By the early 1800's, an extensive farming culture had developed along the Fisher River. Gideon Edwards had completed his house by 1799. Slaves were important to plantation life handling the labor associated with the household and cultivation of more . . . — — Map (db m162104) HM
In memory of the Confederate soldiers of Surry County 1861 --- 1865 [ Rear of Monument: ] 1861
1865 “Duty is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.” . . . — — Map (db m34117) WM
To honor those who have been wounded or killed while serving in the United States Military.
"No duty is more urgent than that of
returning thanks." -J. Allen — — Map (db m263933) WM
Unique dessert thought to originate in Surry County in mid 1800s. Similar to cobbler, made with dough and fruit or sweet potato. — — Map (db m206799) HM
Surry County applied to become a county in 1770 and was approved by the state in 1771. The county celebrated its 250th anniversary with a day long celebration in August 2021. Citizens placed contents in the time capsule during the celebration event. — — Map (db m263952) HM
(front)
These surry county citizens gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country 1941-1975.
W.W.II
E.W. Amburn Jr. •
Lewis H. Armstrong •
Clifton W. Atwood •
Robert L. Ausburne •
Robert H. Barnes •
Archie M. . . . — — Map (db m263934) WM
(front)
In memoriam
Honoring the Sacrifice and Valor of Surry County men who served during the World War in defense of their country. 1917-1918
*Killed in Action*
R. S. Atkins •
Wm. Crews •
C. E. Hooker •
J. C. Isaacs . . . — — Map (db m263936) WM
The original Charters of Freedom are on display in The Rotunda at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776.
The United States Constitution was adopted . . . — — Map (db m263951) HM
Bank of Elkin opened in 1921 at 111 E Main Street. Initially shorter in depth, the bank building was designed in a neoclassical style and offered hitching posts at its rear. Bank of Elkin closed under the bank holiday' declared by President . . . — — Map (db m258844) HM
The Boone Trail Highway and Memorial Association was founded to honor Daniel Boone and to promote good highways in the early twentieth century. This marker (#104) was erected 10 Sept. 2013 on the 100th year anniversary of the association. — — Map (db m258847) HM
This arrowhead marker honoring Daniel Boone was unveiled in Elkin on September 10, 2013, almost a century behind schedule. Nearly 400 similar markers were erected between 1913 and 1938, first from NC to Kentucky by the DAR and then across the . . . — — Map (db m258845) HM
David Allen, Eighteenth-Century Entrepreneur
David Allen arrived mid-century in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With an eye on the plentiful timber and swiftly moving rivers, he set about building a sawmill. He likely had lumber . . . — — Map (db m258609) HM
E & A Railroad engineer Dallas McCoin stands in the cab of Number 100 after a late winter snow in March 1912. The locomotive is parked on the West Main Street crossing at Front Street. The Gwyn-Foard House is in the background. The first engine for . . . — — Map (db m258862) HM
The E & A Depot was located in the parking lot in front of you. It was a 35-foot-long building painted tan with brown trim. The railroad curved to the left between the E & A office and the depot to connect with the main line of the Southern Railway. . . . — — Map (db m258860) HM
While convicts blasted rocks and graded the land, a professional railroad construction company actually laid the rails of the Elkin & Alleghany Railway. The construction company's locomotive is pushing two Southern Railway flatcars up the line in . . . — — Map (db m258607) HM
The Elkin & Alleghany Railway was incorporated in 1907 to link the Southern Railway line to Norfolk & Western Rail at Jefferson, NC. The route allowed abundant natural resources to be carried from the mountains to foothills and piedmont markets. . . . — — Map (db m258858) HM
(Preface):
On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee . . . — — Map (db m56794) HM
Richard Gwyn, the founding father of Elkin, built a grist mill (white building at left) in the early 1840s. He added a cotton mill in 1847 and formed the Elkin Manufacturing Company. The mill produced cotton sheeting and yard goods. R.W. Foard . . . — — Map (db m258608) HM
Transportation played a major role in Elkin's 20th century prosperity. The Southern Railroad Depot (built 1891, demolished 1988) was located one block north on South Bridge Street. The station serviced passenger and freight trains daily and endured . . . — — Map (db m258855) HM
The first dam constructed on the Elkin Creek was located approximately where the present Market Street Extension bridge joins Elk Spur Street. It was probably built in the 1840s. The wooden flume carried water to Richard Gwyn's grist mill and the . . . — — Map (db m258603) HM
The MST stretches 1,200 miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome (Great Smoky Mountains) to Jockey's Ridge (Outer Banks). The trail traces the natural diversity of North Carolina: ancient mountains, waterfalls, wine country, small Piedmont . . . — — Map (db m273822) HM
The grassy area in front of you is the easternmost point on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. Near this spot on September 27th, 1780, Patriot militiamen from Surry County under the command of Major Joseph Winston mustered to join . . . — — Map (db m56937) HM
The Kings Mountain campaign is one of the turning points of the American Revolution. The British commander in the Southern Colonies, Lord Charles Cornwallis, anticipated strong Loyalist support in the Carolinas. Major Patrick Ferguson, an . . . — — Map (db m56940) HM
The park design pays tribute to the architecture of the Blue Ridge Hotel, which once stood on the very same corner where the park will be. Robertson recalls living in the Blue Ridge Hotel with Carlos Jones as they both lived and worked on Main . . . — — Map (db m256763) HM
Donna Fargo is a County Music Singer-Songwriter best known for her 1970s self-penned hist "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" and "Funny Face". She became the first woman in country music history to sell a million records back-to-back. After four . . . — — Map (db m185330) HM
The legendary Easter Brothers grew up here in Mount Airy, NC. their earliest musical influence was inspired by their mother and her "clawhammer" style banjo picking. Brothers Ed and Russell formed the Easter Brothers group in 1953 and were joined by . . . — — Map (db m215816)
Flip Rees, an icon in Mount Airy, was instrumental in the revitalization of the downtown district. He founded F. Reese Company in 1946. A Staple family business is known for exceptional customer service. He was a WWII Vet, serving as a Major in the . . . — — Map (db m185332) HM
Fred Cockerham was born in the Beulah Community of Surry County and was a legendary Banjo player, fiddler player, and singer. He began playing banjo around the age of seven. He was known for his double noting old-time banjo playing technique which . . . — — Map (db m185327) HM
To accomplish its mission of protecting, preserving, and promoting Surry County Music, the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall at the Historic Earle Theatre houses black and white portraits of Surry County's old-time music legends, memorabilia, and a . . . — — Map (db m185321) HM
L.H. Jones was a leader and educator in Surry County for over 45 years. He served as the only principal of J.J. Jones High School during its 30-year existence between 1936 and 1966. The school was named after his father who worked as a teacher and . . . — — Map (db m185333) HM
Ralph Epperson founded WPAQ 740 AM, The first radio station in Surry County in 1948.
The station is best known for the preservation of music native to the Mountains of North Carolina and Virginia, highlighting local old-time musicians. WPAQ is . . . — — Map (db m185324) HM
This memorial is dedicated to those men and women from Surry County
who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.
(center piece)
We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under . . . — — Map (db m264579) WM
Andy Griffith was a North Carolina icon, actor, musician, writer, and lifelong advocate of the arts. Griffith was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina on June 1, 1926 to Carl Lee Griffith and Geneva Nunn Griffith. He had a humble small-town upbringing . . . — — Map (db m247799) HM
The First National Bank was organized by Thomas Fawcett, who served as the bank's first president. Between 1910 and 1916, the building was slightly remodeled and veneered with rusticated granite blocks. The beautiful McClintock Chime Clock was . . . — — Map (db m264023) HM
The Graves House
1953
has been listed in the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior — — Map (db m264079) HM
J.C. Hollingsworth owned a lumber yard and in 1895, co-founded Mount Airy Furniture, the town's first large scale furniture factory. The building features the distinctive light-colored granite which is
quarried locally. Hollingsworth remodeled the . . . — — Map (db m264001) HM
The J.D. Smith General Store was first built as a general store on the site of Smith's earlier wood frame store. Smith had seven children with his wife, Gertrude Gilmer Smith. Their eldest daughter, Gertrude, named after her mother, established the . . . — — Map (db m264033) HM
The L.H. Jones
Auditorium
Has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Built in 1947-1948 largely by
students under the instruction of
trowel trades . . . — — Map (db m264081) HM
The Mill Worker represents the thousands of hardworking people who worked In the local mills to support their families. After the City's Incorporation in 1885, the Granite Quarry began production in 1889. The first furniture factory began working in . . . — — Map (db m185331) HM
Dedicated June 19, 2015 by Barbara McMillian
In memory of Susan Pendleton Ashby for her dedication to the improvement of
Downtown Mount Airy and her efforts to restore the
Coca Cola Ghost Sign
The local Mount Airy Coca . . . — — Map (db m264022) HM
It was on this wall that men would whittle, trade knives and watches, tell tall tales, and chew tobacco. This popular sitting spot was soon nicknamed "Buzzard's Roost." The number of men gathered here made it difficult for pedestrians to use the . . . — — Map (db m185325) HM
The Whittling Wall pays homage to local icons who have helped shape our history and culture in Mount Airy. Featured on the wall are the Whittler-Representing the history of the wall; Tommy Jarrell-A legendary Fiddle player, Fred Cockerham-A renowned . . . — — Map (db m185326)
(upper plaque)
Thomas Benton Ashby House
1910
This property is under
the protective covenants
of the Historic Preservation
Foundation of North
Carolina, Incorporated.
(lower plaque)
This property
has been . . . — — Map (db m264012) HM
March 1, 1901-January 28, 1985
Tommy Jarrell was a legendary old-time fiddler, banjo player, and singer from the Round Peak Region of Surry County, He began playing music at the age of seven. Jarrell became known as "The Master of round Peak . . . — — Map (db m185329) HM
A place unlike any other on Earth, where ancient landscapes enchant the eye and age-old traditions warm the heart.
You are now in one of America's most cherished and celebrated natural landscapes, the mountains and foothills of Western North . . . — — Map (db m284129) HM
(upper plaque)
Estes-Spain House
1860
This property is under
the protective covenants
of the Historic Preservation
Foundation of North
Carolina, Incorporated.
(lower plaque)
William A. Estes House
built . . . — — Map (db m263978) HM
The M47 was essentially an M46 fitted with the turret from the T42 tank prototype. The front hull had a sharper slope, however, and the rotoclone blower place between the drivers on the M46 was deleted. The turret had a long bustle which housed the . . . — — Map (db m54515) HM
Humorist, minister, and editor. Wrote Fisher's River Scenes (1859), a collection of folk tales with local settings. He was born 2 miles N.W. — — Map (db m54708) HM
Look up, out, or down and you are likely to see some of these high flyers soaring around here at Pilot Mountain State Park.
Can you identify any of them?
Red-tailed Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis) height 18-25 inches, wingspan 4 feet. A . . . — — Map (db m77592) HM
Fire! The very word conjures up images of huge flames rushing through forests destroying everything in their path, animals running to escape the heat and flames. Yet in nature, there’s much more to the story of fire. Fire has played an important . . . — — Map (db m77590) HM
(Preface):
On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee . . . — — Map (db m54626) HM
On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, . . . — — Map (db m54615) HM
