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Vote & help us preserve Clingmans Dome Tower
In celebration of the National Park Service's Centennial, 2016 Partners in Preservation is embarking on its first national campaign, focused on raising awareness about the preservation needs of historic structures within 20 sites of the National Park Service system. The program will award $2 million in grants to help preserve historic structures within beloved National Parks across the country. Grant recipients will be decided by popular vote.
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NPS Photo
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Here in the Smokies, if/when we win, grant funds will be applied toward preservation of the 1959 Clingmans Dome observation tower. Renovation efforts will include correcting a structure settlement issue and repairing the overall deteriorated condition of the tower, including delaminated surfaces, spalls, exposed rebar, damaged handrails, and missing flagstones.
From today through July 5, the public is encouraged to visit VoteYourPark.org and place up to five votes for five separate national parks per day, including GSMNP. Voters are then eligible to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Yellowstone National Park sponsored by National Geographic.
The parks with the most votes at the end of the voting period will be awarded grants for their historic restoration projects. In this particular case the old saying "Vote Early & Often" is highly encouraged in support of much-needed repairs of this iconic Smoky Mountain structure.
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GSMA, NPS, LeConte Lodge
donate books to fourth-graders
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"We hope this book inspires the students of Sevier County, and their families, to explore their park this summer and develop a lifelong connection to the natural world around them," said Superintendent Cassius Cash. - NPS Photo
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In honor of the National Park Service Centennial, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GSMA, and LeConte Lodge partnered to provide the Day Hikes of the Smokies guide book to all 4th grade students in Sevier County. This generous donation was made in recognition of the National Park Service's Every Kid a Park initiative.
"Speaking for everyone here at GSMA, we are delighted to be able to share this handy and informative guide with the next generation of park supporters," said GSMA Executive Director Laurel Rematore. "We hope every fourth-grader and their family will explore this remarkable resource that is practically in their backyards!"
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Collections Preservation Center opens
GSMA Photo
Attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the National Park Service Collections Preservation Center in Townsend, TN, on May 6 were (from left) Superintendent of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Niki Nicholas, National Park Service Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin, GSMA Executive Director Laurel Rematore, Friends of the Smokies, Executive Director Jim Hart, GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash, TN Senator Lamar Alexander, Superintendent of Andrew Johnson Lizzie Watts and Superintendent of Cumberland Gap Sula Jacobs. The new 14,000-square-foot facility will enable the National Park Service to properly care for some 418,000 artifacts and 1.3 million archival records from each of these NPS sites.
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Underwater world in the Smokies
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The River Chub Nest -
Short video by Gary Wilson
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In late spring, male river chubs construct a large stone mound for spawning purposes. This huge stone bed will attract many different fish species, including Tennessee and saffron shiners, stonerollers, and warpaints as they all congregate and spawn on the same mound.
This world under the water is one of the Smokies' most hidden, but more interesting, as thousands of fish can use a single mound for spawning. This spawning events happen in almost all major river corridors in GSMNP.
This rare underwater footage captured by GSMA's videographer Gary Wilson shows river chub copulating, Tennessee and saffron shiners (the smaller red minnows), and a group of male stone rollers fighting as they prepare for their spawn. This and other wonderful water features found in the park will be featured in the upcoming Smoky Mountain Explorer film due out this fall.
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Introducing America's national mammal
President Obama signed the National Bison Legacy Act into law on May 9,
officially making the American bison the national mammal of the United States. This majestic animal joins the ranks of the Bald Eagle as the official symbol of our country -- and much like the eagle, it's one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time.
Though you're not likely to stumble upon a bison in this park, park visitor center bookstores offer "huggable" bison toys to our visitors in recognition of its placement on the arrowhead, the official logo of the National Park Service. Along with the ranger uniform, the arrowhead is the principal means by which the NPS is identified by the public. Surprising to some, the arrowhead has been the official emblem of the National Park Service only since 1951. Read More About the Arrowhead>>
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Smoky Mountain Mystery:
When is our park's birthday?
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FDR (left), Tennessee Governor Prentice Cooper, and Mrs. Roosevelt seen here on September 2, 1940, during the formal dedication of GSMNP at the Rockefeller Memorial on Newfound Gap Road.
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If asked the date of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, many people would respond with September 2, 1940, that famous day when President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the national park in front of 10,000 people while straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee state line at Newfound Gap.
However, the president's park dedication was over a half decade behind schedule and focused more on looming catastrophic world events than "these trees, the pine, the red-bud, the dogwood, the azalea, the rhododendron, the trout and the thrush" that he heralded in his speech.
After all, almost exactly one year prior to the speech at Newfound Gap, Germany had brashly invaded Poland and in the mean time was marching with its allies across Europe conquering Norway, Denmark, France, Belgium, and Holland...
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Homemade distilled spirits have been a way of life in Appalachia for generations. The first person to answer all our quiz questions correctly will win a copy of Dan Pierce's Corn from a Jar. Take the challenge... and good luck!
Last month's winner: Amanda Sparks of Alabama
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Father's Day is June 19,
Give him 'Pictures for a Park'
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Carlos Campbell's photograph of towering trees on one of the trails to Mt. LeConte. Images like this provided park proponents the ammunition they needed to convince legislators of the need to preserve the Smokies as a national park.
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When advocates for preserving the Great Smoky Mountains as a national park needed support for their battle, they turned to photographers like Jim Thompson and George Masa for help. Their gorgeous landscape photographs helped convince officials that the Smokies rivaled any scenery in the West and were worthy of national park status.
