The Smoky Mountains cover an estimated 187,000 acres along the North Carolina and Tennessee border. The area is also referred to as The Smokies. The name has originated from the early morning fog that descends upon the mountains, sometimes lasting all day. The mountains are hundreds of millions of years old. The Smokies are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains (which are among the oldest mountains in the world). The Smokies has some of the tallest points of the Appalachians with heights ranging from 875′ to 6,643′. Clingman’s Dome being the tallest at 6,643’ of the Smokies and the third tallest in the Appalachians. Mt. Mitchell (NC) being the tallest peak at 6,684’ of the Appalachians and Mt, Craig the second tallest peak at 6,647. (https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-highest-mountains-in-the-appalachians.html) They are considered part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. To learn more about the Smokies Geology, Eco-systems, Plants and Animals go to: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/naturalfeaturesandecosystems.htm.
The Smoky Mountain National Park was established in 1934. It is the most visited National Park in the United States with an estimated 11 million visitors annually. There are three entrances; Gatlinburg, TN, Townsend, TN, and Cherokee, NC. There are also two visitor centers; Sugarlands (Gatlinburg, TN) and Oconaluftee (Cherokee, NC). The current nine communities (considered sections by hikers) are; Cades Cove, Tremont, Elkmont, Sugarlands, Greenbrier, Cosby, Cataloochee, Oconaluftee, and Hazel Creek.
The first time I traveled to The Smokies to hike was in September of 2013. I entered the Cherokee, NC entrance and stopped at the Oconaluftee visitors center. The Oconaluftee visitors center harbors a reproduction of an early settlement which is The Mountain Farm Museum. This is how settlers lived in the early 1900’s. The Museum consists of a log farmhouse, barn, apple house, springhouse and a working blacksmith shop as well as other facets of early American communities. Most of the farm buildings were built in early 1900’s in other locations throughout the park and moved here. Some of the other structures were built later and erected here. The Mountain Farm Museum is free and worth the visit. It is open all year: October 8 AM-6 PM, November-March 8 AM-4:30 PM, April 8 AM-5 PM. (https://www.romanticasheville.com/oconaluftee.htm)
From the start of my first trip to The Smokies, I felt as if I were walking amongst Ancients. Ancient spirits from Native Americans, trees, birds, flowing streams … from all forms of life. I felt as if they were still there but on another frequency that I could tap into if I were silent and contemplative enough. Having said that, I realize most people fear walking alone in the woods, but I relish it. It’s the only time I can feel at peace.
Walking through the Mountain Farm Museum, I realized how much thought and time went into daily life that we take for granted. I walked through the farmhouse, beside the orchard and wood pile, on to the meat house, quickly passing the outhouse, through the garden, on to the sorghum mill and furnace, through the corn crib, gear shed, to the Blacksmith’s stop and to the Spring house. There were chickens and roosters for ‘effect’. I noticed the gourds for the birds imagining the children creating them for entertainment. In the farmhouse is a sewing machine (for creation of family’s garments) and a piano (for entertainment). I imagined the settlers whom resided here would have been considered wealthy in their time. I don’t imagine any ‘off-grid’ person could manage any better than our early settlers. There was no schoolhouse nor church here. It probably would have been located a few miles from the settlement if not closer. It was all very interesting. What follows is a short video composed of photographs I took at the Mountain Farm Museum.
Last modified: May 13, 2020
