Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center: Self-Guided Historical Tour
4.8
8 Ratings
Townsend
Immerse yourself in the rich history and diverse cultures of the Great Smoky Mountains at the Heritage Center. Explore Native American villages, experience the moonshine culture, and discover authentic structures from the 1800s. A self-guided historical tour like no other!
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center - Standard admission for the self-guided Museum and Village Tour allows guests to tour two indoor museum galleries (with a third under construction) as well as visit the heirloom gardens, historic village, and our 1830s farmstead. Seasonal programming, living history demonstrations, and other features may be available as well depending upon the time of your visit. Spending time at the Heritage Center provides the most authentic opportunity to connect with the spirit of Townsend, Cades Cove, and the Great Smoky Mountains.
What's Included
- Full admission to Heritage Center facilities
What's Not Included
- Does not include admission to concerts, festivals, or other special events
Additional Information
No other place in the Smokies offers a more in-depth look into the diverse cultures and human history that shaped this mesmerizing region. From the Native American settlements that existed 10,000 years ago to the 20th-century moonshine era, there is a myriad of attractions at the Heritage Center. The center features original buildings from the area that have been transferred and conserved fully furnished as they would have appeared in their initial locations. The collection includes log structures from around 1800, a church, a sawmill, a blacksmith’s workshop, distinctive cantilever barns, and even a moonshine distillery!
Location
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
123 Cromwell Dr,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(8 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Tjdetiveaux
Mar 15, 2024
Good time spent. - This is a great museum with a lot of historical artifacts from native American and early settlers in the Smoky's. Many authentic structures located on the property.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert_j
Dec 10, 2023
Great learning experience - Being able to walk into and see authentic dwellings and getting a feel of how life was. Very well maintained and staff was very friendly.
Review provided by Viator
Kenjac092013
Oct 19, 2023
Good way to learn history! - Very informative! The curators were well versed in their history! Nice to see a school bus with field trip kids there.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ray_l
Aug 25, 2023
A trip into Tennessee's past - Outside: Taking a walk into the past, seeing how our ancestors lived. Inside: Seeing and reading about the Cherokee and how they lived.
Review provided by Viator
Companion00814886560
Jun 24, 2023
Great family attraction - Great customer service. Enjoyed the tour. Nice gift shop selection. You can really feel the southern charm this place has. Would recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeanine
Apr 17, 2023
Hidden gem - put on your list to visit! - Wonderful museum that brings the history of the Smokies to life. Packs a lot in but manageable and not overwhelming and all in one place! Perfect for families to get an overview of the area's amazing people and history. Only regret is that we weren't there for their outdoor concert series....looks amazing. What a gem - just go visit! You won't regret it....
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pookie19
Sep 17, 2023
A nice way to spend an afternoon - My wife and I had a very interesting and pleasant tour of the centre. The staff seem very knowledgeable and we would highly recommend spending time here.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mytravels70
Jul 17, 2023
Smoky Heritage Center - This is well worth it. Reasonable entrance fee. We spent 2 hours, I would suggest 3. They do have a few issues. They had a GREAT video which could hardly be heard because it was played so low. It was right out in the open with people coming and going all around you. If they can not move the video, they need to add closed captions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor