North Carolina, Transylvania County, near Brevard
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Like a gigantic mirror, Looking Glass Rock reflects a dazzle of sunlight when water collects on its granite face. This display is especially spectacular in winter when the water turns to ice.
Looking Glass Rock is a pluton formed by underground volcanic activity. Plutons are great masses of molten rock that have hardened under the earth's surface. Centuries of erosion finally exposed the rock and shaped it into the familiar dome we see today.
(Left Photo Caption)
Looking Glass Rock has been a landmark in the southern Appalachian Mountains for generations.
(Right Photo Caption)
Looking Glass Rock's massive size can be easily appreciated close-up.
(Notable Places) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Like a gigantic mirror, Looking Glass Rock reflects a dazzle of sunlight when water collects on its granite face. This display is especially spectacular in winter when the water turns to ice.Looking Glass Rock is a pluton formed by underground volcanic activity. Plutons are great masses of molten rock that have hardened under the earth's surface. Centuries of erosion finally exposed the rock and shaped it into the familiar dome we see today.
(Left Photo Caption)
Looking Glass Rock has been a landmark in the southern Appalachian Mountains for generations.
(Right Photo Caption)
Looking Glass Rock's massive size can be easily appreciated close-up.
(Notable Places) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
On December 14, Union troops overwhelmed the Confederate line at Harriet’s Chapel. After making a determined stand, the outnumbered Confederates withdrew, fighting as they pulled back toward Jones Bridge.
Harriet’s Chapel saw some of the most intense fighting of the Battle of Kinston. In 2010, Historical Preservation Group moved this building, once New Beaverdam Primitive Baptist Church, to this site to interpret Harriet’s Chapel’s role in the battle.
As the fighting surged past the church and the battle moves into Kinston, surgeons of both armies began the task of caring for the wounded. Harriet’s Chapel became a refuge and men from both sides found care at the church.
Confederate engineers built fortifications around Kinston and along the approaches from New Bern. You can see a portion of these earthworks from the boardwalk. This line of earthworks originally straddled the road to Jones Bridge, which was near the site of the current US 258/Queen Street bridge. The earthworks on this side of the road ended at the Neuse River. Those on the other side ended at a deep swamp.
Gen. John Gray Foster’s long blue line slowly marched north from Southwest Creek toward the Confederate line. The Confederates, behind a formidable line of earthworks protected by a swamp in their front, braced for the Union assault.
Near this spot in 1851 Frogtown was founded. It became the center of trade for the miners working on the nearby flats and gulches. When the Oregon Stage Road was made the town was moved to higher ground and in 1852 was renamed Hawkinsville. In 1858 a red brick church was erected in the center of town. It is still standing.
In commemoration of prospectors, miners & their settlements along Humbug Creek – Frenchtown (Mowry’s Flat), Humbug, Humbug City, Riderville (Plugtown) & Freetown. The Howlin Wilderness Saloon, immortalized by Joaquin Miller, was located here. 
Originally this area was known as Cottonwood, for the trees that grew along the creek. Gold was discovered here in 1851 by John Thomas, and many rich mines were located nearby, the “Brasswire Mine” and the “Jillson Mine” among them. The name was changed to “Henley” in 1856, in honor of the local senator.
Stage Coach Station 
On this site was located the historic lumber town of Klamathon. Townsite laid out in 1888 by the Klamath River Lumber and Improvement Company with the sawmill completed on July 23, 1892. The town boasted a sawmill, box factory, sash and door factory, hotels, boarding houses, a school, post office, 2 churches and 5 saloons. Logs for the mill were floated down from company holding 25 miles upriver. Shortly after midnight on Monday, October 13, 1902 fire raged through the community and by dawn only a few dwellings remained. Most of these were lost to subsequent fires. At this date only a few traces remain of this once prosperous community .
Here along the Oregon-California Stage Road of 1856, a new road east to Linkville, now Kalamath Falls, was built in 1876.
Started about 100 years ago as Ryan’s Station. In 1888 became known as Martell’s Station. This was the main terminal for stagecoaches from Amador County gold mines. Large shipments of gold bullion were made from Martell’s Station to San Francisco, and supplies for the mines were transported back through Martell’s Station.
On this site a least four known stage coach robberies occurred. In the hold-up of September 25, 1897, the robber William Harrall was trailed to Delta, Shasta County where he killed undersheriff William A. Radford. The last hold-up here and in California occurred on July 5, 1908 and remains unsolved to this day. 
The town of Deadwood, in its brief existence, was one of the most important business centers in early Siskiyou County. In 1857 there wee three stores, three saloons, two butcher shops, a bakery, a blacksmith shop, two stables, and a dairy. Among the Deadwood businessmen were William Davidson, owner of a general store and butcher shop; C.H. Pyle, operator of another butcher shop; and William Pool, owner of a trading post. The drugstore was owned by Dr, Daniel Ream. Other businessmen included Caleb Gartrell, Nathaniel Sawyer, S.E. Stone, A.B. Carlock, and M. Rosenberg. In comparison to the large business section with its two hotels, there were few residences in town. Most of the miners lived in tents, log cabins, and shelters of all types scattered along the creeks and gulches. In 1856 the town was second to Yreka in population and cast 475 votes at the county convention of 1857. Deadwood came within a few votes of winning the county seat. By 1858 the glory of Deadwood had begun to fade. On December 26, 1861 a disastrous fire burned most of the town and soon after other fires completely destroyed the town of Deadwood. 
During the early 1850’s, this site on the California-Oregon Trail served as a stage stop, hotel and pleasure-house frequented by the soldiers of the fort. Also used for the Ottitiewa Post Office. Rusticated wood added later in the century. 
