Bent Creek in Buncombe County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

French Broad River

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 8, 2012

1. French Broad River Marker

Inscription.
The French Broad River played a major role in this region’s early development. Initially called the “Broad River” by eighteenth-century French hunters and traders, it was later named the French Broad River. With headwaters on Pisgah Ridge twenty miles southeast of here, it flows through the mountains near Asheville and merges with the Holston River at Knoxville.

The French Broad’s wide banks provided a convenient passageway through Western North Carolina’s rugged mountains, so much so that it was once the main thoroughfare between the Carolinas and Tennessee. Often with herds containing thousands, nineteenth-century drovers moved cattle, horses, hogs, ducks and turkeys along this lengthy route to southern markets.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Blue Ridge Parkway series list.

Location. 35° 29.85′ N, 82° 35.619′ W. Marker is in Bent Creek, North Carolina, in Buncombe County. It is at the intersection

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of Blue Ridge Parkway (at milepost 394) and North Carolina Highway 191, on the right when traveling north on Blue Ridge Parkway. Marker is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near the NC 191 crossover. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Asheville NC 28806, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mountains and in Greater Asheville.

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 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sassafras (approx. ¾ mile away); Dr. L.B. McBrayer (approx. ¾ mile away); The Quilt Garden (approx. 0.8 miles away); Landsman Riley Powers (approx. 3.2 miles away); Rutherford Trace (approx.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 8, 2012

2. French Broad River Marker

3½ miles away); Exploring Deer Park Trail (approx. 3.7 miles away); Frederick Law Olmsted (approx. 3.7 miles away); Shrub Garden (approx. 3.7 miles away).

More about this marker. The right side of the marker features a map of the area showing the Blue Ridge Parkway and Drover’s Roads. Next to this is an etching, courtesy of the North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville, North Carolina. It has a caption of “Keeping track of the animals demanded the drover’s complete attention. Animals often numbered in the thousands. This 1857 illustration is from Harper’s Weekly.”

Marker on the Blue Ridge Parkway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 8, 2012

3. Marker on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 8, 2012

4. French Broad River Marker

French Broad River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 8, 2012

5. French Broad River

The French Broad River is seen here from the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,252 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 29, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.