On the subject of “loving any museum dedicated to the Smokies no matter its size”, there is another museum in Townsend that ain’t nearly as big as the Heritage Museum, but well worth a visit all the same, and it’s the Little River Road and Lumber Company Museum.
You see, Townsend, back in the old days, was the headquarters for this operation and huge logs from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, back in 1901-1939 before it was designated a national park, came through Townsend frequently enough that it’s own history would be monumented here more than 70 years later.
On site, you can take a look at the skeleton of an old train, visit inside a quaint little exhibition building on the side, and stop in to the gift store (where you might really find something interesting) and chat with the friendly people behind the table. The Little River Road and Lumber Company Museum is a nonprofit organization and admission is free.
C’mon, give it a shot, you might be surprised how much you enjoyed it.
