SMOKY MOUNTAINS HISTORICAL AREAS

While most people think of natural beauty and outdoor recreation when Great Smoky Mountains National Park is mentioned, there is a lot of human history in the park as well. All of the land that makes up the park was purchased by various governments from families that had lived in the region since the early 1800s, and many of their homes, farms, churches, cemeteries, and places of business still stand today and are open to visitors. The following is a list of such areas and links to web pages here on National Park Planner that provide detailed information and photographs.

CADES COVE REGION

John Oliver Place
Cabin from the 1820s

Primitive Baptist Church
1887 church building and cemetery

Methodist Church
1902 church building and cemetery

Missionary Baptist Church
1915 church building and cemetery

Elijah Oliver Place
Cabin and out buildings (1800s) and a barn from the early 1930s

Cable Mill Historic Area
Collection of authentic mountain farm buildings from the mid- to late-1800s, including a working grist mill

Henry Whitehead Place
Two cabins and an out building

Dan Lawson Place
1856 cabin, barn, smokehouse, and granary

Tipton Place
Early 1870s cabin, barn, double-pen corn crib, smokehouse, shed, and bee bum shelter

Carter Shields Cabin
Lone cabin from early 1830s

CATALOOCHEE REGION

Big and Little Cataloochee Historical Area
Original homes, churches, cemeteries, and other buildings from the mid-1880s to early 1900s

ELKMONT REGION

Little Greenbrier School (1882)
One room school house

GATLINBURG REGION

Noah “Bud” Ogle Nature Trail
1-mile loop trail through the Ogle Homestead, which includes an original cabin, grist mill, and barn (circa 1880)

Jim Bales Homestead
Cabin, barn, and corn crib located on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Ephraim Bales Homestead
Cabin, barn, corn crib, and hog pen located on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Alfred Reagan Homestead
Farmhouse and grist mill located on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

GREENBRIER REGION

John Messer Barn (1875)

Nichols and Shepard steam traction engine wreck (1920s)

Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Cabin (1935)

SMOKEMONT REGION

Mountain Farm Outdoor Museum
Collection of 1800s farm buildings and equipment

Mingus Mill
Operational 1886 turbine grist mill

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