There is a Story in Every corner.
This story begins in February 1999 in Townsend, when a University of Tennessee archaeologist unearthed a piece of pottery over a thousand years old. News of this discovery spread around the globe, prompting an extensive historic excavation whose results astonished international historians and archeologists: Millions of artifacts had been buried for centuries in Tuckaleechee Cove. From that discovery, the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center was conceived and built in 2005 to preserve and house these artifacts, and to faithfully tell the stories of the people behind them.
Supported by community leaders, donors, foundations, corporations, and its beloved, passionate members numbering in the tens of thousands, the Center has thrived for decades. How? By providing quality programming, by preserving the significant, and by doing work that “teaches the mind and touches the spirit”. Like the countless visitors seen since its inception, the Heritage Center ensures you will find a compelling story in every corner.
The People
Francis Graffeo, Chief Executive Officer
Trevor Lanier, Curator
Jill Cable, Administrative Assistant, Membership Manager, Cades Cove Heritage Tours Manager
Lorna Keathley, Associate Curator, Curator of Technology & Visitor Experience
Museum Events Coordinator – Position Open
Curator of Education – Position Open
Tommy Stokes, Branding & Marketing
Katrina Kursell, Social Media Coordinator
Sarah Pirkle, Music Educator, Junior Appalachian Musicians
Zee Johnston, Sales Associate
Lizzie McCroskey, Sales Associate
Warren Bielenberg, Cades Cove Tour Guide
Stan Lewandowski, Cades Cove Tour Guide
Mike Meldrum, Cades Cove Tour Guide
Ken Pleat, Cades Cove Tour Guide
Mark Snyder, Cades Cove Tour Guide
Randal Pierce, Vintage Firearms Expert
Ben Barrington, Vintage Firearms Expert
Gerry Cook, Shuttle Bus Driver
Bruce King, Shuttle Bus Driver
Mike Steeves, Shuttle Bus Driver
Chris Ross, Sound Engineer
Sam Venable, Guest Host for Cades Cove Specialty Tour
Suzanne Davis – Crochet, Cherokee Storybook, Scotch Hoops Game Presenter
Jack Mann, Village Tour Guide
Jodi Savage, Historic Textiles
Donna Stinnett, Historic Presenter
Debbie & Dan Dickie, Heirloom Gardener
Allison & Rodney Pearson, Heirloom Gardener
Janie Bitner, Heirloom Gardener
Diane Rohtert, Heirloom Gardener
Dino & Claire Dienst, Historic Textiles
Scott Payne, Blacksmith
Preston Farabow, Blacksmith
Wilson Browning, Blacksmith
Dawn Arneach, Cherokee Storyteller
Landon Arneach, Cherokee Storyteller
Gordon Sisk, Overmountain Man
Mark Guenther, Sorghum Molasses Maker
Shannon Lydic, Historic Textiles
Shana Haynes, Hearth Cooking
Heather Linke, Historic Textiles
Brenda DeArmond, Broom Maker
Patty Benton, Historic Textiles
Mark & Nancy Shedden, Historic Textiles
Daniel Tallent, Master Sheepshearer
Tom Knight, Woodworker
Jeanie & Richard Hilten, Musicians
Steve Brooks, Musician
Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club
Smoky Mountain Flute Circle
Grace Notes Flute Choir
Sarah Pirkle, Junior Appalachian Musicians Instructor and Manager
Jeff Barbra, Junior Appalachian Musicians Instructor
Joe Lock, Junior Appalachian Musicians Instructor
Jay Tipton, Junior Appalachian Musicians Instructor
Graciela Pagin, Administrative Volunteer
Frank & Mug Akers, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Scottie & Lisa Mayfield, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Ron & Claire Andersen, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Susan Cooper, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Doug & Kris Dickman, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Cotton Dunlap, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Poultry Manager
Mary Beth Lima, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Steve & Felicia Mikels, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Demonstrator – Farm Animals
Sheri & David Liles, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Demonstrators – Weavers
Susan McCollum, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Steve Myers, Blue Ribbon Country Fair – Antique Tractors
Betty Peabody, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Louise Presley, Blue Ribbon Country Fair Volunteer
Foothills Quilters Club
Townsend Artisan Guild
2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Melody Silverberg, Chair
Tom McCroskey, Vice Chair
Chris Soro, Treasurer
Jennifer Hicks, Secretary
Jenny Boyd
Carolyn Forster
Elvira Grant
Katie Branham Kerr
Fred Lawson
Brent Musick
John Morgan
Justin Marcus
Mark Oldham
Jim Proffitt
John Trotter
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:
Frank Akers
Linda Gullefsen
Brad Bowers
Jeff Jopling
Baird Todd
Russell Townsend
CONTACT US
Interested in a career?
This position is available.
Museum Events Coordinator – Position Open
For additional questions please email: jcable@gsmheritagecenter.org
Interested in Membership?
We’d love to have you as a member. Basic annual memberships start at $45 and include many wonderful benefits.
Please email:
jcable@gsmheritagecenter.org
Interested in Donating a Historic Artifact?
We’d love to talk to you about it. All donations are tax deductible!
Please email: tlanier@gsmheritagecenter.org
Interested in Volunteering?
We are always looking for folks to demonstrate traditional crafts and skills, no experience needed.
Please email: jcable@gsmheritagecenter.org
Cades Cove Heritage Tours:
Available May through October
865-448-8838
P.O. Box 268
Townsend, TN 37882
