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Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is feeling excited at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.

5 days ago

📣 We Have a Big Announcement! 📣

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer, Francis Graffeo!

Celebrated Nonprofit Leader with Performing Arts Background Tapped to Lead Nationally Recognized Museum, Historic Village, Farmstead, and Amphitheater Complex.

The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is thrilled to announce the appointment of Francis Graffeo as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Graffeo joins the Center from Knoxville’s Joy of Music School, where he served 18 years with distinction as executive director, building its reach and impact since 2004. Graffeo, who is also a conductor of opera, symphony and ballet, is former executive director of Knoxville Opera, whose Rossini Festival was created by the multi-talented maestro.

With a rich background in nonprofit management and a deep passion for cultural arts, festivals, and community engagement, Mr. Graffeo is energized to lead the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center into an exciting new chapter. His tenure at the Joy of Music School was marked by significant growth and community outreach, achievements that he aims to replicate and expand upon in his new role in Townsend.

Board of Directors President, Melody Silverberg, states, “I am very pleased with the selection of Frank Graffeo as the new CEO/Executive Director at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. His enthusiasm and growing passion for the Center is apparent to everyone.

Ms. Silverberg continues, “his years of experience in nonprofit management will prove to be an invaluable asset as we embark on a focused effort to improve and expand the Heritage Center’s mission to collect, preserve, protect, and interpret the artifacts and stories of the inhabitants of this region.”

Mr. Graffeo adds, “I am honored to join the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center as CEO, and look forward to working with the dedicated team here to amplify the rich cultural heritage of this remarkable region. Together, we will continue to preserve, protect and promote the unique history and traditions that make the Great Smoky Mountains, and its people, so special.”

Since 2005 the Center has given thousands of visitors the chance to connect with the spirit and history of the Great Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove, and Townsend. The museum offers something for everyone, from hands-on activities to tours of original 19th-century buildings and a Cherokee Native American Collection. The educational programming, summer concert series, festivals and special events round out the engaging and immersive cultural experience to be found at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.

Offerings include:
- Captivating museum exhibits
- Hands-on activities for young and old, including live historic interpreters in authentic dress
- Countless indoor and outdoor exhibits from firearms to forges
- Authentic 19th-Century buildings in a Historic Village and Farmstead
- A significant Cherokee Native American Collection
- Spectacular guided bus tours of beautiful Cades Cove (where bear sightings are commonplace)

Even more, its spacious 375-seat covered amphitheater features a wildly popular Summer Concert Series. Plus, numerous festivals & special events bring thousands to the center year after year.

For more information, please contact: Katrina Kursell at kjkursell@gmail.com

#easttn #smokymountainnationalpark #tennessee #SmokyMountains #heritage #museum #townsendtn #bigannouncement #bignews #MediaRelease #newexecutivedirector #newceo ... See MoreSee Less

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is in Tennessee.

1 week ago

We have two weekends left of our annual Christmas in the Village event! This fun-filled event will continue on December 13th-14th, and December 20th-21st!

Celebrate the holiday season with family at the Heritage Center’s “Christmas in the Village” by stepping back in time to a pioneer celebration. Living history interpreters will welcome you as you venture through our holiday-adorned historic Appalachian village full of handcrafting demonstrations allowing visitors to connect with the spirit and history of Townsend, Cades Cove, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Hot cider, hot chocolate, and other snacks will also be available for purchase.

This experience is graciously sponsored by Blount Partnership and Tennessee Arts Commission!

To learn more information and to grab your tickets, see the link below!
fareharbor.com/embeds/book/gsmheritagecenter/items/413465/calendar/2024/12/?flow=803045&full-item...

#greatsmokymountainsheritagecenter #gsmhc #smokymountainnationalpark #appalachia #tennessee #heritage #history #museum #livinghistory #Christmas #christmasiscoming #familytime #easttennessee #EastTennesseeEvents #townsendtn #christmasinthevillage #christmasevent #christmasdecor #christmasinthesmokies #TownsendChristmas #HistoricalChristmas ... See MoreSee Less

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is feeling excited in Tennessee.

3 weeks ago

Make sure to stop in at the Heritage Center on Shop Small Saturday! We have all your Christmas gift needs from local businesses and artists!

#tntourism #townsendtn #greatsmokies #history #familyfun #gsmhc #smokymountains #HistoryComesAlive #appalachian #appalachia #greatsmokymountainsheritagecenter #shoplocal #shopsmallsaturday #shopsmallsaturdays ... See MoreSee Less