Join us this September as we celebrate our role in America's Best Idea, the National Park Service!
July 10 – October 4
Summertime Memories—Western North Carolina Treasures
An exhibition at Hand-in-Hand Gallery in Flat Rock, NC featuring photography, painting and wood of Carl Sandburg Home NHS, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Friday, September 11
7:00 p.m.
Where To? What Next? Premiere
Premiere of Where to? What next?, a new youth education video and a portion of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, a new film by Ken Burns at the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County. This project was made possible through the support of the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County, Eastern National, Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara, the National Park Service, and a grant from the National Park Foundation through the generous support of the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund.
Saturday, September 12
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hop Into A National Park
Children of all ages are invited to join UNC-TV’s popular costume mascot, Read-a-Roo, for a fun time of listening to Sandburg’s Rootabaga Stories, participating in Junior Ranger activities, and viewing a portion of The National Park: America's Best Idea from Ken Burns. This event will be held at Carl Sandburg Home NHS. more information...
Tuesday, September 15
7:00 p.m.
A Parkway, Home and Mountains: Perspectives on National Parks in Western North Carolina
Panel discussion with Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson, Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis and Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Superintendent Connie Backlund. Hendersonville Times-News editor, Bill Moss, will serve as moderator. Event will be held at the Henderson County Public Library, Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Tuesday, September 22
7:00 p.m.
National Parks: It's a Wonderful Life
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Superintendent Connie Backlund will share her perspectives as a 30-year National Park Service career employee who has served at parks across the country along with sharing a brief preview of the upcoming Ken Burns’ documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea”, at the Henderson County Public Library, Hendersonville, North Carolina.
September 26
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
A Celebration of Lincoln
This celebration honors Carl Sandburg's pulitzer-prize winning biography of Abraham Lincoln. The event features contemporary Lincoln scholars, Civil War era music, a Civil War encampment and a Lincoln presenter.
9:30 Wiliam Fortschen - Sandburg and Lincoln
Mr. Fortschen has authored several fiction and non-fiction works set during the Civil War
10:00 William Trotter - The Civil War in North Carolina
Author of “Bushwackers” and a trilogy on the Civil War in North Carolina
10:30 Wayne Erbsen – Civil War Ballads
Plays Civil War Music on fiddle, guitar, and banjo
11:30 President Abraham Lincoln
Portrayed by Jim Conine, a three-time national award-winning Lincoln portrayer
Other Morning Activities
9:30 - 12:30 View a portion of The National Parks: America's Best Idea Untold Stories by Ken Burns in the video room
9:30 – 11:30 Visit with Abraham Lincoln at the Civil War encampment in front of the Sandburg Home
9:30 – 11:30 Authors Louise Bailey, William Trotter and William Fortschen sign their books in the bookstore
10:00 – 12:00 Steve Smith plays the hammered dulcimer in the barn area
December 12
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Christmas at Connemara
This festive celebration will honor Carl Sandburg and the family holiday tradition of music, featuring folk musicians and storytellers. The house will be decorated in the style of the Sandburg’s with poinsettias and a traditionally decorated Christmas tree throughout December until January 6th.