This incredible large format book showcases images of mountain views, mountain people, verdant forests, all of which are artistically captured by Carlos Campbell, Doris Ulman, Ansel Adams, George Grant, and many others. Published by Great Smoky Mountains Association, this special 2016 National Park Service Centennial Publication will sit prominently on beside your dad's favorite recliner for years to come. Order one for your dad (and one for you) HERE today!
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"With headquarters in Cherokee this year, we're happy to be partnering with the Cherokee Indian Museum, which will provide the bulk of our Saturday activities," said Marketing and Membership Director Lisa Duff.
Program offerings will include traditional Native American dance, pottery making, storytelling, medicinal plants, and more. From this year's vantage point, we're also excited to include the annual Mountain Life Festival at OVC as an on-your-own activity.
"GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash will lead a hike this year as part of the NPS Centennial Hike 100 program," said Duff. "Additionally, the recently announced Top 100 Most Influential People in Park History will be recognized during a ceremony Friday night. It's probably an understatement to say we've got a lot going on this year."
Click below for detailed information, including how you can register.
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It's a widely known fact that GSMA members are forever "Rooted in the Smokies," they enjoy a hot cup of coffee (or tea) most mornings, and that they loathe cup rings on their coffee table. Fear not, we've got you covered. Log into your account to get your handcrafted mug and GRITS coasters today!
Another thing we know about our members - they patiently await each year's announcement of the new "I'm Rooted in the Smokies" Christmas ornament. The wait is over. Log into your account and get your ornament HERE.
Not a member? What are you waiting for? Membership supports the national park you love, instantly puts you in touch with others who are passionate about this park, and returns to you amazing swag. Check it out.
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Hike 100 tackles Rich Mountain
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GSMA members weathered the storms this past Saturday (May 21) to complete 11 of their Hike 100-mile Challenge. - GSMA Photo
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Stormy skies were not enough to stop our Hike 100 hikers from tackling the Rich Mountain Loop Trail this past Saturday in beautiful Cades Cove. Through mist, mud and one drenching downpour, the group was rewarded with
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GSMA Photo
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stunning sights, including several deer, salamanders, snakes, slugs and truly outstanding wildflowers.
Two members of the group - Marti Smith (left) and Deborah Williams - completed their 2016 Hike 100 Challenge along the way Saturday.
The next GSMA-sponsored Hike 100 outing is set for June 25 in Cataloochee. Click HERE to read more about this hike and the 2016 Hike 100 Challenge.
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Shop the Smokies:
Let's face it - there's nothing worse than your beverage losing its frosty coldness or toasty hotness. Your new Smoky Mountain Himalayan Tumbler will keep your cold beverages frosty for up to 6 hours and your hot beverages toasty for up to 3 hours. And the adorable hiker silhouette is a nice bonus!
Your new Cable Mill T-Shirt has everything you want - a soft cotton fabric in a rich heather-gray, a gorgeous sepia tone image of this historic Cades Cove structure, and plenty of fascinating facts to put you on the leader board at your next trivia outing. (NOTE: GSMA cannot guarantee any Cades Cove questions will be asked during your next Trivia outing.)
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Heritage foods from the Smokies
make the best Strawberry Shortcake
Whether you make this for Father's Day dessert, a family picnic at Deep Creek, or a quite evening on your porch, this Strawberry Shortcake tastes best with heritage foods ingredients found here in the Smokies.
Country Strawberry Shortcake
1 C whipping cream
4 tsp baking powder
3/4 C cold butter, cut up
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Combine strawberries, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup of Foods of the Smokies strawberry preserves. Cover berry mixture, and let stand 2 hours. Beat whipping cream at medium speed with an electric mixer until foamy; gradually add 2 Tbsp. sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Cover and chill up to 2 hours. Combine Foods of the Smokies wheat flour, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and baking powder in a large bowl; cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender or two forks until crumbly. Whisk together eggs, sour cream, and vanilla until blended; add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop dough by lightly greased 1/3 cupfuls onto a lightly greased baking sheet. (Coat cup with vegetable cooking spray after each drop.) Bake at 450° for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden. Split shortcakes in half horizontally. Spoon about 1/2 cup berry mixture onto each shortcake bottom; top each with a rounded Tbsp. chilled whipped cream, and cover with tops. Serve with remaining whipped cream. Makes about 8 servings.
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Much has been written about the Smoky Mountains, as this landscape and its rich history cannot help but inspire. A few of those who have gleaned inspiration from these vistas, rugged trails and rushing waters will discuss their work at visitor center locations in both North Carolina and Tennessee this summer.
Swain County Visitor Center and Heritage Museum in downtown Bryson City will host the following events:
Sugarlands Vistior Center near Gatlinburg will host the following events:
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NEW FEATURE: Monthly Visitation Count
Wondering if this park is on target to beat last year's record 10.7 million visitors? Each month in this location we'll keep track by updating the park's visitation count according to the National Park Service's Recreation Visitors Report.
January - 379,730 March - 778,211
February - 353,352 April - 840,712
Year-to-Date Total: 2,353,185
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Granny's Kitchen in Cherokee, N.C., is known for amazing Southern home cooking your whole family will enjoy, from hand-carved roast beef and fried chicken to a wide selection of vegetables and homemade desserts. Granny's has been a favorite with the local community since it opened in 1984. And since they're a family-owned and operated business, they stand behind their food and their experienced, friendly crew.
NEW Business Members
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THANK YOU!
The Park Grill's "Plates for a Park" lunch last month generated much-needed funds and awareness for important park preservation projects. If you'd like to learn more about how your business can support this park, contact Westy Fletcher HERE.
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The Smokies are just a click away...
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Got questions? We have answers.
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Connecting Today to Yesterday; Preserving Today for Tomorrow
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