Echoes of Appalachia
“Stories, culture, and memories from the heart of Appalachia.”
Join 1,000+ readers preserving Appalachian history. Get new stories Daily.
recent posts
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Why Homelessness in Appalachia Reached a Breaking Point in 2024 and 2025
- Immigrants and Appalachia: The Hidden Story That Built a Mountain Civilization
- Urban Appalachia: Rural Memory Inside the Modern City
- My New Book Has Been Published
- Beyond Appalachia: Venerable Monks, the Walk For Peace, and a Nation Searching for Common Ground
about
Author: Tim Carmichael
-
When I was a kid, my grandma used to say, “Appalachia isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling.” She’d sit on her porch in Western North Carolina, rocking back and forth, her voice carrying the weight of generations. Back then, I didn’t fully understand what she meant. Now, after years of listening, learning, and…
-
When William Bean built his frontier cabin in 1776, he did more than stake a claim as Tennessee’s first white settler – he established what would become a pivotal crossroads in American frontier history. The settlement he founded at the meeting point of the Great Indian Warpath and what would later be known as Daniel…
-
In the summer of 1938, in a small community of Tennessee, Felix “Bush” Breazeale decided he wasn’t going to wait until death to hear what people thought of him. The elderly farmer made up his mind to attend his own funeral, and in doing so, created one of the most extraordinary social gatherings in Tennessee…
-
In the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, surrounded by nature’s soothing sounds, lies a hidden treasure that many visitors never get the chance to find. Located near the Elkmont section of the park, the Mayna Avent Cabin stands as a quiet testament to the region’s rich pioneer history and artistic legacy. Unlike…
-
If you hear your name called in the woods, no you didn’t.If you hear whistling at night, no you didn’t. These aren’t just quirky sayings or internet memes—they’re rules. Rules that some people in Appalachia live by rules that carry the weight of generations. They’re whispered warnings, passed down like heirlooms, meant to keep you…
-
The Appalachian dialect is a fascinating blend of sounds, words, and phrases that reflect the unique cultural history of the Appalachian region. Spanning across parts of the U.S. like eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, the language spoken here is often misunderstood or mischaracterized, but it holds a rich depth of meaning for those who…
-
After eight months of writing, and researching, I’m excited to introduce my new book, The Magic of the Mountains: Appalachian Granny Witches and Their Healing Secrets. This project is deeply personal, inspired by my granny and the generations of women in my family who carried forward the traditions of healing, and storytelling. This book isn’t just…
-
Hazel Dickens didn’t just sing about the struggles of Appalachia—she lived them. Her life was a story of grit, heartbreak, and an unshakable commitment to giving voice to the voiceless. Born in 1935 in Mercer County, West Virginia, Hazel grew up in a world where coal dust clung to everything, where hard work was a…
-
When the Great Depression swept across America in the 1930s, it left a nation reeling. But in Appalachia, where life had always been shaped by sharp ridges, stubborn soil, and isolation, the Depression didn’t feel like a sudden catastrophe. It felt like the tightening of a belt that was already snug. Appalachians didn’t just endure—they…
-
Mary Harris Jones was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1830. But her journey—one that would change the course of American labor history—began far from the Emerald Isle. After a life marked by personal loss, deep convictions, and a commitment to the working class, she became a powerful force in the fight for workers’ rights…
Echoes of Appalachia 