Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies.

National Park Service

History

Though archeologists have found no evidence of major settlements, it is believed that Cherokee Indians hunted in Cades Cove for hundreds of years before the first Europeans settled in the cove sometime between 1818 and 1821.

As the population of this Tennessee settlement increased, so too did the number and variety of structures, many historic buildings of which remain to the present day – including three churches, a working grist mill, barns and log houses.

Elijah Oliver Place

Traveling along an 11-mile, one-way loop road which circles the cove, visitors have an opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace, enjoying scenic views, abundant wildlife and preserved homesteads.

A short 1/2 mile from the road, the Elijah Oliver Place dates back to 1866. Elijah was the son of John and Lucretia Oliver, the cove’s first permanent European settlers, and the homestead includes a dog-trot cabin, a chicken coop, a corn crib, a spring house, and a crude stable.

Photography

Here are some photographs I shot while visiting the Elijah Oliver Place –

Prints

For prints (and more), visit my gallery at Pixels.

Related Post: see also – John Oliver Cabin At Cades Cove