Great Smoky Mountains National Park History Exhibit

This East Tennessee Historical Society exhibition explores the history of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by investigating the changing relationship between the land and the people. The exhibit is in conjunction with the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park exhibit is one of the more than two dozen sections that comprise of Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee, the new, multi-million dollar signature exhibition of the East Tennessee Historical Society.

The exhibition explores the history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by investigating the changing relationship between the land and the people through stories of early park boosters, the mountain people who originally owned the land, as well as the tourists who came and continue to come to marvel at the beauty of the mountains.

Visitors to the exhibit will be able to view original artifacts, including one of Wiley Oakley’s original sculptures, Mini-ha-ha; and the chair President Franklin D. Roosevelt sat in for the park dedication. There’s also a digital video album displaying historic images and footage that highlight the people and places of the Smokies.

Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee is an 8,500 square-foot exhibit at the East Tennessee History Center, which is located within the 1874 Old Custom House in downtown Knoxville. The exhibition utilizes more than 500 artifacts and more than 350 voices from East Tennesseans to tell the compelling history of the 35-county region. Voices of the Land has been designated a “We the People” project by the National Endowment for the Humanities for its incorporation of local history into the national story.

The East Tennessee History Center is located at 601 South Gay Street in Knoxville and is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Sunday 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Admission is $5.00 for adults; $4 for seniors; and free for children under 16 and accompanied with an adult; ETHS members free. For more information call 865-215-8830.


Jeff
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