Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3108
Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 93 Preservation of Afro-American Culture to focus on the Black heritage of Natchez and Adams County. Natchez National Park operates two sites, both with ties to African- American history: Melrose , 133-acre estate built by slaves and free men, and The William Johnson House, home of a former slave who became a prominent local businessman and slave owner himself. Many of Natchez' historic homes open to tours during the city's popular spring and fall pilgrimages. Other notable events include the Natchez Bluff Blues Fest in April and the Natchez Powwow in March, which spotlights the area's Native American culture. At the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, visitors can explore a reconstructed Natchez Indian house, three cere- monial mounds, a nature tail and a gift shop that sells Native American crafts. Admission to the attraction is free. NORTH CAROLINA Asheville, the largest city in North Carolina's mountain- ous western region, is best known as the home of the Biltmore Estate. Winston-Salem's St. Philips Moravian, the oldest remaining Black church in North Carolina, while the Old Salem Museums & Gardens recreates life in a 19th cen- tury Moravian community. Neighboring High Point, dubbed the "Furniture Capital of America," is the site of the Rosetta C. Baldwin African-American Museum. Durham's African-American cultural attractions include the Hayti Heritage Center and the art museum at North Carolina Central University. A few miles away, in the capi- tal city of Raleigh, you'll find the African American Cultural Complex and Mordecai Historic Park. In Vance County, located north of Raleigh on the edge of Kerr Lake, the Henderson Institute Historical Museum is housed in what was once the county's only high school for Black students. South of Raleigh is Fayetteville, home to Fort Bragg and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. CHARLOTTE The Charlotte Convention Center has implemented a number of green initiatives, including recycling, ener- gy conservation measures and the use of biodegrad- able and environmentally-friendly products. The cen- ter contains 280,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, more than 90,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and a 35,000- sq.ft. ballroom. There are nearly 30,000 guestrooms in the metro area, including more than 4,100 rooms within walking distance of the convention center. Charlotte's Afro-American Cultural Center, which presents a host of art programs, exhibits and special events, will soon move into a new facility in Center City that will quadruple its current space and feature a rooftop terrace for meetings and receptions. North Carolina's first art museum, the Mint