Burnsville in Yancey County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Otway Burns Monument

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 28, 2025

1. Otway Burns Monument Marker

Inscription. Otway Burns,
born in Onslow County
N.C. 1775.
Died at Portsmouth
N.C. 1850.
Sailor-Soldier-
Statesmen.

North Carolina's foremost son
in the War of 1812-15.

For him, this town is named.

He guarded well our seas,
let our mountains honor him.

Topics. This monument and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. A significant historical year for this entry is 1775.

Location. 35° 55.032′ N, 82° 17.982′ W. Monument is in Burnsville, North Carolina, in Yancey County. It is at the intersection of Town Square and West Main Street, on the left when traveling east on Town Square. The marker is located in center of the Burnsville Town Square. Touch for map. Monument is in this post office area: Burnsville NC 28714, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial monument 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 the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

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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: John "Yellowjacket John" Bailey (here, next to this marker); Yancey Collegiate Institute (a few steps from this marker); Nu Wray Inn (within shouting distance of this marker); Citizens Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Yancey County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Yancey County War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Honoring Yancey County’s Confederate Dead (within shouting distance of this marker); Yancey County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burnsville.

Otway Burns Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 20, 2014

2. Otway Burns Monument

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 20, 2014

3. Otway Burns Monument

On March 6, 1834, John "Yellow-Jacket John" Bailey conveyed 100 acres, including this square to commissioners appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly to establish a town site for Yancey County.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 20, 2014

4. Otway Burns Monument

Otway Burns Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 28, 2025

5. Otway Burns Statue

Mural on the side of a building in Burnsville image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 20, 2014

6. Mural on the side of a building in Burnsville

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 937 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 30, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 25, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 5. submitted on September 30, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 6. submitted on September 25, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.