Cradle of Forestry in America Historic Site, NC (4-30-16)
Read MoreCradle of Forestry in America National Historic Site
This is the 'new' visitor center for the Historic Site. The original burned to the ground in 1985 and this is the structure which replaced it. Bigger and better, this center houses some impressive interpretive displays, artifacts, a gift shop, and small restaurant...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Schoolhouse
Constructed ca. 1891; reconstructed ca. 1965 -- Before Schenck moved his school to the Pink Beds this building served local residents as a primary school and church building. Schenck utilized the structure for similar purposes and even provided funds for the addition of an organ. After the school closed the building slowly deteriorated but, through donations by alumni was reconstructed in the mid-1960's...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Schoolhouse (interior)
Constructed ca. 1891; reconstructed ca. 1965 -- Before Schenck moved his school to the Pink Beds this building served local residents as a primary school and church building. Schenck utilized the structure for similar purposes and even provided funds for the addition of an organ. After the school closed the building slowly deteriorated but, through donations by alumni was reconstructed in the mid-1960's...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Ranger's Dwelling
Constructed ca. 1882 -- this large cabin was once home to a man by the name of Hiram King. Vanderbilt purchased the home for use at his school and it was occupied by one of his rangers, George Gillespie. In addition to Gillespie and his family the home also boarded eight forestry students in the upstairs rooms...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Ranger's Dwelling
Constructed ca. 1882 -- this large cabin was once home to a man by the name of Hiram King. Vanderbilt purchased the home for use at his school and it was occupied by one of his rangers, George Gillespie. In addition to Gillespie and his family the home also boarded eight forestry students in the upstairs rooms...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Ranger's Dwelling (interior)
this large cabin was once home to a man by the name of Hiram King. Vanderbilt purchased the home for use at his school and it was occupied by one of his rangers, George Gillespie. In addition to Gillespie and his family the home also boarded eight forestry students in the upstairs rooms. This room is located on the main floor...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Ranger's Dwelling (interior)
this large cabin was once home to a man by the name of Hiram King. Vanderbilt purchased the home for use at his school and it was occupied by one of his rangers, George Gillespie. In addition to Gillespie and his family the home also boarded eight forestry students in the upstairs rooms. This photo is of the kitchen on the main floor...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Commissary
The Commissary, located alongside the Rangers Dwelling, was a social center of sorts for the Forestry School. Here students would grab a quick lunch, play any number of lawn games, or simply catch up on the latest news. Today the Commissary is packed full of period artifacts and is a fascinating place to spend a few minutes exploring...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Commissary
The Commissary, located alongside the Rangers Dwelling, was a social center of sorts for the Forestry School. Here students would grab a quick lunch, play any number of lawn games, or simply catch up on the latest news. Today the Commissary is packed full of period artifacts and is a fascinating place to spend a few minutes exploring...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Black Forest Lodge
This impressive building was built by Dr. Schenck to house another of his rangers. Many such homes were built by the Doctor at various points around the forest to give the rangers an on-site home base of sorts for patrolling the woods for poachers and people cutting trees illegally. The design is Schenck's own as well, intended to reflect the styling of his home country Germany...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Black Forest Lodge
Dining Room -- This impressive building was built by Dr. Schenck to house another of his rangers. Many such homes were built by the Doctor at various points around the forest to give the rangers an on-site home base of sorts for patrolling the woods for poachers and people cutting trees illegally. The design is Schenck's own as well, intended to reflect the styling of his home country Germany.
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Black Forest Lodge
Main Floor -- This impressive building was built by Dr. Schenck to house another of his rangers. Many such homes were built by the Doctor at various points around the forest to give the rangers an on-site home base of sorts for patrolling the woods for poachers and people cutting trees illegally. The design is Schenck's own as well, intended to reflect the styling of his home country Germany.
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Blacksmith Shop
There were few people more important in rural America at this time than the local blacksmith. So it was very important that the Forestry School had a shop of its own for tooling and shoeing horses. Two blacksmiths from nearby Brevard were hired to travel and work here when needed...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Blacksmith Shop
There were few people more important in rural America at this time than the local blacksmith. So it was very important that the Forestry School had a shop of its own for tooling and shoeing horses. Two blacksmiths from nearby Brevard were hired to travel and work here when needed...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Students Quarters ('Hell Hole')
You'd think with a name like "Hell Hole" this wasn't all that pleasant a place to call home. In reality the moniker was simply a colorful nickname given by students...a common practice of all pupils who were simply told by Dr. Schenck, upon their arrival, to go out on their own and find a (usually abandoned) cabin to stay in. Many such cabins sported names just as colorful...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Students Quarters ('Hell Hole')
You'd think with a name like "Hell Hole" this wasn't all that pleasant a place to call home. In reality the moniker was simply a colorful nickname given by students...a common practice of all pupils who were simply told by Dr. Schenck, upon their arrival, to go out on their own and find a (usually abandoned) cabin to stay in. Many such cabins sported names just as colorful...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Students Quarters ('Hell Hole')
You'd think with a name like "Hell Hole" this wasn't all that pleasant a place to call home. In reality the moniker was simply a colorful nickname given by students...a common practice of all pupils who were simply told by Dr. Schenck, upon their arrival, to go out on their own and find a (usually abandoned) cabin to stay in. Many such cabins sported names just as colorful...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Garden
Being a good days ride from town it kinda goes without saying that most students of the Forestry School had to grow their own food. Today the Historic Site tends this small plot of land where, in the summer, volunteers grow staple crops to demonstrate farming techniques of the period...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Cantrell Creek Lodge
This is another of Dr. Schenck's Black Forest-style lodges built for the rangers who patrolled the surrounding forest. A number of these homes were built across Pisgah giving rangers an on-site home base for patrolling against poaching and illegal harvesting...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Cantrell Creek Lodge
This is another of Dr. Schenck's Black Forest-style lodges built for the rangers who patrolled the surrounding forest. A number of these homes were built across Pisgah giving rangers an on-site home base for patrolling against poaching and illegal harvesting...
