PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — The Old Mill invites guests to step directly into the stories that helped shape Pigeon Forge (Tennessee), the Great Smoky Mountains, and one of Tennessee’s most recognizable landmarks through a new interpretive experience called Standing In History.
Installed throughout The Old Mill property, the self-guided walking experience features historically researched signage placed in the exact locations where pivotal moments unfolded over the last two centuries. Written in the present tense, each marker places visitors directly into the moment — from the roar of the iron forge in 1817, to Civil War activity hidden inside the mill, to the rise of pottery, candy making, and Smoky Mountain traditions still practiced on the property today.
Rather than simply displaying dates and facts, Standing In History was designed to immerse guests in the feeling of standing inside the story itself.
“In these very spots, moments happened that helped shape not only Pigeon Forge, but the Great Smoky Mountains and the traditions that still live here today,” said Jimmy Proffitt, historian and storyteller for The Old Mill. “We wanted guests to feel like the ground beneath their feet still remembers what happened here.”
The experience guides guests across the property through storytelling:
• The establishment of Isaac Love’s iron forge in 1817
• Construction and evolution of The Old Mill beginning in 1830
• The founding of Pigeon Forge and its first post office
• Civil War-era Union activity in East Tennessee
• Hydroelectric power generation in the early 1900s
• The beginnings of pottery tourism in Pigeon Forge
• Historic candy making, distilling, and Smoky Mountain food traditions
The project also arrives as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, encouraging visitors to reflect on the local stories and everyday people whose work helped shape the nation’s growth. Through the lens of The Old Mill, guests experience the resilience, craftsmanship, innovation, and determination that defined generations of Smoky Mountain life and helped build communities across America.
Guests can explore the experience at their own pace while visiting the property, dining, shopping, and walking along the Little Pigeon River.
“The history here isn’t locked away in a museum case,” Proffitt said. “It’s still alive all around you.”
For more information, visit The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge or follow along on social media for updates and featured stories from the Standing In History experience.
Media Contact:
Jimmy Proffitt, Old Mill Historian
[email protected]
865-387-8282
About The Old Mill
Operating since 1830, The Old Mill is one of the oldest continually operating grist mills in the United States and remains one of the most visited destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains region. The property includes restaurants, shops, a pottery studio, candy kitchen, creamery, distillery, and other experiences rooted in Smoky Mountain tradition and craftsmanship.