Great Smoky Mountains National Park--Cataloochee Valley in the words of its people

Photo Credit: NPS

Rich in cultural heritage, Cataloochee is an isolated valley that was home to the largest and most prosperous settlement in the area that became the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many of the early structures still remain—a school, churches, a barn, and several homes. Elk that were released in 2001 and other wildlife can often be seen in the fields of the valley.

Cataloochee Valley is located 65 miles from Gatlinburg and 39 miles from Cherokee, amidst very rugged mountains. It's a drive that can be a little daunting since part of it is over graveled road. But, it is a lovely place to see and human history surrounds visitors as they marvel at the natural beauty and wildlife of the Smokies. Some of the stories of the people of the Smoky Mountains, and Cataloochee, have been preserved in oral histories.

Enjoy the video below. It's a piece oral history from the National Park Service, Harper's Ferry Center:

Cataloochee – The Center of the World

The program, through historical and contemporary photographs, depicts life in the Cataloochee settlement during the 1900's when it was the largest settlement in the Great Smoky Mountains. Oral history accounts by Cataloochans describe life in the settlement.

More stories about the people of the Great Smoky Mountains

Download the Smokies Trip Planner

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For more info: Great Smoky Mountains National Park