HEARTS OF APPALACHIA PROJECT

In much of Appalachia, Christmas didn’t always end when the wrapping paper was swept up. For some families, the real celebration waited quietly until January 6. They called it Old Christmas.

In the early 1900s, a journey across the Atlantic brought two individuals to America, each on separate boats, unaware that their paths would soon intertwine. These were Jeff Koss' grandparents and they embarked on a new life in Boulder, Colorado, amidst the waning days of the gold rush. Their first years in America were challenging, especially with young children in tow. After having a daughter and a son in Colorado, they decided to return to Pennsylvania, settling near Nanty

Abandoned General Store in Luck, NC Nestled within the rolling hills and verdant valleys of Appalachia lie remnants of a bygone era — the...

Step into the world of Appalachian music and discover the rustic allure of homemade instruments that have echoed through the foothills...