This pen-and-ink drawing is of wild lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) with stem, leaves, and flower heads. The drawing is signed and dated in pencil and labeled: “Alum Cave between Arch Rock and Alum Cave.” Irving Rhodes Fromer (1913-1994) was a…
This graphic souvenir map, “The Great Smokies: Showing some of the Principal Places and Things that each Visitor should see” was produced in 1936 by the Knoxville News-Sentinel newspaper. The map includes the original boundary of the Great Smoky…
Pisgah Forest was purchased by the National Forest Reservation Commission from Edith Vanderbilt, widow of George Vanderbilt. The tract was originally part of the larger “Biltmore Forest” on which the Biltmore Estate was built. After the death of her…
This map of North Carolina is dated 1814. Western North Carolina is inset at the left. Note that today’s counties are not differentiated. Macon County was established 1828 and Jackson County was not formed until 1851.
This photograph, made on Gregory Bald, was taken by Carlos C. Campbell (1892-1978), a founding member of the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association and author of “Birth of a National Park,” published in 1960. This photograph, with others in…
This photograph of a stairstep cascades was taken on the trail from Porters Flats to Dry Sluice Gap. The picture, with others in this series, are included in the records of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, formed after a group of outdoor enthusiasts…
This photograph taken along the Indian Gap Trail was made by Albert Gordon "Dutch" Roth (1890-1974), an avid photographer and one of the founders of the hiking club. The back of the photograph is stamped “Jim Thompson Co,” indicating it was probably…
This photograph of hikers at Indian Gap was made by Albert Gordon "Dutch" Roth (1890-1974), an avid photographer and one of the founders of the hiking club. The back of the photograph is stamped “Jim Thompson Co,” indicating it was probably printed…
In the fall of 1925, the Asheville Chamber of Commerce sponsored a “Goodwill Motorcade” to “inaugurate a general campaign of advertising for North Carolina.” The almost weeklong auto tour began in Asheville, making a loop along what is now interstate…
This map from 1930 shows part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ironically, the park was not established until 1934 and not dedicated until 1940, so this map from 1930 anticipates the coming of the park. The area shown on the map was…