More than 4,000 species of plants grow here. A walk from mountain base to peak compares with traveling 1,250 miles north. Several resident plants and animals live only in the Smokies. A rich cultural history . From the Cherokee Indians, to the Scotch-Irish settlers, this land was home to a variety of cultures and people.
Many historic structures remain standing.
Subsistence turned to exploitation as logging concerns stripped the region of timber. Recovery is now the dominant theme.