Howard Knob facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Howard Knob
View from Howard Knob
Highest point
Elevation	4,396 ft (1,340 m)
Geography
Howard Knob Location in North Carolina
Location	Watauga County, North Carolina, U.S.
Parent range	Blue Ridge Mountains
Topo map	USGS Boone

Howard Knob is a mountain in the North Carolina High Country. You can find it right in the town of Boone. Even though its official name is Howard Knob, many local people and visitors call it Howard's Knob. This mountain is part of the huge Appalachian Mountain Range. Howard Knob stands about 4,396 feet (1,340 meters) above sea level. It rises nearly 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the town of Boone and the campus of Appalachian State University.

Mountain's Past: Howard Knob's History

How Howard Knob Got Its Name

Howard Knob was named after a man called Benjamin Howard. He was an early settler in the area and lived at the same time as the famous explorer Daniel Boone. Benjamin Howard was a British loyalist, meaning he supported the British during the American Revolution. Local stories say that Howard once hid from American Patriots on this very knoll, which later took his name.

The Big Wind Turbine Project

In 1977, two government groups, the Federal Energy Research and Development Administration and the Department of Energy, chose Howard Knob for an exciting experiment. They decided to build a large, experimental wind turbine there. This turbine was built by General Electric in October 1978.

This project was part of a big push to find new ways to create energy, especially from renewable sources like wind. This effort began when Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States. The turbine was officially called MOD-1 and was managed by NASA. It was operated by a local electric company.

The MOD-1 turbine was very tall, standing 131 feet (40 meters) high. It had two long steel blades, each 97 feet (30 meters) long. These blades spun counterclockwise when the wind blew at about 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour). The turbine was designed to create enough electricity to power 300 to 500 average homes, as long as the wind speeds reached 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour).

Why the Turbine Was Taken Down

The new wind turbine had an unexpected problem: it made a strange "swish-swish" or "wooshing" noise. This sound bothered the people living nearby. In 1980, engineers from the Department of Energy and NASA discovered that the wind blowing through the blades created a low-frequency sound. Even though humans couldn't hear this sound directly, it caused windows and other objects to vibrate and make noise.

Some students from Appalachian State University even made a funny video about the turbine, calling themselves "Wooshies." This video got attention from local newspapers. People also blamed the turbine for messing up television signals. Some wondered if it was even working, because the blades didn't seem to move very often. Because of these issues, the MOD-1 turbine was taken apart in 1983.

After the turbine was removed, the land on Howard Knob was given to the county. It was meant to be used as a park forever.

Pastimes on the Mountain

Howard Knob used to be a popular place for activities like bouldering (climbing on large rocks), rock climbing, and hang gliding. However, these activities are now not allowed. Town officials and private landowners have stopped them for safety and property reasons.

Protecting Howard Knob's Beauty

Howard Knob offers amazing views of downtown Boone and the mountains around it. Because of these beautiful views, many people have wanted to build houses there.

In December 2004, some owners of a 50-acre (20-hectare) piece of land on Howard Knob worked with a group called the High Country Conservancy. They signed an agreement called a conservation easement. This agreement protects 46 acres (19 hectares) of the land as a natural forest area. It allows for a few hiking trails and a small shelter. The remaining three acres were set aside for building a few homes near existing ones. This effort helps keep Howard Knob beautiful and natural for everyone to enjoy.

Images for kids

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  Autumnal view from Howard Knob