Great Smoky Mountains Association

The Great Smoky Mountains Association is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1953 and headquartered in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As the official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the most visited national park in the United States — the Association supports the park’s educational, scientific, and interpretive programs through the sale of books, maps, and other materials at visitor centers and through partnerships with park staff and researchers.

The Association has published an extensive catalog of books, field guides, and educational resources focused on the natural history, ecology, cultural history, and wildlife of the Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding southern Appalachian region. Its publications address topics including wildflowers, trees, birds, salamanders, bears, historic settlements, and the geology of the mountains. These materials serve both as visitor guides and as lasting contributions to the scientific and cultural literature of one of America’s most biodiverse natural areas.

Beyond publishing, the Association funds scientific research and educational programs within the park, supports ranger-led interpretive activities, and contributes to conservation efforts. It operates bookstores at multiple locations throughout the park and contributes millions of dollars to park programs over the course of its history. Its mission is to foster understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of Great Smoky Mountains National Park through education and interpretive materials.

The Great Smoky Mountains Association occupies a distinctive role in the conservation publishing world: as an organization rather than an individual author, it brings together the expertise of naturalists, historians, photographers, and scientists to produce authoritative resources that help visitors and readers connect with one of the most ecologically rich landscapes in North America. Its work ensures that the knowledge accumulated by generations of researchers and park employees is made available to the widest possible audience.