What is Cades Cove?
Cades Cove is a wide, grassy valley inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee. It sits in the mountains and is famous for its scenic loop road and wildlife.
People who lived there long ago
Long before settlers came, the Cherokee people used the area for hunting and farming. They lived in nearby valleys and traveled through the mountains seasonally.
Pioneer life in the 1800s
In the 1800s, families moved into Cades Cove and built simple homes from logs. They cleared fields to grow crops, kept animals, and worked together. They also built a grist mill, a blacksmith shop, and several churches and a school to keep the community strong.
What happened to the people?
In the 1830s-1840s, the Cherokee were forced to leave their homelands in a sad event called the Trail of Tears. After that, more settlers continued to farm in the Cove.
Park creation and life today
In the 1930s, the U.S. government created the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To make the park, many residents moved away and some buildings were removed. The park service later preserved some cabins, churches, and the Cable Mill to show visitors how people lived here in the past. Today you can visit Cades Cove, walk the loop, and see animals, old buildings, and beautiful views through the mountains.
Quick glossary
- Cades Cove Loop - the one-way road that circles the valley for visitors.
- Grist mill - a water-powered mill where grains were ground into flour.
- Primitive Baptist Church and Missionary Baptist Church - historic churches that served the community.