautee Nacoochee.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Sautee Nacoochee Center. Website homepage (Submitted on July 20, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 511 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on May 12, 2021, by David Tibbs of Resaca, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.