Windows into the Past

Historic Elkmont Cabins

S. Milinkovich

Historic structures help tell the Smokies story

by Smokies Life

The Great Smoky Mountains are home to an amazing diversity of wildlife, more than 100 species of native trees, and some of the largest stands of old-growth forest in the eastern United States. While much of this mountain range may seem like a rugged wilderness, human stories have been embedded within this landscape even longer than the park’s very oldest blackgum tree.

“For thousands of years, there has been a human footprint on this land,” said Interpretive Ranger Brad Free. Today, traces of these stories can still be found in everything from the routes of trails first created by Cherokee people to the many historic homes, schools, churches, and mills maintained by the park’s Forever Places preservation crew.

“Over a hundred structures have become tangible pieces of evidence that show us how life was here in the Smokies,” said Free. “It doesn’t give us the whole picture, but it does give us a foundation on which to gain more knowledge of the folks who once lived here.”

Historic buildings recently renovated and reopened to the public include more than a dozen cabins in the Daisy Town area of Elkmont as well as the Walker Sisters Cabin near Metcalf Bottoms. Cades Cove, Cataloochee, and Oconaluftee also offer opportunities to explore the Smokies’ rich cultural history. Several structures in these areas date to the 1800s, and nearly all make use of materials sourced nearby.