One of the last residents of the Smoky Mountain town frozen in time tells of life in a community that few have seen. The remote Smoky Mountain community of Cades Cove still lives in the memory of J.C. McCaulley, one of the few remaining former residents, who offers an exclusive glimpse into a childhood in the Cove. His stories, compiled by his wife Margaret, are a testament to a way of life long abandoned - a life before automobiles, television and perhaps too much exposure to the outside world; a life of hard work and caring for your neighbors. Join the McCaulleys in their quest to preserve the beauty, tranquility and traditions of this pristine community, and dare to dream of a way of life that encouraged independence, integrity and the courage to overcome adversity.
Cades Cove The Life and Death of a Southern Appalachian Community, 1818-1937 Durwood Dunn Winner of the Thomas Wolfe Literary Award! Drawing on a rich trove of documents never before available to scholars, the author sketches the early pioneers, their daily lives, their beliefs, and their struggles to survive and prosper in this isolated mountain community, now within the confines of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In moving detail this book brings to life an isolated mountain community, its struggle to survive, and the tragedy of its demise. "Professor Dunn provides us with a model historical investigation of a southern mountain community. His findings on commercial farming, family, religion, and politics will challenge many standard interpretations of the Appalachian past." --Gordon B. McKinney, Western Carolina University. "This is a fine book. . . . It is mostly about community and interrelationships, and thus it refutes much of the literature that presents Southern Mountaineers as individualistic, irreligious, violent, and unlawful." --Loyal Jones, Appalachian Heritage. "Dunn . . . has written one of the best books ever produced about the Southern mountains." --Virginia Quarterly Review. "This study offers the first detailed analysis of a remote southern Appalachian community in the nineteenth century. It should lay to rest older images of the region as isolated and static, but it raises new questions about the nature of that premodern community." --Ronald D Eller, American Historical Review Not only is his book a worthy addition to the growing body of work recognizing the complexities of southern mountain society; it is also a lively testament to the value of local history and the variety of levels at which it can provide significant enlightenment." --John C. Inscoe,LOCUS
An in-depth guide to the more than 150 cemeteries in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Includes cemetery locations, histories, list of burials, and cemetery preservation issues.
One of the most popular destinations within Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cades Cove, and this book showcases its splendor and provides an intimate glimpse of the history behind the beauty of this special place. Preserved by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to look much the way it looked in the 1800s, Cades Cove's pastoral charm, numerous historic cabins, barns and churches, and incredible wildlife viewing opportunities attract more than two million visitors each year. Whether planning to visit the park or seeking a keepsake from a recent visit, readers will find this guide packed with stunning photography and insights.
Seeking a taste of unspoiled wilderness, more than eight million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. Yet few probably realize what makes the park unusual: it was the result of efforts to reclaim wilderness rather than to protect undeveloped land. The Smokies have, in fact, been a human habitat for 8,000 years, and that contact has molded the landscape as surely as natural forces have. In this book, Daniel S. Pierce examines land use in the Smokies over the centuries, describing the pageant of peoples who have inhabited these mountains and then focusing on the twentieth-century movement to create a national park. Drawing on previously unexplored archival materials, Pierce presents the most balanced account available of the development of the park. He tells how park supporters set about raising money to buy the land--often from resistant timber companies--and describes the fierce infighting between wilderness advocates and tourism boosters over the shape the park would take. He also discloses the unfortunate human cost of the park's creation: the displacement of the area's inhabitants. Pierce is especially insightful regarding the often-neglected history of the park since 1945. He looks at the problems caused by roadbuilding, tree blight, and air pollution that becomes trapped in the mountains' natural haze. He also provides astute assessments of the Cades Cove restoration, the Fontana Lake road construction, and other recent developments involving the park. Full of outstanding photographs and boasting a breadth of coverage unmatched in other books of its kind, The Great Smokies will help visitors better appreciate the wilderness experience they have sought. Pierce's account makes us more aware of humanity's long interaction with the land while capturing the spirit of those idealistic environmentalists who realized their vision to protect it. The Author: Daniel S. Pierce teaches in the department of history and the humanities program at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, and is a contributor to The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.
Johnny Molloy, who has spent more than 800 nights backpacking in the Smokies, has updated his classic guide Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This revised edition has been completely updated, including the new backcountry reservation system implemented in the park. He has also added some excellent hikes, some of them well off the beaten path. For example, the hike to Baskins Creek Falls takes you past a pioneer homesite and to a scenic cascade overshadowed by more popular waterfalls nearby, making it an ideal destination for those who want to escape the crowds. A longer trek traverses the regal pine-oak forests of the western part of the park, making a stop at Abrams Falls, mixing solitude with a must-visit waterfall on every Smokies bucket list. Johnny also explores early park history on a hike up Kephart Prong. Here, you can see the remains of a fish hatchery constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, as well as a trail shelter erected by the CCC when the park was just coming to be. Backpackers will enjoy the new loop incorporating Walnut Bottoms along cascading Big Creek, coupled with a stop by historic Mount Cammerer tower, replete with stellar views, before overnighting at Davenport Shelter on the Appalachian Trail. Additionally, Johnny--who considers the Smokies his home stomping ground--makes sure that all the necessary information to help you execute a hike from directions to maps are correct. New photos add flair to the book.
On January 1 of 2016, Stefanie Payne, a creative professional working at NASA Headquarters, and Jonathan Irish, a photographer with National Geographic, left their lives in Washington, D.C. and hit the open road on an expedition to explore and document all 59 of America's national parks during the centennial celebration of the U.S. National Park Service - 59 parks in 52 weeks - the Greatest American Road Trip. Captured in more than 300,000 digital photographs, written stories, and videos shared by the national and international media, their project resulted in an incredible view of America's National Park System seen in its 100th year. 'A Year in the National Parks, The Greatest American Road Trip' is a gorgeous visual journey through our cherished public lands, detailing a rich tapestry of what makes each park special, as seen along an epic journey to visit them all within one special celebratory year.
Highlighted here is the most visited park in the United States. Captures the picturesque history of the region, its wildlife, its flora, and its endangered species.
Now in it's third printing with 55 NEW IMAGES!In 1974 Richard Mack first ventured into the Great Smokies as an aspiring landscape photographer, and a love affair began. This is where he first honed his craft. Today, Richard is an acclaimed, award-winning nature photographer. His images of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, while recognized and rewarded over the years, have never been presented in a comprehensive collection ? until now. This third edition includes 55 new images. Over the years this book has won numerous book and photography awards.Richard takes us from Cades Cove in the west to Big Creek and Cataloochee in the east. The book is arranged in easy-to-navigate sections based on specific areas within the park. The narrative text is imbued with a deep personal passion for the park's natural history and beauty, a passion that brings Richard back year after year. Richard has vividly captured the spirit of this "land of smoke," from the rugged peaks to the mysterious valleys where clouds and moisture hover. Within this vast landscape, he reveals the solitude of a rain-drenched forest, the energy of water tumbling over rocks, the vibrant explosion of wildflowers in bloom, and the myriad wildlife species. Whether it's a coyote roaming the fields in Cades Cove, a black bear perched in the trees, or the stillness of deer nestled in an early evening mist, the inhabitants of the park will mesmerize you.Start turning the pages, and you will discover why Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States. It is the breadth of these landscapes that show you why the park is nicknamed The Great Smokies. The national park has given this book to its retiring workers as a gift, including past Superintendents of the park.
