Elkmont Observation Car Debut
The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum proudly debuted its replica of the Elkmont Observation Car Saturday September 30, 2023. The original car was the first purpose-built tourist vehicle for seeing the Smoky Mountains long before the modified jeeps, side-by-side UTV, and three-wheeled motorcycles. While the original vehicle was
Christmas at the Museum
The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company was founded by Colonel W. B. Townsend. History tells us that in 1903 his wife Margaret Townsend introduced the Christmas tree to the area now known as Townsend, Tennessee. Margaret Townsend was known for her interest in the mountain people and her generosity.
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
The story of the Little River Railroad & Lumber Company is the story behind the story of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From 1901 to 1939 the Little River Lumber Company cut 560 million board feet of lumber out of the Great Smoky Mountains. If you laid it all
HAT TIP TO EDDIE MCCLANAHAN
Someone once compared the study of history to going out on a windy day and gathering everyone’s blown off hats in an attempt to get each one back on the right head. Needless to say, this insightful illustration illuminates the difficulty of accurately retelling history as it actually occurred. Since
TANNING YOUR HIDES
Chilhowee Gap was formed by the Little River basin through the Chilhowee Mountains. Originally known as Murphy’s Cove, it was renamed Miller’s Cove around 1800, when settled by the Miller brothers—Andrew and Alexander. In 1845, George Amerine built a forge in Miller’s Cove. It served as Blount County’s largest ironworks
SKOOKUM
Our museum’s Shay Engine, Number 2147, is the only surviving Shay from our Little River Railroad. However, Number 110, which was the pride and joy of the Little River Railroad, as well as the smallest Pacific steam locomotive ever built in the United States, is still running today in Coldwater,
NUMBER 110
Number 110 was the flagship stem locomotive of the Little River Railroad. It was special ordered by Colonel W. B. Townsend, so as to combine the power of a logging (Shay) locomotive with the speed of a traditional passenger train locomotive. It was further distinguished by the fact that it
RAILROADED BY PROGRESS
Progress had taken America by the turn of the 20th century, thanks to the Industrial Revolution. America’s railroads had carried it everywhere, changing America into a country of commerce and the average American into a consumer. In 1894, Richard Sears pioneered the concept of mail order merchandise with his Sears,
EXCHANGING A CASH COW FOR AN IRON HORSE
The Smokies’ balds are large pastures or meadows atop the mountains. Some of the best known are Gregory’s Bald, Andrew’s Bald, and Spence Field. No one knows exactly how or why they were formed. It was once believed that the Cherokees kept them clear as hunting grounds or lookouts, but
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