Abstract:
Qualla Reservation housed descendant of the Cherokee nation and was located sixty miles west of Asheville tucked away in the Great Smoky Mountains. After warfare between Native American and settlers ceased in 1794, missionaries reached out to survivors and began the assimilation process. Friendly relations continued with an annual fair to showcase Cherokee heritage, arts, and culture. In 1935, Mrs. Speelman directed a Pageant entitled \"The Spirit of the Great Smokies.\"