5 Historic Attractions In The Smokies
Posted by Leif Palmer in Smoky Mountain Attractions
Attention, history buffs. Next time you visit the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, you might want to spend some of your travel time exploring a number of local sites that bring the history of the region and its people to life. Some are actual historic sites, while others are attractions devoted to telling stories that are, in come cases, centuries old. In either case, these recommended stops are fun places to learn about the past and better understand the people that first inhabited and settled the Smokies.
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
Located on a multi-acre site in Townsend, TN, less than a mile from the Blount County entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the center consists of a 17,000-square-foot main building, a collection of historic out buildings and an outdoor amphitheater. The indoor facility traces local history back to the early Native American inhabitants, then the self-guided tour segues into exhibits devoted to European settlers. Authentic archaeological artifacts and interactive technology make the experience interesting for all ages. The many nearby outdoor structures include a still house, a sawmill and a cantilever barn that dates back to the 1800s.
Cades Cove
This 11-mile one-way auto loop takes visitors on a journey through what was once a thriving rural community prior to the formation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's one of the park's most visited sites, as it offers not just beautiful mountain scenery but also historic sites like 19th-century homesteads and churches and a visitor center with a working grist mill and other authentic structures.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Originating near downtown Gatlinburg, this one-way auto tour passes through a section of the national park with its own share of settlers' homesteads, including cabins once occupied by Alfred Reagan, Martha Jane Ogle and Noah “Bud” Ogle. It should be noted that both Roaring Fork and Cades Cove also offer trailheads for some of the most popular and beautiful hikes in the national park.
The Old Mill
In the heart of Pigeon Forge, you'll find this operational gristmill, which was built in 1835 on the banks of the Little Pigeon River. Today, the mill still uses the river's waters as a power source to grind a variety of meals and flours, just like they did in the 1800s. Those products are sold in the mill's general store on the main level and are used in the recipes of neighboring restaurants. Visitors can even tour the mill and watch resident millers at work.
The McMahan Indian Mound
If you're in Sevierville, you can visit the site of a burial mound once created and utilized by native residents. It was excavated in 1881 on property owned by the McMahan family, although today, the historic marker can be found on Forks of the River Parkway near the Little Pigeon River.
On your next visit to the Smokies, we hope you consider staying in one of our cabin rentals in Pigeon Forge, TN. Their location makes them convenient for visiting any of the sites mentioned above, from Townsend to Gatlinburg to Sevierville.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in the Smoky Mountains. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.
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