Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its Missing Black Visitors: A Preliminary Analysis on the Hidden Architecture of Landscape

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, often celebrated as 'America's best idea,' has a hidden architectural legacy that excludes Black Americans. A preliminary analysis reveals marginal or absent representation of Black voices in park archives, promotional materials, and exhibits, perpetuating the perception of the park as an unwelcoming 'White' space. This study, using archival reviews and racial composition data, suggests that historical segregation and racism may have deterred Black visitation, contributing to a broader understanding of how landscapes are racialized. The findings underscore the need for narrative-driven deconstruction to dismantle such exclusions.

Sultana, S., Merced, J., Weber, J., Allen, R., & Carlton, G. (2023). Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its Missing Black Visitors: A Preliminary Analysis on the Hidden Architecture of Landscape. Southeastern Geographer, 63(1), 15–35. https://doi.org/10.1353/sgo.2023.0003