Back to Homepage of Horace Kephart: Revealing an Enigma

Online Exhibit: Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains, showing the Chimneys (Mountains).

Appalachia Map

Barnett family and friends at dinner.

Mattock.

Everett Copper Mine.

Inside view of large packing trunk.

Kephart to Albert Britt, August 26, 1912, page 1.

Kephart to Albert Britt, August 26, 1912, page 3.

The Chimneys, Great Smoky Mountains.

Kephart to Zebulon Weaver, January 13, 1925.

Zebulon Weaver to Kephart, December 19, 1924.

Horace Kephart.

Kephart to Will C. Barnes, February 16, 1929.

Great Smoky Mountains

Proposed Forest Reserve

Theodore Roosevelt endorsed a Secretary of Agriculture report proposing an Appalachian Forest Reserve in 1901. Soon after, Kephart adopted this report as his guide to the Great Smoky Mountains Region he planned to observe.

Medlin, North Carolina

Far different from his first western North Carolina camp near Dillsboro, Kephart moved to an abandoned copper mine near the remote community of Medlin, North Carolina, in the fall of 1904.

Our Southern Highlanders

Originally published in book form in 1913, this book remains Kephart's most popular literary work. Here he described the people, culture, and terrain of the Great Smoky Mountains.

National Park Campaign

After moving to Bryson City, the Swain County seat, Kephart entered into minor politics and lobbying activity. Early in the movement to develop a National Park in the Great Smoky Mountains, Kephart became heavily involved and instrumental in the park's creation.

Tributes

Towards the end of his life, Kephart received honor and recognition for his contributions in forming the National Park including the naming of Mount Kephart.

Original spelling and syntax retained in all quotations within this exhibit.

Bob Barnett.

Kephart's Cabin near Medlin, North Carolina.

Medlin, North Carolina.

Medlin store and summer sled.

Kephart to Albert Britt, August 12, 1912.

Kephart to Albert Britt, August 26, 1912, page 2.

Collapsible writing Desk.

Method.

Ink well.

Kephart to Zebulon Weaver, January 9, 1925.

Zebulone Weaver to Kephart, December 19, 1924

Wooden Grave Marker.