The Toe River Valley of western North Carolina spans three counties: Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery. Its recorded history spans centuries, yet many stories of the area’s past are overlooked. Join North Carolina historian and author Michael C. Hardy to explore some of the hidden historical gems of the Toe River Valley region. From the distant past to the Space Race, and from civil unrest to artistic achievements, this hidden history visits a wide array of events and topics while telling the stories that lurk around every turn from the headwaters of the Toe River to the peaks of Mount Mitchell. Take a journey along forgotten rail lines, through abandoned communities, and past sites whose histories have shaped this valley’s story just as the river has shaped its landscape.