Cantilever Barn in Cades Cove

When we take our little get away to the Great Smoky Mountains one of our favorite spots is driving through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to a hidden gem about 24 miles off Rt. 441 which is the main road between Cherokee North Carolina and Gatlinburg Tennessee. The 24 mile road to the Cove is a narrow, winding road right on the edge of the river with a great place to view some waterfalls. Once we arrive, it’s like going back in time driving along the 11 mile loop road full of historical buildings, old churches, cabins, barns, out buildings dating back to the early 1800’s. The fields filled with deer, bear, turkey and elk now and then and beautiful flowers. But today I want to tell you about the Cantilever Barn in Cades Cove.

A cantilever barn doesn’t look like a traditional barn most people are use to seeing. These barns have two log cribs for livestock to be fed from and they also support the overhang with an empty space between the cribs. The loft of the barn was used for storing hay or other crops, and the overhang was used for storing equipment and a place where animals could stay dry during rainy weather. If you look at the first picture of the underneath of the barn you can see the large beam going across the crib to the end of the overhang for support.

These style barns were typically found in the southeastern United States, but Sevier and Blount Counties in Tennessee have the most cantilever barns in the entire world. There are about 183 cantilever barns in Sevier County. These barns were ideal for farmers in the area because of their unique shape. It was easy to drive carriages under the barn through the cribs to unload hay or feed livestock. Since eastern Tennessee has heavy rainfall, livestock could stay under the overhang of the barn, and crops stayed dry on the second level.

It’s also been rumored that back in the day the government taxed based on the square footage of a structure touching the ground. Since the cantilever barns only touched the ground with the cribs, taxes would have been much less.

On our drive to the cove we were lucky enough to see some Elk slowly strolling from one field to another, carefully crossing the road as the cars stops to let them pass.

Driving around the 11 mile loop at Cades Cove is so peaceful and interesting to see the buildings from centuries ago. I hope you enjoyed learning about the Cantilever barn in Cades Cove.

I posted a blog in 2016 for Wordless Wednesday of some of the buildings at Cades Cove. Sometimes I wish we could step back in time and live this lifestyle. http://themarthareview.com/cades-cove/ Again in 2017 I shared a blog about some of the beautiful old churches in the cove. http://themarthareview.com/old-churches-cades-cove/

If you want to learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains check it out here: https://www.visitmysmokies.com/area-information/smoky-mountains/

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Martha DeMeo

I started my blog on Christmas Day 2014 mainly to review products I received. Since then it has evolved into many other categories of lifestyles, family, money saving ideas, low cost, delicious and healthy meals plus other surprise posts. My granddaughter has her own category, Alex's Articles and the latest addition to my blog is my great granddaughter now has her category, Lia's Likings The Baby Blogger! Lia started blogger at 8 months old and she now has a Friday Story Time blog you won't want to miss! I welcome you to join the conversation, ask a question, give a suggestion or leave a comment on any blog post. I hope you enjoy Lia's Likings, she has some great posts that will make you smile!

15 Discussion to this post

  1. vidya says:

    that barn looks so cool, Martha.. I know I would love to visit the Smoky Mountains

  2. I am happy to learn about the Cantilever barn. Most unusual!!

  3. I have been to the Smoky Mtns many times, but I don’t remember ever seeing cantilever barns. However, it’s been 20 years, so my memory isn’t that good! Makes me want to visit the Smokys soon!!!

    • Martha says:

      I’ve only seen the one at Cade’s Cove Angela. If you get to the Smokys again, you need to look up Cade’s Cove! It’s a trip back in history!

  4. How neat! It does seem peaceful. You guys take great trips. And look at the elk you guys saw!!

    • Martha says:

      That’s what we love about the Great Smoky Forest Jeanine. It’s so peaceful and we never know what we will see! The fields are usually filled with turkeys too!

  5. Angela says:

    What a wonderful bit of history here! I have always loved that part of the country… one day I will live down there. I had never heard any of this and have never seen a cantilever barn. So interesting!

  6. Angel Huskey says:

    We had 22 million visitors to the GSMNP in 2023.
    Al of the structures you see belonged to my family. My Granny was born at Elijah & Polly Lawson Oliver. Elijah’s parents were John & Laurna Frazier Oliver 1st white ppl in the area.
    We are also Catawba, Cherokee, Scotts Irish & German. German part built the Cantalevers. The purpose of this barn was to prevent termites and keep property taxes low as you were charged by the Sq ft of what was touching the ground. Smaller footprint and kept everything very dry.
    I have 6 original prints from 1940’s or so by artist Al Hammond.
    I have only been able to find 2 on the internet.
    Mine are 139/500. I selling them for $2000. I 2ant someone that will take care of them as they are very scarce.

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