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In honor of National Daniel Boone Day (June 7), the Southern Appalachian Historical Association is
hosting a special event at its Hickory Ridge History Museum Saturday, June 5 th .

Daniel Boone, the Town of Boone’s legendary namesake, was a folk hero in his own lifetime (1734-
1820). He was also one of America’s first naturalists, cherishing the country he found as he blazed
trails from North Carolina into the wilderness of Virginia and Kentucky. He founded one of the first
settlements west of the Appalachians, served as a militia officer in the Revolutionary War, was
kidnapped, then adopted, by a Native American tribe, served in the Virginia legislature, supported his
family by hunting and surveying, ran a tavern, and fathered ten children with his wife Rebecca. While
journeying through the region of present-day Boone, NC, Daniel stayed in a cabin at the foot of Rich
Mountain, and members of his extended family eventually settled here.

Hickory Ridge History Museum welcomes Mary Bohlen, president of North Carolina Daniel Boone
Heritage Trail for an educational presentation. She will be joined by Robert Crum, who can trace his
roots back to Daniel Boone. Mary will also demonstrate open-hearth cooking in the museum’s historic

1785 cabin, while interpreters present a frontier-style tavern, depict of the life of a woodsman and
demonstrate a black powder long-rifle.

Another special guest will be “Bo” Taylor, a member of the Cherokee Long Hair Clan and Cherokee
historian. Having spent much time with the tribe elders, Bo is well acquainted with the traditions and
stories of a Native culture that Daniel Boone often encountered. He performs and teaches Cherokee
songs and dances across the country, reads and writes Cherokee, performs native dances at Native
powwows across the country and helps with educational programs at the Museum of the Cherokee
Indian.

The Southern Appalachian Historical Association is a nonprofit organization preserving the High
Country’s cultural heritage from its early years of settlement in the late 18 th century. Guides in period
dress demonstrate frontier life and period artifacts in five historic cabins on the beautiful Hickory
Ridge History Museum grounds adjacent to the Horn in the West amphitheater. This year’s annual
Daniel Boone Day event will be held from 10 AM until 2 PM, June 5 th 2021. Admission will be $8 for
adults and $5 for children.

We would like to extend a thank you to our co-sponsors, North Carolina Arts Council and Watauga
Arts Council for their support of the arts in our community.