Friendly counter service and I got cute Love stamps. Has ramp for wheelchair access. Easy in and…read moreout.

Super friendly post office…read more Love the staff and the help they provided us. Cheerful and kind! A huge plus for any post office.

This historical marker is located at the intersection of US Highway 19 at the Blue Ridge Parkway…read morenear Soco Gap. The sign is next to a concrete marker that clearly marks the spot of this "Boundary." The marker reads, "Qualla Boundary. Soco Gap, initial point of U.S. survey, 1876, of Cherokee Reservation, created through earlier efforts of W. H. Thomas, white Cherokee chief." The online essay has a lot more information. "The Qualla Boundary, the official name for the Cherokee Indian Reservation in western North Carolina, was officially surveyed and its present boundaries were established in 1876. The tract owed its creation to the alliance and efforts of the Cherokee people and to William Holland Thomas, the white Cherokee chief. Thomas pruchased lands for the Cherokee people under his name in the 1840s and 1850s, and in 1866 the United States recognized the right of the Cherokee to own and control the lands. Ten years later, the land was surveyed and demarcated as Cherokee land, outside of federal and state government jurisdiction. "Between October 1838 and March 1839 the federal government forcibly removed the Cherokee people from their lands in western North Carolina. About 11,000 Cherokee Indians were relocated in what became known as the Trail of Tears. Some Cherokee remained in North Carolina, however, including many who hid in the Great Smoky Mountains. In addition to those who eluded internment and forced migration, some Cherokee were free to stay because of earlier treaties, including the Oconaluftee Cherokee under Yonaguska. These individuals recruited Thomas to purchase land on their behalf, which he began doing in 1840. "William Holland Thomas owned three stores in Qualla Town and the surrounding areas by the late 1820s. Having worked and lived amongst the Cherokee people from earlier in his life, Thomas had a significant knowledge of the their language, and was a close friend of Yonaguska. He was well respected and trusted by the Cherokee people, eventually serving as their only white chief. After the Trail of Tears, Thomas acted on behalf of the Cherokee and acquired lands focused around the Oconaluftee River and Soco Creek. A large tract of land, consisting of around 50,000 acres, was eventually collected around Oconaluftee Creek, and this constitutes the majority of the Qualla Boundary today. "Thomas also struggled gain official permission for the Oconaluftee Cherokee to remain in North Carolina. In 1866, the Eastern Band of Cherokee were formally granted freedom to live in North Carolina, and were recognized as a separate entity from the Cherokee living in Oklahoma in 1868. In 1874, a board of arbitrators appointed by the federal courts found that Thomas's land purchases had been on behalf of the Cherokee people, and the lands were placed in a trust for the Cherokee tribe. "Because the boundaries of the land were still vague, in 1876 a survey was completed by M. S. Temple, deputy U. S. Surveyor, and the boundaries of the Qualla Boundary were established. The surveying began in Soco Gap, an area that was the most important passageway through the Balsam Mountains for the Cherokee before the arrival of the white man." The intersection is here. There is space to pull over to read the sign and see the marker. It was an interesting experience and of course, it's a reminder of how poorly the American government treated the Native Americans who were here. [Review 1166 of 2024 - 3656 in North Carolina - 22189 overall]

This marker sits just off US-19, right across the river from Bryson City, with a handy parking lot…read moreadjacent that makes it an easy pull-off. It highlights Horace Kephart, the writer, naturalist and librarian whose book "Out Southern Highlands" became one of the defining works about life in the Appalachian Mountains. The marker also notes that a nearby peak, Mount Kephart, was named in his honor. If you're passing through, it's a quick and worthwhile stop. The setting is quiet, the river is right there and the marker gives you a snapshot of a man who helped shape both the literature and the preservation of the Smokies. It is marker number Q-41 and it was erected in 1951 by the Archives Conservation and Highway Departments. [Review 521 of 2026 - 4616 in North Carolina - 25703 overall]

