[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 8, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING NIGHT OF UNTO THESE HILLS

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                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2010

  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.

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