The new documentary “Cataloochee” will be shown in a special preview at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, in the Charles M. Beal Auditorium at Haywood Community College in Clyde.

Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is well known for its elk and scenic beauty and its rich history.  A new two-hour documentary — three years in the making — tells the story. Produced by the Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society, in cooperation with Western Carolina University and under the direction of Katherine Bartel, the film documents the valley’s rich heritage spanning centuries, from the time the Cherokee hunted there to the coming of the park. The documentary shares the stories told by the last remaining people who were born there and tells how this remote valley became part of a national park. Beautiful footage, family photos and rare audio recordings are woven together with historical research and interviews to produce a film that is both informative and entertaining.

Free.