Home » Blog » National Park History

National Park History

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Visit the Mountain Farm Museum in Cherokee NC

Date: March 31, 2023

One of the most unique destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the Mountain Farm Museum, a collection of authentic farm buildings that have been assembled from their original locations throughout the park! While exploring this free open-air museum, you’ll get to see how families may have lived 100 years ago! Here are the top 5 reasons why you should visit the Mountain Farm Museum in Cherokee NC:

3 Interesting Things to Know About the Cable Mill in Cades Cove

Date: March 13, 2023

The Cades Cove Loop Road is home to several fascinating historical structures for visitors to enjoy, including an operating grist mill that dates back to the late 1800s! The Cable Mill is conveniently situated about halfway along the loop road and sits adjacent to the Cades Cove Visitor Center, making it an easy stop for anyone exploring this spectacular area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Here are 3 interesting things to know about the Cable Mill in Cades Cove:

Top 3 Things to Know About the History of the Elkmont Wonderland Hotel

Date: February 27, 2023

You might be surprised to learn that there was once a hotel within the boundaries of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but it was actually built over 20 years before the park was established! The Wonderland Hotel was constructed in the Elkmont section of the park in 1912 to attract tourists seeking a mountain getaway, and it remained in Elkmont until it was closed in 1992. Here are the top 3 things to know about the history of the Elkmont Wonderland Hotel:

4 Interesting Facts About the Veteran Gravesites in Smoky Mountain Cemeteries

Date: December 31, 2022

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 150 documented historic cemeteries that are an essential element of the park’s collective history, providing a fascinating insight into past religious beliefs, burial customs, cultural influences, and landscape design principles! These cemeteries often provide one of the last real connections to the past and many of the gravesites are the final resting place for war veterans. Here are 4 interesting facts about the veteran gravesites in Smoky Mountain cemeteries:

4 Historical Structures in the Cataloochee Valley

Date: December 12, 2022

Cataloochee Valley is a popular place in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park known for its beautiful views. It is also one of the best places in the area to spot elk. What you may not know is that the Cataloochee Valley was once a thriving settlement, home to about 1,200 people. Even though no one lives there anymore, a few buildings still stand as remnants of the community. They remind present-day visitors of people’s hard work. With that being said, here are 4 historical structures that you will see in Cataloochee Valley:

3 Ways That the Early Settlers Spent Winter in the Smoky Mountains

Date: November 23, 2022

The first European settlers arrived in the Smoky Mountains during the late 1700s and they quickly learned how to live by hunting wildlife and producing crops. A typical life for an early settler in the Smokies included tasks such as farming with hand tools, hauling grain to the local mill, and raising cattle and sheep. While there were always challenges to face, the winter months were particularly harsh due to the cold temperatures and lack of farming activities! Despite these conditions, here are 3 ways that the early settlers spent winter in the Smoky Mountains:

Exploring the Abandoned Elkmont Ghost Town in the Smokies

Date: September 19, 2022

It doesn’t matter if you love history, spooky sites, or the Smokies, you won’t want to miss visiting the Elkmont ghost town. This little area is now considered a hidden gem, but it was once a popular area for vacationers coming to the mountains. So what happened to this town and why is it abandoned? It’s all part of the Great Smoky Mountain history, and you can experience it when you see this ghost town in person.

Top 4 Things To Know About the John Oliver Cabin on Cades Cove Loop Road

Date: June 30, 2022

One of the most fascinating historical structures you’ll discover in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the John Oliver Cabin, which happens to be the first historic relic along Cades Cove Loop Road! This building is thought to be the oldest human structure in the park and dates back to the early 1820s, so be sure to include a visit on your sightseeing itinerary in the Smokies! Here are the top 4 things to know about the John Oliver Cabin on Cades Cove Loop Road:

Learn About the Llamas That Take Supplies to LeConte Lodge

Date: April 20, 2022

If you’re an avid hiker, you may have made your way to the summit of Mount LeConte, the third tallest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are 5 different trails you can use to reach the summit of this mountain, and you can even spend the night at LeConte Lodge if you don’t want to hike back down the mountain the same day. The only way to reach the lodge is by one of these trails because there are no roads, so supplies are actually taken to the top of the mountain by llamas! Keep reading to learn more about the llamas that take supplies to LeConte Lodge:

A Brief History of Cades Cove: Everything You Need to Know

Date: December 2, 2021

Cades Cove is one of the most visited areas inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is a 11-mile loop road that you can take that provides amazing views of the Smokies and the opportunity to see wildlife. The next time you visit, you will have an even greater appreciation for the area once you know the story behind it. Here is the brief history of Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains:

The Unusual History of the Walker Sisters in the Smoky Mountains

Date: November 16, 2021

Long before the Great Smoky Mountains were part of a national park, it was an area rich in agriculture and pioneers coming to the area to live a simple life. Among these people were the Walker Sisters and their ancestors before them, and they refused to let the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park disturb their way of life. Keep reading to learn more about the unusual history of the Walker Sisters:

A Brief Smoky Mountains History: The Cherokee Tribe

Date: October 18, 2021

Long before the first European settlers arrived in the Southeastern United States, these lands were home to the prospering Cherokee Nation. This tribe has called the Smoky Mountains home for thousands of years and has left a lasting impact on this area. Here is a brief Smoky Mountains history of the Cherokee Tribe: