Folklorist Installs Historical Markers Across North Carolina

Dan Sellers commemorates regional folklore with permanent site markers and a new book.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Folk

Screen-print poster illustration of a blank bronze plaque on a post, situated in a quiet, forested North Carolina landscape. — Folklorist Dan Sellers has installed three permanent historical markers across North Carolina to commemorate regional folklore sites and cultural history. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Folklorist Dan Sellers has installed historical markers at three folklore sites across North Carolina to preserve regional cultural history. This effort follows his release of the book Folk: A Collection of Curious Lore from the Carolinas on September 21, 2026.

Why it matters

Sellers aims to formally acknowledge and preserve local legends, providing future generations with a tangible link to the state's cultural identity. By coordinating with regional organizations, he ensures these stories are integrated into the public history of the area.

Sellers produced 7 seasons of the Carolina Haints podcast from 2017 to 2024. He also authored or co-authored two previous books focused on ghost lore before publishing his latest collection in 2026.

The players

Dan Sellers

Dan Sellers is a folklorist who chronicles regional myths and coordinates with foundations to install commemorative markers.

North Carolina Folklife Institute

This organization works to preserve the cultural traditions and folklife of the state through public programs and research.

William G. Pomeroy Foundation

The foundation provides grants to support the installation of historical markers that honor local heritage and regional legends.

The details

The installations include markers for the Lake Norman monster in Mooresville, the Bladenboro beast, and Lydia's Bridge in Jamestown. These projects are completed in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

The Carolina Haints podcast operated from 2017 to 2024.
The historical marker for Lydia's Bridge was unveiled in Jamestown in 2023.
The book Folk: A Collection of Curious Lore from the Carolinas was released on September 21, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The addition of folklore sites to the landscape follows the precedent of the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program in formalizing regional heritage. This trend reflects a broader push to document ephemeral oral traditions into permanent fixtures of the state's public history.

Residents and tourists can now visit the physical sites in Jamestown, Bladenboro, and Mooresville to view the newly installed historical markers. Readers interested in deeper narratives can access Sellers' research through his book, Folk, which was released in late 2026.

The takeaway

These markers provide a permanent way for the public to engage with regional mythology in their own communities. Visiting these sites allows individuals to connect directly with the historical narratives and folklore that define various parts of the state.