A Mountain Farm Calling

Looking in on the Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill

We got out of Gatlinburg relatively early, and began our trek across Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It was a cool and clear morning, and only a little damp from an apparent early morning rain. Having seen most of the northern slope the day before, we did not really stop until we started the descent along the southern slope; and then, only a couple of times. There were not quite as many overlooks to choose from, and other items were on the agenda.

The landscape was decidedly different on the southern slope, seeming to fall off more gradually. It might have only been how the road cut through the mountains. After a couple of switchbacks, the road simply followed along the Oconaluftee River. There was no traffic to speak of during this short 30-mile journey. Even with a couple of stops to view the landscape, it only took just a little over an hour to reach our first scheduled destination for the day, the Mountain Farm Museum at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Inside the Mountain Home - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - June 2015

We chose this destination for no other reason than it was on the route. Spotting it on the map, and reading just a little bit on the National Park Service web site, we thought it might be interesting to have a look around. The site features a collection of historic log buildings, preserved in a somewhat traditional setting, with the intent of depicting a typical mountain farm in pioneer Appalachia.

Mountain Farm Museum

The Mountain Farm Museum is adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, on the North Carolina side of the national park, and is an excellent display of life in the 1800s. A partially paved path winds through the small complex of buildings, which eventually gives way to a dirt path, worn down enough to get around to each of the individual structures easily. Originally constructed during the 19th century throughout various locations in the Smoky Mountains, most of the structures relocated to the site during the 1950s.

Mountain Farm Museum, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - June 2015

Each of the buildings has its own story, and relevance to the overall theme of the site. A rustic home, built by John Davis along Indian Creek around 1900, uses matched chestnut logs joined with dovetail notches.The chicken house was originally located at the base of Maddron Bald. An apple house, meat house, and the springhouse (used for refrigeration) relocated from a valley on the other side of Cataloochee Mountain. The blacksmith shop moved in from Cades Cove, and two corncribs from Thomas Divide.

Barn at Mountain Farm Museum, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - June 2015

The barn is the only structure originally located on the site; even then, it moved about 180 meters from the 1880 original construction site. It features an abundance of hand-split shingles; some 16,000. Other buildings also litter the site, such as a hog pen, sorghum press and still for extracting molasses, and an ash hopper used to extract lye for soap, a woodshed, and fencing.

Mountain Farm Museum, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - June 2015

We only spent an hour perusing the site before we were on our way again, and were a little surprised that it had only been that long. The location is relatively quiet and perfect for a morning stroll along the Oconaluftee River and through the time capsule presented in the form of the Mountain Farm Museum. The displays were well organized, and helped understand the culture of the time and the methods employed to survive the wilds of Appalachia.

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Further Reading

Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - National Park Service