The History of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the United States’ most beautiful national parks, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to its beauty, history, and ease of access, it is the most visited national park in the nation. The park straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, and is formed in part by the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. Also running through the national park is a section of the famed Appalachian Trail.

The park was chartered by the US Congress in 1934, and officially dedicated by the 32nd president of the United States, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It is one of the largest protected tracts of land in the eastern portion of the United States, at 816 square miles. The most popular activities to do in the park include hiking, bird watching, camping, and rock climbing. There are also some important historical and archaeological sites within the park, such as old frontiers cabins and Native American sites. These are well worth a visit.

An excellent base from which to explore the nature of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a mountain resort town that is close to the border of the national park. It is a popular tourist destination thanks to its proximity, and enjoys feeding, putting up, and entertaining many of the parks visitors throughout the year. Many tourists choose to rent Gatlinburg cabins, which are the greatest way to enjoy the nature of the national park. Gatlinburg cabins are most often located away from the hustle and bustle of the town, instead allowing visitors to remain immersed in the exceptionally beautiful nature of the Great Smoky Mountains.