The 'Scottish town' in America with its own tartan museum and Celtic festival
It also hosts a Highland Games every year.
Scottish heritage is celebrated far beyond Scotland and the United Kingdom. In fact, there are settlements all over the world that have deep links to our great country.
The Daily Record recently investigated one Australian town that puts on its own Highland Gathering each year. We also took a deep dive into an island in Canada where residents have Scottish roots and people speak Gaelic.
Now, it is time to delve into a 'Scottish town' in the heart of the United States of America. Not only is the settlement home to the only tartan museum in the United States, but also hosts a Celtic festival and a Highland Games.
Franklin is a town situated in Macon County in North Carolina. Located within the Nantahala National Forest, it has a population of approximately 4,000 people.
The town is known for its Scottish heritage, with the area settled mainly by people from Scotland and Ireland. According to the Franklin website, North Carolina "has more people with Celtic heritage than any place in the world, including Scotland".
The top attraction in Franklin is the Scottish Tartans Museum, which opened in the town in 1994. The museum was originally a satellite location for the Tartan Museum in Comrie in Scotland, which has since closed.
Visitors to the Scottish Tartans Museum will be guided through 5,000 years of history. It features "medieval era displays" of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Mary, Queen of Scots, and more.
Among the highlights of the museum is one of two original kilts pleated in the Kingussie style. According to the Scottish Tartans Museum website, the kilt dates back to approximately 1840.
Elsewhere, the gallery at the Scottish Tartans Museum is home to a piece of fabric that supposedly originated around 1725. Also in its collection of kilts is a Malcolm kilt that dates back to the early 1800s.
Another "source of pride" for the museum is its Space Tartans Display. Alan Bean, who was the fourth man to walk on the moon, took the MacBean tartan with him to space.
He donated an autographed piece of it prior to his death, while astronaut Jerry Ross also donated samples of the Clan Ross tartans he took with him into space.
The Scottish Tartans Museum has earned rave reviews from visitors. On Google, the attraction has a rating of 4.8 out of five after 391 reviews.
Scottish history
One visitor posted: "Cute little place in the middle of a sleepy town. Lots of plaid (tartan) samples with Scottish last names. Lots of history of Scotland. Well worth the very small entrance fee."
Meanwhile, each year, Franklin hosts The Taste of Scotland festival. The event is put on by the local Taste of Scotland Society, which is made up of members who are interested in Scottish history and culture.
The Taste of Scotland festival is spread out over three days, and features many Scottish-themed events. Among these are a 'clan parade' and Highland dancing.
The festival includes a Highland Games, featuring events such as the hammer throw, the sheaf toss, and the caber toss. Visitors can also enjoy a range of Scottish foods, music, crafts, and more.
More information about The Taste of Scotland festival can be found on The Taste of Scotland website.
Meanwhile, for further details about Franklin, visit the town's website.