Published in 1985, the Blue Ridge Parkway: Agent of Transition is a compilation of papers presented at the Blue Ridge Parkway Golden Anniversary conference. Intended to be a celebration of the Parkway, the conference was a way for people to come together and examine the road's impact on the region and its people. Promoting unity and the idea of regional cooperation, the conference organizers invited a variety of speakers including landscape architects and civil engineers to talk about the parkway's natural impact on the environment, construction, and employment for thousands of mountain people. The parkway's 469 miles provide unparalleled views of the Blue Ridge and a look into the culture and traditions of the Southern mountaineer.