Norris Travel Guide

 davecallahan Says:  About 1900 ft long and 250 ft high, this dam holds back the Cinch River to form Norris Lake and prevents seasonal river floods down stream. The Tennessee Valley Authority had this constructed (with much controversy) in the 1930's.I wasn't much impressed with the dam. We have... 

 davecallahan Says:  This outdoor museum was nicely landscaped and had good access path/sidewalks. They did not advertise handicap access but most of the areas were easily approached on paved/cemented walks.The day we were there was early in the tourist season and we were self-guided. Groups can... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  The Hacker Martin Gristmill is the newest addition to the Museum of Appalachia. It is an authentic water-powered corn and wheat mill that was originally located in the community of Boone's Creek, a few miles from Johnson City in northeast Tennessee. The Mill is still... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  In the Arnwine Cabin, in the early to mid 1800's, old Wes Arnwine and his wife reared a large family, and many hundreds of descendents still live in the East Tennessee region. The last occupants of the cabin were "old Aunt Julie and Polly Ann" Arnwine. The cabin was built... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  This one-room, dirt-floored structure was used by 20th Century Fox as the frontier home of Daniel Boone in the TV series for CBS called Young Dan'l Boone. It is an authentic pioneer log cabin, built in the New River Section of Anderson County, Tennessee, in the early 1800's.... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Broomcorn was grown by almost every early family and made into round brooms, consisting of a few bunches of broomstraw tied on a stick. The wooden "geared and cogged" rope making machine housed in this old log buiding enabled one to make any size rope desired by twisting... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  The McClung House was built a few miles southwest of Knoxville on the wagon path that later came to be known as Kingston Pike and U.S. Hwy. 70. It is thought to have been built in the 1790's, by the McClungs who later became one of East Tennessee's most prominent families.... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  This Overhang or Cantilever Barn was moved from its original location near Seymour in Sevier County, Tennessee. The extreme eastern part of Tennessee, in and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is one of the few regions in the country where this type of barn is... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  The Peters House and Homestead was moved from its original location in adjoining Union County near the village of Lutrell. The first known occupant was Nathaniel Peters who lived here about 1840. His oldest daughter, Cordelia, was born here and raised her own nine children... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  This bark grinder was used by pioneer settlers for crushing the bark of trees to obtain tannin, a necessary ingredient in the tanning of animal hides. A mule would be used to power the grinder, walking around in circles to turn the heavy stone. 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Wire, nails and other hardware were expensive and difficult to obtain for the pioneer homesteader, but there were an abundance of trees, many of which needed to be cleared to make room for pastures, gardens, etc. Therefore it was a natural to build fences of split rails. You... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Near the center of the Museum of Appalachia you will see this authentic working cane mill and hay stack, both of which are still in use.Visitors who come to the Museum in early fall may see a mule slowly turning the mill as it presses the sweet juices of sorghum cane which... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Sun dials such as this one were used for thousands of years to accurately tell the time of day. This sun dial, now found near the center of the Museum of Appalachia Village, once stood in the sunken garden of playwrite Tennessee Williams' great grandfather's home in... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Pioneer farmers built houses of gourds to encourage flocks of purple martins to nest and raise their young on their homesteads. The purple martin, a large dark member of the swallow family, is desirable because of their enormous appetite for flying insects, including the... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  These White Silkies were among the rare breeds of poultry we saw at the Museum of Appalachia. The birds have free range over the entire 65 acres so you may see them anywhere. I particularly enjoyed this since I used to raise rare breeds of poultry as a hobby.These peculiar...