Great Smoky Mountains Seeks Help Identifying Historic Homesites

Great Smoky Mountains Seeks Help Identifying Historic Homesites. GSMNP needs help identifying and documenting former homesite locations in the park. The effort includes documenting field locations with associated historic records.

“In order to gather as much information as possible we are reaching out to the local community to see if we can get old photos and information which may help with the project,” said Volunteer Frank March.

It is estimated that more than 2,400 former homesites can be found in the park. Seventy percent of these homesites have been identified, but more remain. Records associated with the purchase of approximately 1,200 farms between 1920 and 1940 for the creation of the park are preserved in the park’s Collections Preservation Center. However, the history of European habitation in the park dates to the 1790s and many of these pre-20th century homesites are not documented.   

For additional information contact Michael Aday at 865-448-2247. 

Source Material – GSMNP