This Quiet North Carolina City Is Hiding In Plain Sight

Morganton is a former manufacturing town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, between Charlotte and Asheville, but closer to the mountains. Morgansborough, as it was first called in 1784, later changed to Morgantown, and finally to Morganton in 1838, was named for Brigadier General Daniel Morgan of Revolutionary War fame. Morgan, a colorful figure from the war, is credited with founding America’s first elite rifle unit, Morgan’s Riflemen, and redefining how the Revolution was fought through his victory at Cowpens. The penultimate battle scene of Mel Gibson’s film, “The Patriot,” is a dramatic reenactment loosely based on Morgan’s real-life tactical masterpiece at the Battle of Cowpens in 1781.

Today, the town of 17,000 residents quietly remembers its war hero with a historical marker erected in 2002 in the historic district. In October 2021, the town council proclaimed October 22 as Daniel Morgan Day, in honor of the city’s namesake. Cultured, mountain-adjacent without being touristy, and oozing with historic charm, the Morganton of today is an ideal destination for anyone interested in exploring museums, local landmarks, or the great outdoors.

Morganton’s Rich Cultural Past

History buffs, museum lovers, and train spotters will find something to love in Morganton’s historic district, where local museums, county courthouses, and rail depots tell the story of a town shaped by movement and industry. Start your deep dive at the History Museum of Burke County, which displays hundreds of donated and borrowed artifacts across 10,000 square feet over two floors. Popular exhibits include themed displays on the importance of the textile and furniture industries, an old-timey “Granny’s Kitchen,” a general store, a military exhibit, and a 1950s-era bedroom.

The Morganton Railway Depot Museum is one of the railway stations that served Burke County from the 1880s to the 1970s, when passenger service ended. While the first Morganton depot was built around 1870, this building dates back to 1886, but was restored to its 1916 appearance in 2004. Inside, train enthusiasts can explore the history of North Carolina train travel and a brass bell.

Like Daniel Morgan, Captain Charles McDowell Jr. came from the same militia-style background. His home at Quaker Meadows, The Captain Charles McDowell Jr. House, remains one of Morganton’s most notable landmarks from that era, where the Battle of Kings Mountain was plotted, a central turning point in the Revolutionary War. The house is believed to be the oldest surviving brick structure in Burke County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Small Town, Big Charm

Downtown Morganton revolves around its stately, historic courthouse-turned-community hub, the Burke County Courthouse, where a TGIF Summer Concert Series takes place every year on the recently renovated Courthouse Square. The City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium (CoMMA) also hosts cultural events, plays, Broadway musicals, graduations, and other public events. Be sure to look up at the CoMMA lobby ceiling, which displays one of three Ben Long frescoes, “Sacred Dance and the Muses,” a 24x33-foot painting depicting nine muses of the arts and literature.

From Revolutionary Roots to Mountain Trails

While Morganton’s name and landmarks reflect its Revolutionary War past, today the town is just as defined by the rivers, trails, and the Blue Ridge Mountains that surround it. The Fonta Flora State Trail is a planned 100-mile hiking and biking trail that, once completed, will connect Morganton to Asheville and circle scenic 6,510-acre Lake James, a premier boating destination in western North Carolina with 150 miles of shoreline. At present, over 20 miles of the Fonta Flora State Trail have been completed, including a bridge over the lake in Lake James State Park.

A little further afield in the foothills of the Appalachians, South Mountains State Park is home to nearly 50 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. In places, the park reaches up to 3,000 feet in elevation, where you can watch the dramatic 80-foot High Shoals Falls from boardwalks above the falling water.

Part of the 500,000-acre Pisgah National Forest, the 12,000-acre Linville Gorge Wilderness is a stunning area for more serious hiking and spectacular scenery. The gorge is formed by the Jonas Ridge and Linville Mountain and is divided by the Linville River, which drops 2,000 feet into the valley below. With plenty of opportunities for hiking, backpacking, and both beginner and intermediate rock climbing, it is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts. There are 39 miles of steep trails that lead to the main Linville Gorge Trail, with Shortoff Mountain recognized by climbers as a premier climbing destination. Don’t miss the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians,” Linville Falls, which drops dramatically 90 feet into the 12-mile-long gorge.

In between Charlotte and Asheville, Morganton is one of those mountain towns you don’t stumble upon; you discover. Named for Revolutionary War hero Daniel Morgan, it blends rich history with an easygoing, creative spirit. Downtown museums, a beautifully restored railway depot, and landmark homes tell stories that helped shape the South, while the courthouse square comes alive with concerts and cultural events. Head a few miles out of town and see the sights, including Lake James, a few waterfall-filled state parks, and follow trail systems that wind into the Blue Ridge. Quietly charming and refreshingly untouristy, Morganton flies under the radar as a quiet North Carolina town hiding in plain sight.