At the park's southern entrance at Cherokee, from May through October you can walk through a collection of Southern Appalachian farm buildings with park interpreters who explain life as it existed here generations ago. These buildings, including a chestnut-log farmhouse, barn, apple house, springhouse and blacksmith shop, were built in the 19th century and assembled for various locations throughout the park in the 1950s. Admission is free. Mingus Mill Mingus Mill is a half-mile north of the Mountain Farm Museum on the Newfound Gap Road. Built in the early 1800s, it's an excellent example of a water-powered gristmill, and it's still grinding corn.
Hours vary, but the mill is usually open daily in the summer and on spring and fall weekends.
This nonprofit organization is for people who care about the park and want to know more about its natural and historical resources. Authorized by Congress, it supports the park's educational and scientific programs in a number of ways, including producing publications such as the trail guidebook, funding special educational programs, purchasing river otters for the park and funding visitors center exhibits and artifact collections. Members also have the satisfaction of helping promote the association's goals. Contact the association for more information. The association also sponsors the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont, which provides photo workshops and environmental education programs in subjects such as Cherokee Earth Skills for everyone from school children to Elderhostel groups.