Your online resource for the Smoky Mountains
Located at the entrance to Townsend, Tennessee—the peaceful side of the Smokies—the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center is a 10-acre cultural museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of East Tennessee. Spanning over 10,000 years of human history, the museum offers an immersive look into the lives of the region's earliest Native American inhabitants, 19th-century European mountain settlers, and early Appalachian communities.
Whether you're looking to explore authentic historical log structures, view rare artifacts, or enjoy live artisan craft demonstrations, the Heritage Center brings the heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains vividly to life.
The museum’s main indoor gallery houses a remarkable collection of artifacts, photographs, and historical exhibits:
Discover 10,000 years of Native American history in the Southern Appalachians. View thousands of authentic prehistoric tools, weapons, pottery, and cultural artifacts that tell the story of the Cherokee and their ancestors who lived and hunted throughout Tuckaleechee Cove.
Explore how early mountain residents navigated the rugged terrain before paved highways. The gallery features restored horse-drawn wagons, buggies, early automobiles, vintage farming equipment, and logging gear.
Throughout the year, temporary exhibits highlight unique aspects of mountain life—from Appalachian music traditions and quilting arts to moonshining history and the founding of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Step outside onto the museum grounds to explore an authentic historic village featuring preserved and restored 19th- and early 20th-century mountain structures relocated from around the region:
Walk through rustic log homes fitted with period-accurate furniture, stone fireplaces, and traditional mountain tools.
See working blacksmithing tools and learn how early pioneers crafted iron hardware, wagon wheels, and horseshoe gear.
Visit a classic one-room mountain church and schoolhouse that served as the social heart of rural communities.
Learn about mountain food preservation techniques and the secret art of distilling traditional Appalachian moonshine.
The Heritage Center is a vibrant community hub hosting year-round cultural events:
Enjoy live bluegrass, traditional country, and mountain music performances held in the museum's covered outdoor amphitheater during the spring, summer, and fall.
Experience live demonstrations of historical crafts, including woodcarving, weaving, blacksmithing, and pottery making.
Special field trips, summer camps, and guided tours give children and families a hands-on opportunity to experience frontier life.
Address: 3/4 mile east of the Highway 321 & 73 intersection (near the Townsend entrance to the National Park), Townsend, TN 37882
Best For: History buffs, families, school groups, and visitors looking for an authentic cultural experience in the Smokies.