History of the Park
Prior to the start of the 20th century, the area now comprising the park was little known to the outside world, although DeSoto is believed to have viewed the mountains. They were, and still are, the home of the Cherokees who now occupy the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina, adjacent to the park on the south. The few white settlers were the rugged mountaineer descendants of colonists from England and Scotland who lived isolated and primitive lives. The Great Smokies region became better known during and subsequent to World War I when logging railroads of lumber companies penetrated some of its virgin forests. Still later, highways skirted the area and visitors were able to view its majestic peaks from a distance.
The successful movement for the creation of a national park in this area was begun in 1923, and its establishment was authorized by the Federal Government by act of Congress approved May 22, 1926. Enabling acts were passed by the State legislatures of North Carolina and Tennessee in 1927, and land acquisition was begun with State funds, matched by a generous donation made by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., through the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial, in honor of his mother. Subsequently, Federal funds were made available for the completion of the project.
On February 6, 1930, the Governors of North Carolina and Tennessee presented the Secretary of the Interior with deeds to an initial 158,876 acres of land on behalf of their respective States. A limited park was thus established for administration and protection. The park, now containing 507,168 acres of Federal lands, was formally dedicated on September 2, 1946.