On Depot Street at North Main Street (North Carolina Road 1006), on the right when traveling south on Depot Street.
Some history records that President Abraham Lincoln was born in a
one-room cabin in Kentucky. However, N.C. research historians and
generational stories hold that Lincoln was born on Puzzle Creek, near
Bostic, North Carolina, and that his father . . . — — Map (db m240784) HM
This park is dedicated to Barbara T. Meliski who served on Chimney Rock Village Council as Mayor Pro Temp from the date of incorporation in July 1991 until 2005, and as Mayor from 2005 until her retirement from office in November 2015. A passionate . . . — — Map (db m92054) HM
St. Louis physician Lucius B. Morse discovered the rugged beauty of
Hickory Nut Gorge on his first visit in 1900. Intrigued by the towering
Chimney Rock, he envisioned making this area accessible to the world
while preserving its natural beauty. . . . — — Map (db m209822) 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, the . . . — — Map (db m12890) HM
On Old Main Street, 0.1 miles north of Drug Store Street, on the right when traveling south.
In the early 1900's when Cliffside Mill was built, a bell tower was erected to house this bell. It towered above the mill and looked out over the town. This bell was named the "Get Up Bell" by the people of Cliffside. The bell was rung as follows: . . . — — Map (db m14572) HM
On Old Main Street (State Road 2018) 0.1 miles north of Drug Store Street, on the left when traveling north.
In 1902 Raleigh Rutherford Haynes, one of the South’s leading textile pioneers, and the founder of Cliffside, built his home on this site. After Haynes’ death on February 6, 1917, his son Charles lived here for the next 40 years. The house was . . . — — Map (db m227395) HM
Near Park Street just east of Young Street, on the left when traveling east.
1887 The railroad corridor is chartered before the Civil War as the Wilmington, Charlotte & Rutherford Railroad (completed to Rutherfordton in 1887). The Charleston, Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad also begins construction (connects . . . — — Map (db m237933) HM
On Business U.S. 74 at Alternate U.S. 221, on the left when traveling east on U.S. 74Business .
Governor of Arkansas, 1873-74; Union colonel in Civil War; elected to U.S. Senate, 1864, but not seated. Birthplace stood 4 1/2 miles S.E. — — Map (db m14575) HM
On W. Main Street at S. Church Street, on the left when traveling west on W. Main Street.
Organized as Cool Springs Baptist Church in John Bostick home in 1848-met there until 1855, about 500 feet west. First log Meeting House and Cemetery on Vance Street, 1855-1867. Second church house located in present Cool Springs Cemetery, . . . — — Map (db m14584) HM
On W. Main Street at Yarboro Street, in the median on W. Main Street.
1887
Forest City
Main Street
Historic District
National Register of
Historic Places
The town of Forest City
was originally incorporated
as Burnt Chimney in 1877. — — Map (db m14583) HM
On East Main Street at Depot Street, in the median on East Main Street.
To the memory of
Capt. H.D. Lee
and Company D 16th Regiment,
who were the first to leave from
Rutherford County for the
War Between The States
June 3rd, 1861, and
Capt. J.B. Eaves
and Company I 50th Regiment,
who left in . . . — — Map (db m14582) HM
On West Main Street (Business U.S. 74) at Memorial Drive, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street.
Caroleen, North Carolina Born February 6, 1927 Died September 15, 1991 Major League Catcher Batted left-handed and threw right-handed 6-time All Star .295 Career Batting Average 126 Career Home runs 145 Career Pinch Hits — 4th all time high Signed . . . — — Map (db m197297) HM
North Carolina. Colonized, 1585-87, by first English settlers in America; permanently settled c.1650; first to vote readiness for independence, Apr. 12, 1776.
South Carolina. Formed 1712, from part of Carolina, which was chartered in . . . — — Map (db m13046) HM
Site of Cool Springs Baptist Church, now First Baptist Church, organized in John Bostick Home, 1848. First log meeting house 1855-1867. First church and cemetery in settlement. — — Map (db m19995) HM
On E. Main Street at Mill Street, in the median on E. Main Street.
In Memory of
Left Panel
Captain Roy Huskey
Rutherford County
Sheriff's Department
Born May 25, 1931
Shot and killed in the
line of duty in rural
Rutherford County
May 31, 1979
Center Panel
Trooper
R.L. "Pete . . . — — Map (db m14580) HM
On Harris-Henrietta Road, 0.1 miles north of Main Street, on the left when traveling south.
Among early landowners at the Great Fall on Second Broad River were Richard Henderson, a founder of the short-lived state of Transylvania, and Abner Nash, governor of North Carolina in 1780-81. Later owners used the water power of the High Shoal for . . . — — Map (db m14574) HM
On Chimney Rock Park Road, on the left when traveling west.
Here sits the original Otis Elevator machine that transported
millions of guests to the Chimney level from the day it opened to
the public on May 15, 1949 for the next 68 years.
Installation of the elevator was completed on December 23, . . . — — Map (db m209823) HM
In 1879 Frank Reynolds and his family from Ayr, Scotland settled on waters of Cove Creek branch of Buffalo Creek. Here a small town grew up around a tannery operated by Reynolds and his sons, notably Thomas. On June 1, 1880 a post office named Ayr . . . — — Map (db m39739) HM
In Commemoration of Dr. Lucius B. Morse, 1871-1946, Hiram B. Morse, 1864-1952, Asahel U. Morse, 1864-1939
Three brothers whose vision and faith developed Chimney Rock and made the beauty of its area accessible to all future generations.
. . . — — Map (db m209826) HM
On Bills Creek Road at Landing Lane on Bills Creek Road.
Named for Captain John Potts who was killed by Indians during the Revolutionary War. This Fort protected early settlers living in the cove near the Indian boundary line. — — Map (db m39737) HM
On Memorial Highway (U.S. 64/74) at Arcade Street, on the left when traveling west on Memorial Highway.
In Spring of 1927, this sixty-room hotel was opened simultaneously with the incorporation of the Town of Lake Lure (sister city of Lake Como, Italy) and the completion of the Lake Lure Dam which formed the lake, along with other matching . . . — — Map (db m234194) HM
Dr. Lucius B. Morse was a
visionary. When he rode his horse
through Hickory Nut Gorge for the first
time in 1900, he was captivated by
the rugged beauty and intrigued by the
towering Chimney Rock. He believed
that this area could be developed . . . — — Map (db m209824) HM
On NC 64 (North Carolina Route 64) 0.4 miles south of Pea Ridge Road (County Route 1007), on the left when traveling south.
The church and cemetery before you is the final resting place for a Revolutionary War hero. Upon returning from the Battle of Kings Mountain, mortally wounded Lt. Thomas McCulloch was brought to Alexander McGaughey’s Fort adjacent to the church . . . — — Map (db m237871) HM WM
Near this site stood
Fort McGaughey, which
was constructed
during the
Revolutionary War
period and named for
Alexander McGaughey. — — Map (db m20343) HM
General Griffith Rutherford stationed at Fort McGaughey, built by the Colonial government of NC in 1765. He left McGaughey September 1780 with Col. James Martin and Col. Martin Armstrong going against the Cherokee Indians beyond the Blue Ridge. The . . . — — Map (db m20342) HM
Born October 2, 1802, a Baptist minister; first moderator of the Green River Baptist Association.
He built this house known as "The Webb House" in 1825; served in the House of Commons; Clerk of Superior Court; published a Rutherford County . . . — — Map (db m20345) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north. Reported damaged.
A Doorway for Your Imagination Christopher Bechtler's coining shop was a busy place during the 1830s. Every day, miners arrived to bring in raw gold or pick up their newly minted coins.
Although we know that Bechtler owned this property, . . . — — Map (db m240791) HM
On Washington Street at 6th Street, on the right when traveling north on Washington Street.
Established 1831, four miles N., by Christopher Bechtler. Later stood at this point. Minted more than $2Ľ million in gold. Closed about 1849. — — Map (db m14599) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north.
Christopher Bechtler: A Fascination with Gold Christopher Bechtler was a brilliant man
of seemingly boundless energy.
At the technical college in his home town of Pforzheim, he learned jewelry and clockmaking and became a skilled . . . — — Map (db m240804) HM
On Coxe Road (County Route 1005) 0.4 miles east of River Crest Parkway, on the left when traveling east.
(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 m208801) HM
On N. Main Street at 5th Street, on the left when traveling north on N. Main Street.
In 1787 fifty acres of land were purchased from James Adair for founding of Rutherford Town, which serves as the second county seat. — — Map (db m14594) HM
On U.S. 221 at Green Street, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 221.
Founder of Syracuse, N.Y., early advocate of Erie Canal. Moved to N. Carolina, 1829. Land and mining speculator.
Grave is 50 yds. east. — — Map (db m14598) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north.
Making Millions: The Bechtler Mint Site It was on this site from 1831 to 1840 that Christopher Bechtler operated the nation's most successful private mint, turning raw gold into nearly $3 million in coins and ingots.
A talented inventor, . . . — — Map (db m240860) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north.
Drawn by the gold to be found in our rivers, thousands of fortune
seekers kindled a North Carolina Gold Rush to these foothills in the
1820s. Among them was the German jeweler Christopher Bechtler who
bought this land in 1830 and began his own – . . . — — Map (db m240796) HM
On N. Main Street at 2nd Street, on the left when traveling north on N. Main Street.
Rutherford County, created in 1779, was named for Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford. Griffith Rutherford helped protect Rutherford County through his service as leader of Rutherford Trace in 1776. While serving in the Revolutionary War, Griffith . . . — — Map (db m14590) 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 m34075) HM
On N. Main Street at 6th Street, on the right when traveling north on N. Main Street.
Completed in 1847. The oldest original church building standing in Rutherford County. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. — — Map (db m14595) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north.
Beyond this dark opening is a mystery tunnel. Was it Bechtler's mine? With some evidence pointing that way, it is certainly a possibility.
By 1831, Bechtler was using a water-powered “stamp mill” of the type used to crush gold-bearing rock. . . . — — Map (db m240802) HM