Biltmore Campus Trail -- Cantrell Creek Lodge
This is another of Dr. Schenck's Black Forest-style lodges built for the rangers who patrolled the surrounding forest. A number of these homes were built across Pisgah giving rangers an on-site home base for patrolling against poaching and illegal harvesting...
Forest Festival Trail -- Timber Stand Improvement
At the first stop you can read about steps taken over the last couple decades to "improve" the quality of the forest in the immediate vicinity. White pines and oaks had been struggling to thrive in this area so measures have been taken here to help facilitate their survival...
Forest Festival Trail -- Biltmore Forest Plan
Here is found a bit of background information on the origins and importance of Forest Management Plans, which are integral to effective use of our National Forests. During the time of Schenck and Pinchot focus was on natural regeneration, plantings, and protection against fire and grazing. Many of these basic concerns remain focal points of Forest Management to this day...
Forest Festival Trail -- Seedling Nursery
Heading straight ahead at the start of the loop you quickly arrive at a small seedling nursery. Here, Schenck grew small trees from seed to help re-forest thousands of acres of woodland previously cleared for pasture on the Biltmore property. His practices continue to be used today for reforestation efforts at different sites across the country...
Forest Festival Trail -- Norway Spruce Plantation
The oldest of the Norway Spruce trees seen here were planted by Schenck himself back in 1909. Originally the plantation was intended to grow many more trees but the site was neglected after the school closed and most of the original trees died. Today, the Cradle of Forestry NHS has planted seedling here once again to try to exhibit what the nursery looked like during the time of the Biltmore School...
Forest Festival Trail -- Conifer Plantation
Early forestry studies involved more trial-and-error than you might expect. Schenck needed species of conifer which would thrive best in the local mountains to most efficiently re-forest clear-cut areas, but he didn't know at first what species those might be. Schenck, therefore, planted numerous species in small plots like this and studied which trees flourished and which didn't so he could better manage future reforestation plans in Pisgah...
Forest Festival Trail -- Rhododendron Thicket
Beyond the conifer plantation the trail winds through a large and very thick grove of rhododendron. Any visitor to the southern Appalachians knows that these thickets are a common sight around the area, particularly on cool, wet slopes. Schenck had a love-hate relationship with the Rhododendron as he, like many people, adored their spring blooms but was frequently frustrated with how the thick shade the groves produce limit growth of other tree species...
Forest Festival Trail -- Improvement Cutting
Part of good forest management is reading the condition of the forest and determining what, if any, changes could or should be made to promote a more healthy and productive ecosystem. This area, about 20 years ago, saw a large die-off of oak trees. Foresters since have determined that a mixed hardwood-conifer forest would better support wildlife in this area so have proceeded to begin cuttings and plantings to transform the old oak forest into this new type of woodland...
Forest Festival Trail -- Portable Sawmill
This steam-powered mill represents one of several such early forestry industrial sites located in Pisgah Forest during the time of the Biltmore School. Portable mills were used as in-process facilities for trees being cut high up in the mountains. Instead of whole logs needing to be transported all the way down to a river or full-size mill the logs would be cut on-or-near site which would make for easier transport. Unfortunately, this particular example of a portable mill is no longer a functioning site but its still a fascinating glimpse into the not-so-distant past...
Forest Festival Trail -- Portable Sawmill
This steam-powered mill represents one of several such early forestry industrial sites located in Pisgah Forest during the time of the Biltmore School. Portable mills were used as in-process facilities for trees being cut high up in the mountains. Instead of whole logs needing to be transported all the way down to a river or full-size mill the logs would be cut on-or-near site which would make for easier transport. Unfortunately, this particular example of a portable mill is no longer a functioning site but its still a fascinating glimpse into the not-so-distant past...
Forest Festival Trail -- Protective Cover
Beyond the portable mill the forest suddenly becomes fully dominated by tall pines. A nearby interpretive sign explains what changes can be found in this environment versus what has come before on the trail as well as explaining the benefits of having a diverse forest like this one...
Forest Festival Trail -- Logging Train
Perhaps the most popular stop on the FFT is this, a restored 1915 Climax locomotive which worked the forests of Western North Carolina for over 40 years before finding its way here. These narrow-guage engines were quite popular with logging operations in the mountains and many of the old rail routes now serve as right-of-ways for modern highways and forest trails...
Forest Festival Trail -- Logging Train
Perhaps the most popular stop on the FFT is this, a restored 1915 Climax locomotive which worked the forests of Western North Carolina for over 40 years before finding its way here. These narrow-guage engines were quite popular with logging operations in the mountains and many of the old rail routes now serve as right-of-ways for modern highways and forest trails...
Forest Festival Trail -- Log Loader
Sitting on the tracks just behind the old locomotive is this massive steam crane, which could be pulled behind a train engine and helped greatly in removing felled logs from rough terrain. The steam loader could reach upwards of 100-feet down a hillside to reach timber and was capable of loading over 1,000 logs per day...