Abstract:
Franklin, the county seat of Macon County, celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2005. The town is nicknamed the “gem capital of the world†and is well-known for the mining of rubies and sapphires. Visitors to the town can enjoy a thriving downtown; museums, including the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum, the Scottish Tartans Museum, and the Macon County Historical Society and Museum; and natural surroundings that include over 150,000 acres of the Nantahala National Forest and part of the Appalachian Trail.