11/04/2026
Connecting Our Past. Inspiring Our Future.
Tourism is about more than the places we visit. It’s about the stories we discover, the people we meet and the perspectives we gain along the way.
Last week, Statesville was represented at the 3rd Annual U.S. Civil Rights Trail Connectivity Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, by Statesville Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Cindy Sutton and Statesville City Councilwoman Lisa Pearson, alongside Andre Nabors of Visit NC.
The conference brought together tourism leaders and community partners to explore how preserving and sharing civil rights history can create meaningful connections between destinations and generations.
Experiencing history through the perspectives of those who lived it, and those who continue to preserve and share it, offers a powerful reminder of why these stories matter.
For Statesville, this experience is about looking toward the future while honoring the past.
How can we better tell the stories of our community? How can we connect with our neighbors across the Piedmont? And how can tourism help preserve history while creating opportunities for future generations?
These are the conversations helping shape the future of tourism in Statesville, Iredell County and beyond.
We’re excited about the relationships being built, the stories waiting to be shared and the possibilities ahead.
Because when we connect our stories, we connect our communities. ❤️
