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Title Overlook Shelter, Bldg#89, Built by ERA in 1938
Date 1960s
Description Photograph shows stone and wood shelter at Cumberland Knob Picnic Area that was built by ERA in 1938 near mile post 217.5 in section 2A of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Taken by F.A. Ketterson, Jr. on February 6, year unknown.
Commentary Shelters across the Blue Ridge Parkway were built to look as realistic as possible, so masons used native stone and wood to construct this building. They wanted to "imitate natural forms in their buildings by using weathered local stone, rough posts, and thatched roofs to blend shelters and other structures into the landscape (Whisnant 16)." These buildings were all put in place to offer services to the travelers of the Blue Ridge Parkway as a way to bolster the economy of the small mountain towns during the Great Depression.
Location Location Name: Cumberland Knob
Parkway Milepost: 217.5
Latitude: 36.55013
Longitude: -80.90869
Creator Individual F.A. Ketterson, Jr.
Tags Building
Cumberland Knob (N.C.)
Cumberland Knob Recreation Area (N.C.)
Photographs
Picnic grounds
Shelters
Stone carving
Stonemasonry
Wood
Credit Courtesy National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway