East End in Asheville in Buncombe County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Railroad Workers

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 4, 2025

1. Railroad Workers Mural Closeup

Inscription.
The railroad brought both prosperity and hardship: the state of NC leased over 3,500 black prisoners to build the rail, from Asheville to Murphy North Carolina.

The bees work
Their work is taken from them.
We are like the bees—
But it won’t last forever.
The past has been a mint
Of blood and sorrow.
That must not be
True of tomorrow.
—Langston Hughes

Erected 2013 by Just Folks and the Asheville Design Center, Artist Molly Must.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 35° 35.567′ N, 82° 33.025′ W. Marker is in Asheville, North Carolina, in Buncombe County. It is in East End. It is at the intersection of South Market Street and Sycamore Street, on the right when traveling south on South Market Street. The marker is a part of the Triangle Park Mural located at Triangle Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 56 S Market St, Asheville NC 28801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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: Isaac And Delia Dickson (here, next to this marker); Catholic Hill School / Stephen’s – Lee High School (a few steps

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from this marker); Triangle Park Mural (a few steps from this marker); Lynching in America / The Lynching of Bob Brackett (a few steps from this marker); Isaac Dickson and the Historical East End Neighborhood (within shouting distance of this marker); Oscar Wong (within shouting distance of this marker); The YMI & William and Georgia Roland (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hotel District (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Asheville.

Railroad Workers Section in the Triangle Park Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 4, 2025

2. Railroad Workers Section in the Triangle Park Mural

This is the third panel from the left.

Left side of the Triangle Park Mural. Marker indicated by arrow. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 4, 2025

3. Left side of the Triangle Park Mural. Marker indicated by arrow.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 6, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.