The Mast Family Cabin – The Mast family was one of the early settlers in the Smoky Mountains, and their cabin still stands in the park today as a testament to their perseverance and way of life. The Mast family arrived in the region in the early 1800s, settling in what is now the Elkmont area of the park. They were primarily farmers, growing corn and raising livestock in the isolated mountain hollows.
The Mast family cabin, built in the mid-1800s, is one of the oldest remaining structures in the park. The family lived there for generations, enduring the harsh conditions of mountain life, including long winters and limited access to goods and services. The cabin was passed down through several generations, and the last member of the family to live in the cabin was Clarence Mast, who lived there until 1937.
In the 1930s, the U.S. government began acquiring land to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Mast family was forced to sell their land. Clarence Mast moved away, but the cabin remained, a piece of the family’s history. Today, the cabin is part of a historical preservation effort by the National Park Service. Visitors to the park can walk through the cabin and imagine what life must have been like for the Mast family, who lived in this remote area far from modern conveniences.
The Mast family’s story is much like that of the Walkers and other early settlers of the Smoky Mountains. It reflects the deep connection these families had to the land, their struggles to survive in an unforgiving environment, and their enduring legacy that continues to be honored today.