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Searching For Historic Homesites In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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By NPT Staff - August 16th, 2022

Staff at Great Smoky Mountains National Park hopes to locate some of the more than 2,400 historic homesites in the park/NPS file

The staff at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is searching for former homesite locations in the park and is hoping the public can help identify some of the sites.

Volunteer-In-Park Frank March, in conjunction with park archaeologist Allison Harvey, is leading these research efforts that include documenting field locations with associated historic records. The public is invited to join March and park archivist Mike Aday at the Swain County Visitor Center and Heritage Museum on Saturday, August 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn more about the project and to add copies of their historic records to the collection. 

“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 March. 

March estimates 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.   

March and Aday encourage the public to bring historic photos of old homesites, hand drawn maps, or other documents that will help the park identify these locations. Aday will scan the materials and provide digital copies and original documents back to the owner. For additional information, contact Michael Aday at 865-448-2247 or e-mail the park. 

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