Area History
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Pigeon Forge History
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Pigeon Forge was once part of North Carolina. Settlers first reached the area in 1788, when the area was governed by North Carolina. Pigeon Forge was the site of an iron forge built in 1820 by Isaac Love. His son built the Historic Old Mill in 1830. The other half of Pigeon Forge’s namesake is the passenger pigeon. Although passenger pigeons are now extinct, the community of Pigeonpreserves the memory of bygone era that brings to mind the rich diversity of life in the the wilderness frontier that was East Tennessee.
Sevierville History
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Sevierville was founded in 1794, however it was an important native american community before settlement by pioneers. Several archeological sites are found in Sevierville, including a large burial mound on the banks of the Little Pigeon River just off of the Forks of the River Parkway.