GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TIMELINE AND DEVELOPMENTS OF PARK ROADS AND BRIDGES
200 Million Years Ago		North American continent strikes African continent and uplifts the Appalachian Ridge.
A.D. 800		Cherokee settle in southern Appalachia.
1803		Louisiana Purchase.
1832		Oconaluftee Turnpike over Indian Gap constructed connecting the north and south sides of the Smoky Mountains.
1838		The construction of Parson Branch Road was authorized by the county courts.
1851		North Carolina Legislature authorizes the continuation of the Catalooche Turnpike through Mt. Sterling and Davenport gaps down to Big Creek and Cosby, Tennessee.
1901		Little River Lumber company establishes the first major logging operation in what would become Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
1904		Little River Lumber company builds a standard gauge rail road from Townsend up the west prong of the Little River to Crib Gap.
1923		Willis Davis launches promotional campaign for a national park in the Smokies of Knoxville Automobile Club board meeting on October 22.
1926		Congress passes the bill authorizing the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. NPS, Bureau of Public Roads cooperative agreement signed.
1927		Tennessee begins its part of the construction of the Indian Gap Highway.
1932		Tennessee constructs road over Little River Railroad right-of-way to accomodate automobile traffic between Townsend and Elkmont.
1933		First CCC camp in Great Smoky Mountains National Park developed along Laurel Creek in Tennessee.
1934		Great Smoky Mountains National Park officially established.
1935		Wilderness Society established in part by Harvey Broome, Robert Marshall, and Bernard Frak. Construction of the Loop Over completed.
1938		Work began on the Laurel Creek Road in October which runs from Townsend Wye to Cades Cove.
1940		President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicates Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
1942		U.S. enters WWII. The National Park Service withdraws the CCC from the Great Smokies.
1944		Fontana Dam is completed and begins operation.
1947		Park Service begins constructing the Northshore Road and completes a one mile section at Fontana Dam.
1951		Construction of the Foothills Parkway began when engineers broke ground on the "Gatlinburg Spur."
1955		National Park Service begins Mission 66, a program to improve park infrastructure.
1963		Construction of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail begins. One of the major projects of Mission 66 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
1964		Wilderness Act signed into law by Congress.
1986		Park Service recommends all work on the Foothills Parkway be halted in order to review environmental concerns.
1996		Foothills Parkway incomplete, but planning continues for completion.
1996		Great Smoky Mountains National Park Roads and Bridges are documented by NPS Historic American Engineering Record.

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