Mount Mitchell North Carolina

It was named for Elisha Mitchell who first determined the altitude and later lost his life exploring this mountain in 1857. At the time it was called Black Dome. He was hiking when he slipped and fell from a cliff near a 40-foot waterfall, hitting his head and drowning. The location of his death is known today as Mitchell Falls.

In 1888, a obelisk monument was erected on the summit, the grave for Elisha Mitchell.

In the 1910s a logging railroad on Mt. Mitchell had evolved into use as a scenic line for tourists.

In 1915, the mountain became the first State Park of North Carolina. Also this year in January, a windstorm toppled the stone monument to Elisha Mitchell.

In 1916, a 16 foot wooden tower was built. During fire season, a watchman from the Forest Service observed and located fires. Just down the hill was a ground living cabin.

In 1921, the rail line was replaced by an automobile toll road.

In 1922, plans were being made for a hotel near the summit, a more permanent lookout tower and to continue the road from Camp Alice to the north summit flats (where it ends today). Plans were also made for a more roomy ground cabin shelter that could also hold campers and visitors during sudden storms. The current one was becoming decayed.

In 1925 during the winter, an almost finished 35 foot steel tower erected by the State Park blew down by high winds and was a twisted mass of steel girders. A heavy sleet storm coupled with defective construction caused its collapse. Because the tower was for fire protection, the cooperative forest protection fund had paid for its construction.

In 1927, through the generosity of Col. Charles J. Harris, of Hillsboro, gifted the cost of a rough stone tower to replace the steel structure. The new tower was about 35 feet high and served as both as an observation point for tourists and as an outlook for the detection and reporting of forest fires. It was used by both the Forest Service and the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. By 1959, it was considered unsafe and was torn down.

In 1960, a new stone tower was built. The architect designed the new stone tower to reflect the original but included a larger viewing platform.

In 2006, this second stone tower was removed.

In 2009, the open platform lookout structure we see today was built to conform to ADA. It is only 10 feet above ground and trees are starting to block the view in some directions. It appears the lower viewpoint might also give Clingmans Dome in Tennessee the highest walkable point east of the Mississippi.

Mount Mitchell - North Carolina Highpoint