About the Region

Mars Hill University is located in the Appalachian Mountains, in Madison County – a county celebrated by historians, environmental scientists, folklorists, and outdoor enthusiasts, and known worldwide for its rich traditional music heritage. The French Broad River and the Appalachian Trail meander through the county, much of which is located in the Pisgah National Forest and is near to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The land, landmarks, and place-names of Madison and surrounding counties tell stories of the earliest cultures that lived here, of the Cherokees, of European colonists, the American Revolution, African American communities, the Civil War, and of all the changes brought by the 20^th and early 21^st centuries. The Mars Hill University campus itself is home to:

• The Bascom Lamar Lunsford “Minstrel of Appalachia” Festival (western North Carolina’s second-oldest folk festival);
• The Southern Appalachian Archives, which includes collections on the music, daily life, and history of the region;
• The Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies, which hosts Appalachian programs and workshops;
• The Heritage Garden, a garden tended by students and planted with regional heirloom vegetables; and
• The Rural Heritage Museum.