Curve at Cades Cove
by Lydia Holly
Title
Curve at Cades Cove
Artist
Lydia Holly
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This scenic spot is in Cades Cove which is located in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are beautiful vistas along the one way 11 mile loop road. Valleys and fields with trees and mountains in the backdrop are common to this former farming community. There are over 80 historical buildings in the Cove and the amazing thing is that there is no admission charge.
The Cove started being populated around 1821 and reached 685 (132 families) in 1850. Nearly everyone farmed even if they were storekeepers, blacksmiths, mill operators, etc. The primary crops were wheat and corn. All families had gardens and some had orchards. Wild berries were picked and often canned and chestnuts were abundant in the forests.
The National Park Service banned grazing cattle on the balds (mountain summits or crests covered primarily by thick vegetation of native grasses or shrubs) in 1934 and over a period of time the landowners sold their land rights over to the government. All Great Smokies land was privately owned before it was purchased for the park. Those who sold their land had the option of taking less money and living there until they died. Some left while others stayed on, at least for awhile. The last school closed in 1944 and the post office closed in 1947.
The cove is rich with history of days gone by...you can walk through grassy fields like the one you see in this photograph or you can walk back in time by visiting authentic log cabins, churches and even an operating grist mill. By the time you leave you will find yourself thinking what it must have been like to live in Cades Cove!
Uploaded
September 30th, 2017
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