By Jennifer Whittaker Hikers walking the Appalachian Trail have long had a map to explore the mountains of Georgia’s Appalachia. Now, thanks to National Geographic, tourists have a map to explore the region’s cultural heritage. The National Geographic Appalachia Geotourism MapGuide, released by the internationally renowned geographical society in its April issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine, highlights 356 tourist attractions (19 of them in Georgia) throughout the U.S. Appalachian region. Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler has described the sites on the map as “a cultural treasure trove.”

Georgia sites that made the MapGuide are: the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, Chieftain’s Trail, Prater’s Mill near Dalton, the Dalton Depot Restaurant, Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum at Berry College, Cagle’s Dairy in Hickory Flats, the Southern Highlands Trail, the Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway, the Northeast Georgia History Center, the Foxfire Museum in Mountain City, the Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts, Tallulah Falls, historic Dahlonega, the Shields-Etheridge Heritage Farm in Jefferson, the Georgia Guidestones in Elberton, the Appalachian Scenic Trail at Springer Mountain, Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi near Blairsville, the Blue and Gray Trail that traces Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign and the McIntosh Reserve in Carroll County, a 527- acre recreation park along the Chattahoochee River named for Chief William McIntosh, Jr. Contact information for each site is provided on page 26.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Prater’s Mill established in 1855 by Benjamin Franklin Prater and T.H. Pitner near Dalton. The annual Prater’s Mill Country Fair is scheduled for Oct. 8-9. For more details vist www.PratersMill.org

“We hope the map will create a greater awareness of the uniqueness of the Appalachian Region as a unique travel destination, and make people want to visit it more,” said Cheryl Smith, a regional tourism representative for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. To create the map, state and local partners of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) nominated over 1,000 attractions believed to represent authentic Appalachia. Stretching from New York to Mississippi, the Appalachia MapGuide includes scenic hikes, festivals, music venues, museums and artisan shops.

“It was a complete honor and surprise for us,” Bernice Cagle of Cagle’s Dairy said of the map designation. “The map promotes the whole region. Maybe this will give farmers a chance to do some direct marketing.”

The Cagle family opens their farm in north Cherokee County to urban residents to let them experience life on the farm. Tours of the farm’s milking parlor and dairy processing plant - the oldest continuously operating plant in Georgia - are available, along with the chance to pet a calf or see an old fashioned vegetable garden. Each summer the Cagles plant a corn maze that opens to the public in the fall.

“We’re going to build on our designation as a site on the Appalachian map. This year the theme for the maze will be related to Appalachia, and we plan to have bluegrass and gospel groups playing during our Harvest Time,” said Kelly Cagle, whose husband, Mark grew up on the farm.

Members of the Appalachian Heritage Guild (AHG) will demonstrate crafts and life skills of the Southern Appalachian culture at Cagle’s Dairy on Sept. 24-25 and dates to be determined in October and November. Visit www.caglesdairy.com for a schedule of the farm’s fall activities.

Pictured standing from left, Frank Stone and Albert Cagle tell children attending a farm day at Cagle’s Dairy how people once milked cows and made homemade butter as Carme Jensen pulls a dasher from her butter churn.

Founded by Frank Stone and Carme Jensen in 2001, the 40-member AHG is committed to preserving and demonstrating Southern Appalachian culture. Members of the AHG bring the Appalachian culture to life by dressing in pre-Civil War homespun clothing to perform tasks, such as churning butter or blacksmithing, that once sustained the Appalachian people.

“You can read about it, but seeing it in action is different,” Stone said. A native of Cherokee County, Stone describes himself as “a product of both Elbert and Cherokee County’s agrarian culture.”

A member of the Association of Living History Farm and Agricultural Museums, the AHG performs living history presentations by invitation.

“How can you progress into the future unless you can appreciate where you came from?” Jensen replies when asked about the importance of the guild. “Everything we demonstrate was done by the people of Appalachia. Back in the old days they made everything they used out of necessity. Today it’s considered art.”

If you can’t catch them at Cagle’s Dairy, AHG members will be on hand at the Turning and Burning Festival hosted by the Hewell Family in Gillsville, Ga., Oct. 1. For more information about this festival celebrating North Georgia pottery, visit www.hewellspottery.com or call (770) 869-3469.

The relationship between the AHG, the Cagles and the Hewells illustrates how Appalachian people once depended on their neighbors and family. When Jensen demonstrates butter churning, she churns milk provided by Cagles Dairy in a churn handmade for her by Chester Hewell. Stone describes it as “a network of helping.”

Kids attending a farm day at Cagle’s Dairy this summer were spellbound as they listened to Jensen explain how people once made their own butter as she rhythmically lifted the churn dasher up and down.

“Was it rare to have a cow back then?” one child asked.

To which Jensen replied, “Oh, no. Everybody had a cow, or you got your milk and butter from a neighbor.”

Albert Cagle, whose parents Clayton and Estelle Cagle started the family farm, watched the groups of summer camp kids interact with Jenson and Stone.

“I hope it helps them to like history and know where their food comes from and how things were done in the past,” Albert said.


Editor’s Note: Georgia’s Appalachia MapGuide sites offer a variety of options for experiencing Georgia’s Appalachian heritage. Visit the web sites listed on page 26 to learn about each site and special events being held this fall. Visit www.nationalgeographic.com/appalachia for more information about the Appalachia MapGuide and www.georgiasappalachia.com for more information about Georgia’s Appalachia.