Historic Structures

          As well as the park's natural beauty, part of what makes the Smokies so special is its human history.  The human impact played a major role in shaping the park into what it is today.  Several remnants of our ancestors are scattered across the mountains and valleys in the form of settlements, farms, railroad grades, balds, bridges, and so on.  They are special because they reconnect us with the past.  They tell stories of the lifestyles people used to live.  They remind us of the sacrifices many of them made.  And they speak of a love for these mountains, something we can all relate to, past and present.