Digital Watauga

07/19/2026

*Now Online* Cecil Jackson Slide Collection Series 05

Series 05 consists of 154 color slides depicting various Boone Mennonite Brethren Church events, portraits, a Christmas celebration, and fire trucks on King Street.

To view the entire collection, visit our website: https://digitalwatauga.org/search?query=Cec-Jac-05&query_type=exact_match&record_types%5B%5D=Item&record_types%5B%5D=File&record_types%5B%5D=Collection&submit_search=Submit

07/04/2026

*Now Online* Cecil Jackson Slide Collection Series 04

This series consists of color slides depicting Nativity and other performances at the Boone Mennonite Brethren Church. There are also images of Junaluska neighborhood cookouts, the dance floor of a bar, a fundraiser at Hardin Park Elementary School, and the demolition of the Daniel Boone Hotel.

To view the entire collection, visit: https://digitalwatauga.org/search?query=Cec-Jac-04&query_type=exact_match&record_types%5B%5D=Item&record_types%5B%5D=File&record_types%5B%5D=Collection&submit_search=Submit

05/31/2026

Were you able to make the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Civil War Trails marker on May 21st? If not, read Watauga Democrat's writeup on the event, here: https://tinyurl.com/yt8xe6cm.

This interpretive marker highlights Union General George Stoneman’s Raid through the present-day Boone, and was made possible through a partnership between Town of Boone Historic Preservation Commission, the Downtown Development Business Association, and the Watauga County Historical Society.

Here are the remarks given by Adelia Daly (DW Senior Technician and WCHS Secretary), describing Watauga County's part in the Civil War:

05/16/2026

*Now Online* Mary Helen Cole Collection Series 01

This collection consists of a single binder/scrapbook of materials related to the life of Mary Helen Cole and her family, including genealogical information, photographs, and postcards.

To view the entire collection, visit: https://digitalwatauga.org/search?query=Mar-Col-01&query_type=exact_match&record_types%5B%5D=Item&record_types%5B%5D=File&record_types%5B%5D=Collection&submit_search=Submit

05/14/2026

All of us at the WCHS and DW are proud to have been part of this major interpretive effort that was several years in the making. We hope that you can make the ribbon cutting ceremony for this event on Thursday, May 21, at 3:00pm.

We are very proud to be a funding sponsor for this new Civil War Trails marker commemorating Stoneman's Raid, which is located in Downtown Boone near the historic post office at the bulb out between West King St. and Linney St.

The Town of Boone and the Boone HPC will officially unveil this marker on Thursday, May 21, at 3:00pm. Please join us in celebrating this major interpretive accomplishment!

You can read more about this project here: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0pxFqDkQuaAd5tvzm8AegM34Qdi5riq7raECpyKDzNcXTF9p362p4STJRYH8NM8Qvl&id=61574308919532

04/13/2026

Have you submitted your nomination of a deserving nominee for the 2026 class of the Watauga County Historical Society Hall of Fame? Here's your chance!

PO Box 3453, Boone, NC 28607                                               [email protected]

04/04/2026

*Now Online* Judy Cole Collection

This collection consists of materials collected by Judy Cole (daughter-in-law of Mary Helen Cole) and includes a large sampling of historic postcards. These showcase various landmarks and tourist attractions around Watauga County and Avery County--circa 1950s-1970s--such as Grandfather Mountain, the Green Park Hotel, Mayview Manor, Downtown Boone, various churches, and the Moses Cone Estate. Additionally, included postcards feature surrounding areas in Western North Carolina, such as Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Morganton, the French Broad River, and Mount Mitchell. A few of these postcards contain handwritten messages, mostly to and from Dovie Robinson of Rutherfordton, North Carolina.

To view the entire collection, visit: https://digitalwatauga.org/collections/show/100