Connect with the spirit and history of Townsend, Cades Cove, and the Great Smoky Mountains.

No trip to Townsend is complete without a visit to the GSM Heritage Center. Connect with the culture and history of Townsend, Cades Cove, and the Great Smoky Mountains. We have museums, educational programs and events that offer something for everyone.

The Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center is the cultural center of Townsend, Tennessee and is quickly becoming a premier destination and civic asset. The Heritage Center has galleries, gardens, an appalachian village, a Farmstead, and an amphitheater. 

The events at the GSM Heritage Center hope to capture audiences for a rich, fun experience with the added benefit of raising awareness about the center’s activities and historical heirlooms.

The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is the site of numerous festivals, special events and concerts. 

• Events, Festivals & Concerts

• Appalachian Village

• Heirloom Vegetable Garden

• Restored Cabins, Inn & Barns

• Native American Museum

• Historic 1830s Farmstead