HON. HEATH SHULER
OF NORTH CAROLINA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MR. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the past, present, and future members of the production of Unto These Hills. An outdoor dramatic rendering of the history of the Cherokee people, the play is nearing the 60th anniversary of its opening night.
The show has achieved remarkable success, selling over 6 million tickets since its opening on July 1, 1950. It is the second longest continuously running outdoor drama in the United States, behind only The Lost Colony, which is performed in Manteo, North Carolina. Over sixty years, countless skilled actors and actresses have taken part in the performances. Among them are some who have reached the heights of fame, including Morgan Freeman and Michael Rosenbaum.
For 60 years, Unto These Hills has provided entertainment and education for visitors to historic and scenic Cherokee. The format is especially effective for the many school groups that visit Cherokee; the dramatic rendering passes important lessons of history on to future generations.
The show is an integral part of preserving the heritage of the Cherokee people, a group integral to our mountain community. The ongoing legacy of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee is an important part of our broader mountain heritage. With a new and more accurate script, the show portrays the history of the Cherokee from the height of their power to the depths of their despair during the Trail of Tears. An accurate dramatic retelling is an important way to remember the tragedy of the Trail of Tears and help us learn from that event.
With the new script and a recently renovated theater, Unto These Hills is poised to continue to build on its impressive record of success. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to join me in recognizing Unto These Hills for its remarkable success and its important role in preserving and reliving such a profound moment in American history.
