"A series of mountains rise out of the great Appalachia Range in Graham County, North Carolina, southwest of the Great Smoky Mountains...
- Traveller Bird.*

In Robbinsville, the Junaluska Museum and Gravesite serve as the center for Cherokee Heritage Trails. At this small, remarkable museum created by members of the Snowbird community of Cherokees from the Eastern Band, you will find information on sites and events in this area. The Junaluska Memorial and Museum also present information on the Cherokee leader Junaluska, a walking trail with medicine plants, exhibits of artifacts from this area more than 6,000 years old, and the story of the Trail of Tears in this area.

The main Cherokee Heritage Trails site in Robbinsville is the Junaluska Grave Site and Museum. Near Robbinsville, the Tatham Gap Trail was used on the Trail of Tears, and can still be walked or driven. A side trip to Joyce Kilmer Forest shows old growth as it may have looked a thousand years ago. Another side trip to the Nantahala Gorge shows another natural wonder, now famous for whitewater recreation. The recently completed Cherohala Skyway, Snowbird Community's most scenic drive, links North Carolina and Tennessee along ridge tops with panoramic views of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Sites In Robbinsville
Junaluska Museum and Memorial

Sites Near Robbinsville
Tatham Gap Trail

Side trips
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Nantahala Gorge
Stecoah Valley Center

Scenic drive
Cherohala Skyway

Events
Fading Voices Festival
Trail of Tears Singing, Brush Arbor Singing
Annual Wreath Laying at Junaluska Gravesite

*Editorial Note: For an in-depth look at each one of the interpretive centers along the Cherokee Heritage Trails, including complete articles and quotes, detailed information on all the historical sites, amazing full color photography depicting the land and its people, stories from many of the Cherokee Elders and much more about the wonderful Cherokee culture, make the Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook a part of your personal library. Click here to find out more.