My wife and I planned a stop here, on a road trip between Virginia and Arkansas and we’re glad we did. Sadly, hillbillies are portrayed in the media today in disparaging ways. Thus we were grateful to see how people who know better, a lot better, present a much different picture at this marvelous museum. The stories of this country’s first pioneers who tamed the land and endured great hardship are well told here, both in the indoor museums and in conserved, original structures you can walk through on acres of beautiful farmland. Their shared experiences with Native Americans are also well-told. Our time here made us wish we could have shared just one hour with some of these folks, learned from them, and thanked them.

Took grandchildren to the museum, all under school age. The kids and their parents had a great time. The parents enjoyed the museums with so much to see and so much history of East Tennessee. The kids loved the structures; cabins, school, blacksmith, barn, corn etc. The favorite part for the kids was the animals. Goats, sheep, ponies, a hog, ducks, chickens and the peacocks. Must be that time of the years, the peacocks were really showing off for the peahens. Took many pictures of the various plumage displays. it was a good day for the kids and they came back tired. The ride home was peaceful and wonderful.

This is a great living history museum! We spent so much time in the artifacts building examining all the interesting pieces of peoples lives and the stories that went with them! The items were very well described with many personal stories preserved by the founder of this museum. It was clearly a labor of love and it is a treasure. Had he not collected all these buildings and items when he did, they’d have been lost to weather and time. We are not from this area, but we appreciated learning about the local culture and history. It’s a lot of walking. It could be done in less time on a more superficial level with young children. We were here 3+ hours with a teenager.

I liked the Hall of Fame where they displayed all these neat artifacts from the mountain settlers. They had carved figures people whittled, quilts,handmade toys, and a homespun dress. My husband loved the section on instruments such as dulcimer, banjos, and fiddles. You could spend hours in there! So interesting!

This offers genuine craftwork and the history of the people of Appalachia. As we walked outside in the heat it was easy to image how hard it was on them working in the sawmill or in the farm. They lived a hard life, but found the time and energy to create art and music. What a beautiful museum to honor these people.

I have been here two times now and we really like it. The menu changes so check the web site before you go. The sides are really good. Everything is served in disposable containers. You have to go to the counter to order and they will give you a number. There are a few different areas to sit so ask when you enter the building. It is not a fancy place to eat. It is rustic and very different. It has a gift store that you have to go thru with old types of local crafts and items. The museum has a fee and shares the parking lot. The parking lot is gravel and a bit confusing. On weekends and special occasions, it is really crowded. The parking lot is NOT easy to walk thru. We plan to go back often to sample more of the menu.

If you Love American History, this place is a must. The shear amount of artifacts and exhibits is amazing. Three buildings full of artifacts of everything from the people of Appalachia, to Native Americans, to the history of Bluegrass and Country Music, to famous people and the Hero’s from the area like Sgt. Alvin York! Then an entire village of historic buildings, cabin, barns, schools, church, etc. etc. they even have Daniel Boone’s Log Cabin!

I have been to many historical farms and homesteads, but this museum and village is far above and beyond most others. The museum’s displays are unique, and the sheer volume of artifacts is amazing. However, I think the best features are the stories included with many of the displays that bring to life the Appalachian people and their way of life. There are multiple buildings housing displays and a village of original and restored buildings. I highly recommend a visit here. Allow at least several hours. Would love to come back and bring grandkids.

Wow! Just WOW! When we arrived, we were greeted by the nicest lady, who sold us our tickets and provided us with a map. Then she filled us in on the days menu at the cafe, so we ate lunch there before beginning our tour. There are a total of 36 buildings to see, along with some smaller structures, like corn cribs and outhouses. Two of the buildings are like miniature museums with detailed writings about many of the items in each one of the buildings, including wagons, dulcimers, hearses, banjos, and other individual items that people in the Appalachian have made. If you’re into history at all, this is it don’t miss attraction.

We have enjoyed these types of "open air" museums both here and in Europe and this one is well worth a visit. There is an abundance of buildings spread around the grounds with a squad of peacocks to entertain you. There are places where the wear and tear of the elements shows, but the staff does a good job of keeping things up which must be very difficult under these circumstances. We enjoyed our visit very much. The museum has done a good job capturing and explaining the history of those who lived in the nearby mountains.