The public is invited to a free presentation, Beacon Blankets and Swannanoa: The Rise and Fall of an American Mill Town, on Wednesday, June 17, at 5:30 p.m., at The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design, 67 Broadway Street, in Asheville.

Documentary filmmaker and Swannanoa resident Rebecca Williams will discuss the rise and fall of the Beacon Blanket Mill, its influence on its workers, and its national and global context.

The story of the Beacon Mill encapsulates the history of American manufacturing, a complex legacy of generations of workers tied together “like a family.” Come learn more about this important part of Swannanoa’s history.