Perhaps no other state proudly showcases its unique culture and history the way Tennessee does. And there's no better display of that culture and history than in Gatlinburg.
Two hundred years ago, in 1807, Martha Jane Huskey Ogle, her children and several other family members arrived in a remote locale of Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee to honor the wish of her recently deceased husband, William, to settle in the “land of paradise” he had found for them. Today, that remote locale is known as Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Recognizing the need for a 2007 Bicentennial Celebration of the settlement of Gatlinburg, the Galinburg Bicentennial Committee was formed in April 2006 to plan and implement activities and programs which would celebrate the settlement of Gatlinburg, as marked by the building of the Ogle Cabin in 1807, throughout its growth and development to present.
To be sure, Tennessee's history is rich and diverse. Historic sites, trails, music, crafts and the arts paint a picture of a colorful state that has seen two centuries of statehood. And to showcase that rich history, the Tennessee Heritage Trail has been recently developed by the State in order to highlight the cultural heritage of our people, and numerous Gatlinburg-area locations have been designated as integral stops along the Trail.
In order to maximize your time on the Heritage Trail, it's been divided into three distinct pathways. The Arts & Crafts Trail pathway will show you folk art, trolls, candles of all descriptions, hand-made pottery, oak and willow baskets, watercolors, sculpture and lithographs. The History Trail pathway will allow you to discover the people and events that made Tennessee what it is today. And finally, the Music Trail pathway will find you tapping your toes to diverse styles evolving from three cultural traditions. Most notably, East Tennessee's Appalachian region is known for its folk songs and bluegrass, which evolved from the immigrant influences of the 1700's.