Day #144 – Great Smoky Mountains NP Visitor Center

Gatlinburg TN

Because Linda and Debbie were going to be with their family all day, Kelly and I were on our own. We were both pretty sore from our hike yesterday – we’re really not in good physical shape – so we decided to tour the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm) Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Walking into that building was like walking into Grand Central Station. There was a large desk, with maps and a couple rangers, devoted to planning hikes. There was a large auditorium where we watched a movie. We explored a small natural history museum. We got lost in the gift shop.

Many of the larger parks were easily established when the government simply set aside federally owned land for a park, but the land that made up this park was owned by farmers, logging companies, and paper companies. That meant the land had to be purchased. Most of the money used to purchase this park was raised privately and locally. The people of this area, including school children who donated their pennies, wanted to save the forest from the destruction of logging, and the fires, flooding and soil erosion that went with it. The Rockefellers contributed as well. The work started in the 1890s; the park was established in 1926; it was dedicated in 1940.

There’s a big difference between a national forest and a national park. In a national forest, the “harvesting” of natural resources is permitted. But, in a national park, everything is protected, at least according to the NPS web site. Everyone takes the philosophy of “leave no trace” very seriously. It surprised me to learn that the early supporters of national parks were not the environmentalists or even the hunters – it was the driving clubs.

Given the number of national sites in this country, I’ve barely scratched the surface. But I am continually awed by the commitment of the individuals and the strength of grass-roots organizing that resulted in the creation of this, and other parks. It’s going to be a good trip.