Governor Locke Craig Plaque, Mt. Craig, Burnsville
The simple, square bronze plaque is dedicated to North Carolina Governor Locke Craig who was the driving force behind the establishment of Mount Mitchell State Park. The plaque is accessible only by foot after a “hard hike.” Mt. Craig is the second highest mountain in North Carolina.
MOUNT CRAIG / ALTITUDE 6,663 FEET / NAMED FOR / LOCKE CRAIG (1860-1924) / WHO AS GOVERNOR OF / NORTH CAROLINA (1913-1917) WAS / LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE / ESTABLISHMENT OF THE / MOUNT MITCHELL STATE PARK
United States Forest Service
October 24, 1958
35.777500 , -82.264210
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Horan, Jack. “Hiking on States Highest Mountains,” News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), September 23, 2015, (accessed December 15, 2016) Link
Meehan, James. “Craig, Locke,” NCPedia.org, (accessed December 16, 2016) Link
Reed, Doug. “Mt. Craig Found 18 Feet Higher Than Was Claimed,” Asheville Citizen-Times (Asheville, NC), November 23, 1958
“Details for Benchmark: AC7619,” Geocaching.com, (accessed December 16, 2016) Link
Yes
Bronze
Carolina Mountain Club. Plaque casting funded by the State Division of Parks
Setting of this plaque and one to “Big Tom” Wilson on nearby Big Tom Mountain on the same day took place in sub-freezing temperatures.
Locke Craig, in 1879 at age 19, was the youngest person at that time to have ever earned a degree from the University of North Carolina. Although raised in the eastern part of the state he moved to Asheville in 1883 to establish a law practice and began to take an active part in Democratic Party politics. Joining the state legislature in 1899, Craig was one of a group of Democrats who formulated the “grandfather clause” which proposed educational requirements for voters but exempting those whose ancestors (prior to 1867) were qualified voters. This constitutional amendment was passed in 1900 and instrumental in initiating the era of “Jim Crow” in North Carolina. Elected governor in 1912 his administration brought improved economic conditions to the western part of the state in particular by encouraging road building and railroad expansion and he continued reforms in education began by Governor Charles B. Aycock.
Big Tom Mountain and Mt. Craig were once known as the “Black Brothers” until renamed in June 1947. Both lie along the Black Mountain range.
The plaque can be reached by hiking 1 mile north along Deep Gap Trail, accessible from the Mt. Mitchell picnic area. The plaque is located 9.9 miles South-Southeast from Burnsville and .8 miles north-northeast of Mt. Mitchell.
Rugged, forested mountain terrain.
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