The Catawba County Historical Association (CCHA) traces its beginnings to 1936, when a group of visionary citizens gathered beneath the iconic Weidner Oak to lay the groundwork for what would become one of North Carolina’s most respected historical organizations. That same year, the Association elected its first President of the Board, J. Yates Killian, and began what would become a decades-long commitment to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Catawba County.