75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Saturday, 31. January 2009, 13:15:43
It's been a long time since I've posted to this blog. After an incredibly dry summer in East Tennessee, there were next to no wildflowers blooming in the Smokies this fall. So, although I hiked, I had nothing to post.
However, I'd like to make people aware of the 75th Anniversary celebration for the Great Smoky Mountains that kicked off this January, 2009. The official website, updated regularly, is GreatSmokies75th.org. This interactive site is updated regularly to
provide the public with the most current activities. There are several special features, including the Historical Timeline, and the Smokies Family Album where people can upload photos and share Smokies experiences.
There are several public events scheduled commemorating the anniversary. The first will be Friday, April 24, 2009. This will be a media event to deliver Governor’s Proclamations from Tennessee and North Carolina, and will be held at Clingmans Dome. The event during National Park Week will focus on the state and local support that was key to the creation of the Park. For this event Clingmans Dome Road will be
closed and only invited guests, local municipalities, and state and federal officials, will be involved.
Local events are posted and described in detail on the GreatSmokies75th web site. These include:
Townsend Winter Heritage Festival, Feb 5-8, 2009. This event will be held all day and evening at the Townsend Visitor Center, and celebrates the cultural heritage of the region with walks, talks, classes, entertainment, and more (the GreatSmokies75th.org website gives more detail about this event).
A Townsend Love Affair, Feb 13-15, held throughout Townsend. There will be local artisans displaying and selling their crafts, music, dancing, etc (TownsendVisitorCenter.com ; gsmheritagecenter.org).
Insight of the Smokies - a juried art show, Feb 6 - Mar 1. This show will be held at the Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. Gallery hours can be found at ArtMarketGallery.net.
Mapping the Mountains: The Photographs of George Masa. Held Feb 6 - June 7 at the Asheville Art Museum, at 2 Southpack Square in Asheville, North Carolina.
Additionally, walking tours of both Townsend and Elkmont will be held by the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum on the 4th Saturday of every month this year. These are short (less than a mile) walks showing the locations of structures and rail lines with a brief description of railroad and lumbering activities in these 2 areas of the Smokies. Walks will begin at 10 AM, meeting at the Little River Railroad Museum in Townsend, and last 1-1.5 hours. More information can be found at littleriverrailroad.org.
Stay tuned for future local and commemorative events.
However, I'd like to make people aware of the 75th Anniversary celebration for the Great Smoky Mountains that kicked off this January, 2009. The official website, updated regularly, is GreatSmokies75th.org. This interactive site is updated regularly to
provide the public with the most current activities. There are several special features, including the Historical Timeline, and the Smokies Family Album where people can upload photos and share Smokies experiences.
There are several public events scheduled commemorating the anniversary. The first will be Friday, April 24, 2009. This will be a media event to deliver Governor’s Proclamations from Tennessee and North Carolina, and will be held at Clingmans Dome. The event during National Park Week will focus on the state and local support that was key to the creation of the Park. For this event Clingmans Dome Road will be
closed and only invited guests, local municipalities, and state and federal officials, will be involved.
Local events are posted and described in detail on the GreatSmokies75th web site. These include:
Townsend Winter Heritage Festival, Feb 5-8, 2009. This event will be held all day and evening at the Townsend Visitor Center, and celebrates the cultural heritage of the region with walks, talks, classes, entertainment, and more (the GreatSmokies75th.org website gives more detail about this event).
A Townsend Love Affair, Feb 13-15, held throughout Townsend. There will be local artisans displaying and selling their crafts, music, dancing, etc (TownsendVisitorCenter.com ; gsmheritagecenter.org).
Insight of the Smokies - a juried art show, Feb 6 - Mar 1. This show will be held at the Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. Gallery hours can be found at ArtMarketGallery.net.
Mapping the Mountains: The Photographs of George Masa. Held Feb 6 - June 7 at the Asheville Art Museum, at 2 Southpack Square in Asheville, North Carolina.
Additionally, walking tours of both Townsend and Elkmont will be held by the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum on the 4th Saturday of every month this year. These are short (less than a mile) walks showing the locations of structures and rail lines with a brief description of railroad and lumbering activities in these 2 areas of the Smokies. Walks will begin at 10 AM, meeting at the Little River Railroad Museum in Townsend, and last 1-1.5 hours. More information can be found at littleriverrailroad.org.
Stay tuned for future local and commemorative events.
WIDGETIZE