Henry Whitehead Place in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to be Restored
The Henry Whitehead Place is getting a facelift in 2020! This historic structure was built in 1881 and sits in the Cades Cove section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is just one of the historic buildings that has been or is being restored in the park. Learn more about the Henry Whitehead Place rehabilitation project:
Henry Whitehead Place in Cades Cove
The Henry Whitehead Place was built in 1881. This year, the cabin will undergo a $6,500 rehabilitation project to restore the home. This will help preserve the historic cabin in Cades Cove!
The Henry Whitehead Place is one of the most interesting cabins in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was lived in by Matilda Shields and her son. Her first husband abandoned the two of them, so the community came together to quickly build them a home. This first cabin was rough but made a good shelter for the time-being. The second time she married, it was to a man named Henry Whitehead, who was a carpenter and promised to build her the best home in the area. He built a sawn log home with perfectly planed logs, one of only two known to exist at the time. The walls were 4 inches thick to provide insulation, and there was a brick chimney. The cabin was built right in front of the smaller cabin Matilda first lived in. This historical site in Cades Cove is about a 5-minute drive from the Cades Cove Visitor Center.
Other Recent Rehabilitation Projects
The Henry Whitehead Place in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just one of many historic sites that is getting a facelift. The park is putting in efforts to help restore and preserve many structures throughout the region. More than 90 historic structures have been restored in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the years. Some of the structures include houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills. The Elkmont Historic District is one area that is undergoing a cabin restoration project. In 2017, 4 historic buildings in Elkmont opened to the public after being restored: the Levi Trentham Cabin, Mayo Cabin, Mayo Servants’ Quarters and Creekmore Cabin. The park has plans to restore more than a dozen buildings total in Elkmont.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has also partnered with Trails Forever to reconstruct and improve high-priority trails in the park. Some of the trails that have been rehabilitated are the Rainbow Falls Trail, Chimney Tops Trail, Alum Cave Trail and Trillium Gap Trail.
Popular Historic Structures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
One of the best parts about visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is learning about its history and visiting the historic structures! Here are some of the most popular historical places visitors love:
Walker Sisters Place – The Walker Sisters Place is a log cabin that’s situated in the Little Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Walker Sisters refused to leave their home after the park was established and were granted a lifetime lease. The sisters would chat with visitors and even sell homemade treats and toys.
Little Greenbrier School – The Little Greenbrier School was built in 1882 and doubled as both a church and a school during the time. From 1883 until 1936, this building was a place for the community to grow both academically and spiritually. Today, you can visit the Little Greenbrier School and learn about the Smoky Mountains while sitting at the old desks.
Cades Cove – Cades Cove is home to numerous historic structures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, like the Henry Whitehead Place! Whether you drive around the loop or explore some of the area on foot, you’ll have the opportunity to see plenty of historic sites. Popular sites include the John Oliver Cabin, the Cades Cove churches, The John P. Cable Grist Mill and the Cantilever Barn.
We’ll keep you updated on all restoration projects in the Smoky Mountains, including the Henry Whitehead Place! In the meantime, learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for help planning your visit.
