In recent years, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been the most visited of the country’s 63 parks, according to the National Park Service (NPS). It had over 12 million visitors in 2024. People from across the nation and around the world are drawn to the Appalachian Mountains, which encompasses parts of North Carolina and Tennessee. The amenities are many: It has scenic drives and overlooks, myriad hiking opportunities, an 11-mile biking loop, stunning waterfalls, and closeup opportunities to see wildlife.
However, a lesser-known perk of this park is the preservation and presentation of the region’s cultural heritage. The visitor center’s exhibits present American Indian and settler lifestyles and traditions once prevalent in the 800 square miles that now make up the park. Since the park wasn’t established until 1934, scattered throughout are 123 historic structures and 147 family cemeteries.
