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Horace Kephart arrived in western North Carolina in the summer
of 1904. Already an avid outdoorsman,
he avoided the comforts that
might be afforded in one of
the local hotels or boarding
houses. Instead, he chose to
obtain permission from a local
family to camp on Dicks Creek,
located near Dillsboro, North
Carolina. According to one photograph
caption, he lived on Dicks Creek
from August 7 to October 28.
He named his encampment "Camp
Toco," a reference to a
Cherokee Indian legend recorded
in James Mooney's Myths of
the Cherokee. At the end
of October 1904 Kephart began
his relocation to the Hazel
Creek area of Swain County,
North Carolina.
Arrival
at Dillsboro
Far different from the untamed
wilderness he craved, Kephart
arrived at this thriving Jackson
County, North Carolina railroad
town in 1904.
Visiting
Camp Toco
Despite the remote location,
from this original base in Western
North Carolina Kephart began
his explorations of the region
and the process of forming personal
friendships.
Diary
& Album
Kephart's personal diary from
his days at Camp Toco is not
available. However, his index
to the diary and matching entries
among his papers provide clues
to his activities during this
time.
Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians
Only two months after arriving
in Dillsboro, Kephart visited
the nearby Cherokee community.
He made frequent observations
about the Cherokees in his research
journals, personal album, and
publications.
Addio!
As autumn came to the mountains,
Kephart left his camp for the
warmth of an abandoned cabin.
Here Kephart says his farewell
to Camp Toco.
Original spelling and
syntax retained in all quotations
within this exhibit.
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