Blowing Rock in Watauga County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Space Shuttle Columbia/ Watauga County Veterans Memorial

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 5, 2025

1. Space Shuttle Columbia/ Watauga County Veterans Memorial Marker

Inscription. Dedicated in memory of the heroic crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the Veterans of Watauga County who served their country so courageously.

God Bless America

Erected 2003 by Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • Military.

Location. 36° 8.464′ N, 81° 40.161′ W. Memorial is in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, in Watauga County. It is at the intersection of Shoppes on the Parkway Road and Valley Boulevard (U.S. 221/321), on the right when traveling east on Shoppes on the Parkway Road. The marker is near the entrance to Shoppes on the Parkway. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 120 Shoppes on the Parkway Road, Blowing Rock NC 28605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Carolina’s and he Mountains in the High Country. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

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

the Western Hemisphere,

the

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

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: Dr. Vera Lachman / Camp Catawba (a few steps from this marker); Chetola (approx. ¼ mile away); Blowing Rock Negro Community Church (approx. half a mile away); Rainey Service Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); R.S. Reinhardt Building (approx. 0.7 miles away); Blowing Rock Ice House (approx. 0.7 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Inn at Ragged Gardens (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blowing Rock.

Full view of Space Shuttle Columbia/ Watauga County Veterans Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 5, 2025

2. Full view of Space Shuttle Columbia/ Watauga County Veterans Memorial

Space Shuttle Columbia/ Watauga County Veterans Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 5, 2025

3. Space Shuttle Columbia/ Watauga County Veterans Memorial

Looking towards entrance to Shoppes on the Parkway at Valley Blvd (US 221/321)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 138 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 7, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.