Logs of chestnut, gardens of squash

The Mountain Farm Museum, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, preserves one of the finest collections of historic log structures in the National Park system.  The 19th century buildings were relocated from mountain coves in the Park to re-create a typical farm of the era.

Here you’ll discover the Davis House, a log cabin built of American chestnut before the blight obliterated the great, sprawling trees in the Blue Ridge.  Other farm buildings include a barn, hen house, smoke house, apple house, springhouse and blacksmith shop.

In summer, the museum becomes a working farm, with squash, corn and tomatoes cultivated in the garden and farm animals grazing the fields.  Park staff and volunteers in period costumes offer interpretive programs and demonstrations of traditional farming techniques.

Two excellent walking trails start in the area. The Oconaluftee River Trail follows its namesake stream for 1.5 miles to Cherokee. Mingus Creek Trail climbs past old farms into Smokies high country.

The museum is open year-round, sunrise to sunset, about 2 miles north of Cherokee, on US 441. For details, visit the website.