Watauga County celebrates Boone's 150th anniversary with local art exhibit

The town of Boone is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. As part of the festivities, there's a new art exhibit showcasing some of the community's most notable landscapes.

The Watauga County Arts Council recently opened the exhibit at the King Street Art Collective. It's called “Scenes of the High Country: A Boone 150 Showcase.” The pieces on display were collected from local artists and include works created during the community event Paint the Town held last month.

There are images — pastels, oil paintings, and drawings — of downtown Boone, local landmarks, and other scenic spots around the area. These include the historic Tweetsie Railroad, Horton Hotel, and Proper, which is the former jailhouse that's now a restaurant.

There are currently more than 50 works on display at the gallery and more will be added on a rolling basis as some pieces are sold.

Arts Council Executive Director Amber Bateman says it's a way to preserve this moment in time.

"It gives that opportunity for people to be able to take that home but then also to be able to — years from now — to look back at the pieces that were created for this show and see how much things have changed or how much they've stayed the same,” says Bateman.

The exhibit will run through the end of June.

The town of Boone was officially incorporated on January 23, 1872.

The town's sesquicentennial celebration includes historic walking tours, parades, festivals, and other events. The Watauga County Historical Society also created a hall of fame that honors individuals or groups who have had an impact on the community.

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