Local History

Many will visit the Great Smoky Mountains this year, but few will learn of the interesting history that lies behind the shopping malls, putt-putt courses, restaurants and ski slopes. Within the beauty of the mountains, an amazing history of human courage, dissension, and triumph lurks. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park did not always exist, nor did the quaint town of Gatlinburg, which you will find nestled between the great mountain peaks of East Tennessee.

Decades ago, settlers made their way into this great valley and endured years of hardship to finally settle the town we now know as Gatlinburg. We often only notice the candy shops, the space needle, and the many stores that sell t-shirts to the thousands of visitors, but much more can be discovered if one desires to look deeper. One would find that the community struggled against such things as geographical isolation, harsh weather, and family feuds that inhibited growth. "That's all history now," as they say, and as the quaint town of Gatlinburg grows, the reflection on its past diminishes.

Gatlinburg is only one small town with a colorful history that can be found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many don't realize that this park which covers over half a million acres has a deep history as well. Years of political disagreements, lack of funding, and a final glimmer of hope from the Rockefeller family combine to create the history of this magnificent park. Thousands of cars pour into the many different entrances each year and absorb the amazing beauty that surrounds them. Regardless of the season, visitors will enjoy the park, which remains greatly unchanged over the past several decades. Keeping the landscape unchanged and the wildlife at home in their natural environment were just two of the goals of the founders of this great National Park. Come visit one of the most beautiful natural environments you will ever see, and don't forget to take time to reflect on the region's history, which makes it what it is today.

History of the Smoky Mountains
Today, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains over 521,000 acres covering areas in Tennessee and North Carolina. However, the Park was not created until September 2, 1940 when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt held the dedication. The land was originally donated to the Federal Government in 1934 by the people that resided in the states that now house one of the most beautiful National Parks in the country.

The Park movement was born in 1923 when Mrs. Willis P. Davis of Knoxville visited the American West. She soon realized that the mountain area now known as the Smoky Mountains, full of and majestic mountains, wildlife, rivers, and lush valleys also deserved the status of being called a National Park.

Initially, support was minimal and many debated about who should buy the land and whether the land should become a National Park or a National Forest. During the beginning of rising support came a call for an improved roadway between Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina rather than a call for the Park itself. Eventually, through the leadership of Colonel David Chapman, a National Park became a reality.

Winning the local support was just the beginning of the battle. Even though the Smoky Mountain area was the top choice among 60 other potential sites, the Federal Government did not make Federal money available to acquire the land. By 1926, the authorization finally came through from Congress, and the along came the birth of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The initial funds were raised by the Park Commissions to purchase 6,600 tracts of land that would make up the new National Park. This was not where the fund raising ended. School children donated pennies as well as thousands being donated by large benefactors. Through the incredible Park Movement, $2.5 million was raised in pledges as well as another $2.5 million from the two states that would house this National Park.

Pledges became nearly impossible to collect with the onset of the Great Depression. It was quickly realized that more money was needed to make this dream a reality. With a last minute plea to Congress, a miracle happened. The Rockefeller family gave $5 million to have the Park completed. To honor this incredible deed, a memorial was place at Newfound Gap. To complete the purchase of the land, the Federal Government supplied the remaining $1.55 million.

The dedication by President Roosevelt in 1940 came after Congress officially established the Park as The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and care was handed over to the National Park Service. The long and often dismal journey to create a National Park in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee and North Carolina became a reality in 1940, allowing many future generations to enjoy the benefits of such an incredible place of beauty and magnificence.