Times change and the language we use to describe those times changes. This marker near the Swain…read moreCounty Heritage Museum in the center of Bryson City used to say something else. The Treaty of New Echota set the stage for the forced removal of the Cherokee, and although many North Carolina Cherokee resisted, including Tsali who became the most famous of the resisters with oral tradition portraying him as a martyr who surrendered himself so that others could remain in North Carolina, even though government records show he never voluntarily gave himself up and was executed after being captured. The aftermath allowed Euchella's group and the Oconaluftee Cherokees to stay, and over time Tsali's story grew into a powerful but romanticized legend central to Cherokee cultural memory. The original marker said, "Tsali. Cherokee brave, surrendered to General Scott to be shot near here, 1838, that remnant of tribe might remain in North Carolina." Today, the marker reads, "Tsali. Cherokee who resisted removal and escaped from United States troops, executed nearby, 1838. Story inspired 'Until These Hills.'" This is marker number Q-3 and it was erected in 2010 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History. [Review 527 of 2026 - 4622 in North Carolina - 25709 overall]

Just a block from the Historic Swain County Courthouse (now the Heritage museum), this marker…read morepoints out some Civil War history that took place nearby. The marker reads, "Site of Union attack on Thomas's Legion, Feb. 2, 1864. Reduced Cherokee support for Confederacy. One mile northeast." and it is marker Q-8. It was erected in 2010 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History. Brigadier General Robeert Vance's brief 1864 raid into Gatlinburg collapsed when Union cavalry scattered his force, leaving Colonel William Holland Thomas and his small Cherokee detachment to retreat into North Carolina. Union troops caught Thomas at Deep Creek on February 2, overrunning the camp and capturing thirty-two men, including eighteen Cherokees who later took the Union oath, and in some cases, enlisted in the 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry. A second raid soon captured thirty-three more of Thomas's Cherokees, who were courted by Union authorities and likewise switched allegiance. The Deep Creek defeat, combined with hunger, inflation, internal tensions, and continued Union raids, shattered Cherokee support for Thomas and accelerated desertion from the Confederate cause. [Review 528 of 2026 - 4623 in North Carolina - 25710 overall]

Worth the drive to see and walk through the tunnel…read more Read the history, it's really a sad story. They call it the stolen highway

If you didn't know the history of this spot, you might not think it's a big deal but if you do know…read morethe history, it becomes more relevant. Yes, it literally is a road that ends in a very long, dark and wet tunnel. There are also several walking trails nearby. We drove back on the road a little bit and did one of the shorter hikes that leads to a section of the lake. There are other trails that are more strenuous. This is more of an oddity than anything else, but still an interesting place to visit.

The current courthouse serving Swain County is a one story brown colored brick and concrete…read morestructures that is in a "V" shape with the entrance in the center with glass panels above that makes the emphasis of the facade more about horizontal than the more vertical proportions of the historic 1908 courthouse it replaced. The roof is hipped with orange tiles. Completed in 1982, it is a rather utilitarian design, typical of rural Appalachian counties during that era. It is definitely more efficient than ornamentation. The county was formed in 1781 from parts of Jackson and Macon Counties. It is named for David Lowry Swain (1801-1868), Governor of North Carolina and later president of the University of North Carolina. There is definitely plenty of parking, especially so on the weekend. Definitely check out the extensive veteran's memorial that forms much of the front entrance area. [Review 522 of 2026 - 4617 in North Carolina - 25704 overall]

On our recent visit to Great Smoky Mountains, husband decided to come here since we were in the…read morearea, and it was an interesting pit stop! We were able to secure admission tickets via Viator, which meant we could use our Viator credits to buy tickets! Woohoo. The experience was informative, educational, but a bit underwhelming. We're glad the Cherokee people are able to maintain their history thru this museum, and we even brought home a souvenir from their gift shop. It's worth a visit if you happen to be in the area, and there's a burger restaurant down the road from the museum that serves delicious burgers with a view of the river!

This is a museum in progress but it was still pretty decent. I liked that they included pottery and…read moreitems from more recent times to tie in with the past. Overall I do wish they didn't cover over some of the signage with paint but it's very reading intensive. Kids probably wouldn't find this as interesting Would love more interactive parts like being able to touch beading, playing cultural songs, I loved the portion where you hear their language by syllables Really interesting and the girl at the counter was super sweet. The gift shop was kind of expensive- a sticker was $6.. overall easy parking and access.