Smoky Mountains Hiking Club on Look Rock, 1929 (Albert “Dutch” Roth Photograph Collection, University of Tennessee Libraries)
An exhibit in Hodges Library celebrates the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, the oldest chartered hiking club associated with the Great Smoky Mountains.
The Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives holds many materials related to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, including a collection of the club’s handbooks dating back to 1934. Handbooks, photographs, and other materials related to the club are currently on display in the Special Collections reading room, 121 Hodges Library.
Hiking club handbooks outline the program of hikes for the upcoming year. Hikes are described with difficulty ratings as well as advice for gear and other preparations. The handbooks and a selection of vintage photographs are also available online as the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Collection.
Founded in 1924, the Hiking Club predates the Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself. In fact, the club was formed for the express purpose of sponsoring trips into the Smokies to build support for establishing a national park.
Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, ca. 1928–1931 (Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Collection, University of Tennessee Libraries)
Throughout the club’s existence, club members and leaders have fought to protect the wilderness of the Great Smoky Mountains. From supporting the creation of the national park to opposing development efforts, the club actively campaigns for the safeguarding of the natural area.
The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club is celebrating its centennial with hikes, a service project, and a capstone Centennial Celebration Banquet on October 5 th. Materials commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club will be on display in the Special Collections reading room until after that capstone event.
