Visit to the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest

Going up in the mountains of Pisgah National Forest, we found an open-air museum called The Cradle of Forestry in America. A "cradle of forestry"? The title somehow recalled something from a fantasy book. What is this place about? Immediately, we got in to find out.  

One of the old houses of The Cradle of Forestry Museum - Photo: Still Gravity.
One of the old cabins of The Cradle of Forestry Museum - License our images here.          

We didn't find any "cradle", but we found the surviving buildings of the Biltmore Forest School. The historic place preserves a classroom, a dormitory, and a dining hall among other structures. 

Being in a forest, we also found some trails to hike and, along the way, climbed on a 1914 Climax logging train engine. Up in the cabin, the child in us was awaken and we couldn't resist to sound the old bell. 

A German named Carl A. Schenck was the hero in charge of this peculiar school. He was brought to America by George W. Vanderbilt, the millionaire behind the biggest house in the United States - yes, that one that almost died in the Titanic. He brought this German expert to manage the vast forests of his lands. Soon, Mr. Schenck proposed to create the Biltmore Forest School and Vanderbilt agreed to finance the project. 

Sadly - like most projects related to natural preservation - the school became unprofitable and the quest to bring science to forestry ended when George Vanderbilt stopped the flow of money. 

We also found in The Cradle of Forestry a tree that traveled to the Moon. Well, not the whole tree, only its seed. Now the well-adapted "alien" is big and doesn't look any different from its surrounding mates. Great that racism is unknown in the world of these plants. Looks like the "alien traveler" was very welcomed here.

(We stopped here in route to the Blue Ridge Parkway and ended at the Mt. Pisgah Campground.)

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