Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States North Carolina Boone Junaluska
AO Edited

Junaluska

One of the oldest Black communities in western North Carolina and one of the largest Black Mennonite congregations in the country.

Boone, North Carolina

Added By
Laken Brooks
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
An aerial view of Boone and Junaluska from nearby Howard’s Knob   Alison / CC BY 2.0
Junaluska Park honors the history of this community.   Google Maps image
  Google Earth satellite image
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Junaluska provides valuable insight into North Carolina's history, Black Mennonites, and race in Appalachia. 

Thousands of tourists and Appalachian State football fans walk down King Street in Boone, North Carolina, past farm-to-table cafes and the Mast General Store, without knowing about Junaluska. The Junaluska community sits just north of the university, and it remains one of the most important and unique sites of Black history in Appalachia. During the 1850s, two free Black men—Johnson and Ellington Cuzzins—moved to Boone. Cuzzins' descendants worked with other enslaved, free, and immigrant Black folks to build a community in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In the face of racism, Black North Carolinians made their own homes at Junaluska. In fact, many of the current residents trace their lineage to one of four Black women: Polly Grimes, Jane Hagler, Lucinda Bly Whittington, and Lyda Mott. More residents moved to Junaluska during segregation in the 1800s-1900s when Black residents were pushed to the outskirts of Boone. But the community has survived because its members have fought to buy and keep their property. 

Today, the Boone Mennonite Brethren Church is the heart of Junaluska. Since the church's founding in 1918, many Junaluska residents adopted the faith and transformed Boone Mennonite Brethren into the largest Mennonite church in the state. Several Black reverends have led the congregation since its conception. 

Although Junaluska is a tiny village, a handful of homes nestled into the mountains, the community overflows with history and memories. The Junaluska Heritage Association works to preserve these stories for generations to come.

Related Tags

Black History Racism Religion Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

While this site is historical, visitors should remember that many buildings in Junaluska are privately owned. Please be respectful, do not trespass, and consider consulting with the Junaluska Heritage Association before planning a trip. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Laken Brooks

Published

April 7, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • "Junaluska, an African American Neighborhood in Boone, NC: An Oral History" by Susan E. Keefe and Roberta Jackson
  • Junaluska Heritage Association, http://junaluskaheritage.org/exhibits/show/boone-mennonite-brethren-churc/100-years-of-bmbc
  • The book Junaluska: Oral Histories of a Black Appalachian Community by Susan E. Keefe
  • https://www.ourstate.com/junaluska/
Junaluska
222 Church St
Boone, North Carolina, 28607
United States
36.223176, -81.681917
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Land of Oz Theme Park

Beech Mountain, North Carolina

miles away

Mile High Swinging Bridge

Linville, North Carolina

miles away

Mortimer

Mortimer, North Carolina

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Carolina

North Carolina

United States

Places 199
Stories 34

Nearby Places

Land of Oz Theme Park

Beech Mountain, North Carolina

miles away

Mile High Swinging Bridge

Linville, North Carolina

miles away

Mortimer

Mortimer, North Carolina

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Carolina

North Carolina

United States

Places 199
Stories 34

Related Places

  • Union BC in 2014.

    Jefferson, Texas

    Union Missionary Baptist Church

    This historic Civil War church has survived over a century of racial turmoil but still stands as a reminder of the town's roots.

  • Grand Mosque of Mopti

    Mopti, Mali

    Grand Mosque of Mopti

    Every year, people come together to cover this mud-brick mosque with a fresh layer of earth.

  • St Mary’s and All Saints Church, Dunsfold

    Dunsfold, England

    St Mary's and All Saints Church & Holy Well

    An ancient yew tree and holy well nestle beside a remarkable 13th-century church.

  • Jacksonville, Florida

    Grave of Laura Adorkor Kofi

    The final resting place of "Mother Kofi," a Black minister who was assassinated in the middle of a sermon.

  • The E.T.H.I.C. Museum at dusk.

    Glendora, Mississippi

    Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center

    Young Emmett Till's tragic story, which sparked America's civil rights movement, is retold near the site where it occurred.

  • A river winds along paved banks lined with pilgrims.

    Haridwar, India

    Har Ki Pauri

    The Hindu god Vishnu is said to have walked at this Hindu pilgrimage site.

  • Temple at Camp Etna

    Etna, Maine

    Camp Etna

    A major spiritual gathering place in central Maine since the mid-1800s.

  • Mahakal Mandir

    Darjeeling, India

    Mahakal Mandir

    At this unique temple in Darjeeling, Hindu and Buddhist practices co-exist harmoniously.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.