History of the Smokies
![](https://www.smokiesadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/roosevelt-300x145.jpg)
On September 2, 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt stood at Newfound Gap, with one foot on each side of the North Carolina-Tennessee State line, and dedicated, “for the enjoyment of the people,” the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Smokies are rich with a unique history that spans for decades. We invite you to take a closer look at some of the historical treasures of the Smoky Mountains.
See also Explorations of the Smokies for a first-person account of unique places in and around the Smoky Mountains.