For generations, Foxfire has captured the stories, skills, and spirit of Appalachian life. What started as a classroom project became a movement in cultural preservation and hands-on education. Here’s how it all began!
History
History
Why "Foxfire"?
The Story of Foxfire
In 1966, a new teacher at the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and his students decided to create a magazine, which they named Foxfire. The magazine documented and preserved the rich mountain heritage of the region. The students called it “Foxfire” after the glow-in-the-dark fungus found in the local hills.
In 1972, The Foxfire Book, created from Foxfire magazine articles, was released and became a national bestseller. Foxfire Book 2 was released the following year with equal success, eventually leading to the full series of Foxfire books we know today.
In 1974, the students took royalties from book sales and purchased a tract of land on Black Rock Mountain. Historic buildings were relocated to the property, and the museum was born. Students labored for years restoring structures and creating the village we see today.
Foxfire Village Museum & Mercantile
Established in 1974, the village is an immersive outdoor museum that brings Appalachian history to life. Visitors can explore historic cabins, a working blacksmith shop, and dozens of structures and artifacts that reflect daily life in the mountains from the 1820s to the 1940s.
