History & Culture

A projectile point estimated to be 9,000 years old was found in the park.

Don McGowan/Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural tapestry of Southern Appalachian history. The mountains have had a long human history spanning thousands of years—from the prehistoric Paleo Indians, to early European settlement in the 1800s, to loggers and Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees in the 20th century.

The park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes, and artifacts that tell the varied stories of people who once called these mountains home. To learn more, read about the people who protect the cultural resource of the park or check out our collections, which include the research library and the Database of the Smokies.

 

Historic Photos of the Park

 

Civilian Conservation Corps (C...

15 Images

The CCC was established in 1933 as a federal work project during the Great Depression, employing young men in conservation work on federal and state lands. The program provided gainful employment and education to the enrollees from all over the country while also providing much-needed work on public lands throughout the nation. In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as many as 4,000 enrollees were assigned to 22 CCC camps at various times from 1933-1942, building roads, trails, fire towers, and structures. The legacy of the CCC is enormous, and the work of these young men remains clearly evident today.

Laura Thornburgh Photos

11 Images

Laura Thornburgh was an author and photographer whose work highlighted the Great Smoky Mountains.

Logging

7 Images

Historic photographs of logging operations in the Great Smoky Mountains before the creation of the national park. Photos from park archives.

Mountain People

16 Images

Meet some of the resourceful and independent people who made their homes in the Great Smoky Mountains before the national park was created.