Little River Railroad & Lumber Company Museum

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, remembering all our heroes, those who never came home at all and those who came home changed. Their sacrifices shaped our families, our town, and the country we love.

05/23/2026

In the old days, making these paper bouquets by hand was a cherished tradition in preparation for Decoration Days. With decorations taking place this weekend at both Bethel and Myers Cemeteries, it was the perfect time to look back, share stories, and keep those heritage skills alive. Even though the rain dampened the Tractor Show today we gathered on the porch to make some flowers. Planning another craft circle meet soon to make some other flower designs.

05/23/2026

The engines are humming and the barrel train is ready to roll!

Historic tractor and engine displays, arts and crafts vendors, food truck. Fun barrel train rides for the little ones Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a day celebrating this rich heritage.

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

Heritage Tractor & Engine Club's Michael Glandon Memorial Day Show is happening this Friday and Saturday, May 22–23, 2026, right here next door to the museum grounds. Come out snd join in the fun!

05/22/2026

Just a friendly reminder that the Heritage Tractor & Engine Club's Michael Glandon Memorial Day Show is happening this Friday and Saturday, May 22–23, 2026, right here next door to the museum grounds.

Yes, the forecast maybe calling for a little rain, but as of Thursday evening the Club is planning to move forward. Vendor tents were already going up, tractors and engines were rolling in, and folks were getting ready for a great weekend together. The Club will of course continue to keep an eye on any severe weather changes, but for now the show is set to go on.

So come on out, enjoy the sights and sounds of these beautiful old machines, grab some food and crafts, and make a day of it. Bring an umbrella just in case or dance in the rain if you feel like it. These mountains don’t mind a good mist. We hope to see you this weekend! MichaelandJj Sparks David D***s

05/22/2026

Welcome to the Neighborhood, Cades Cove Golf!
We’re excited to share that a brand‑new family‑owned miniature golf course is opening right next door to the museum!

Cades Cove Golf carries deep roots in our mountains their family heritage traces back to Cades Cove National Park and they’re bringing that same love of place into a fun, relaxed course everyone can enjoy.

Grand Opening:
Friday, May 22
2:00–10:00 PM

Stop by, play a round, and help us welcome our new neighbors to Townsend. We’re thrilled to have them beside us and can’t wait to see families enjoying both the museum and the course this summer.

05/15/2026

Craft Circle will be quilting at the Michael Glandon Antique Tractor & Engine Show, May 22–23, 2026!
Come by and stitch a bit we’ll be quilting together with history and heart.
The show will be full of fun:
• Crafts
• Food
• Barrel train rides
• Engines, tractors, and plenty of good company
Pull up a chair, take a few stitches, and enjoy the weekend with us.

05/15/2026

Colonel Wilson Bailey Townsend’s years in the northern timber industry shaped everything he later built here in Townsend. Before coming south, he worked in the lumber regions of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, where he operated the Clearfield Lumber Company, managed mills, and developed rail lines to serve the area’s loggers and lumber producers. Those early decades gave him a strong understanding of forest markets, transportation, and large‑scale timber operations.

Drawing on that experience, he moved to East Tennessee around the turn of the 19th century and organized the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company. From that work grew the community that would eventually carry his name Townsend.

Though he arrived with the purpose of harvesting timber, he quickly recognized the natural beauty of the Smokies. Townsend became an early voice for conservation, serving as a leader in the major National Conservation Expositions in Knoxville large, World’s‑Fair‑style events that taught the public about responsible use of natural resources.

He also began hosting travel excursions into the mountains, helping introduce visitors to places like Elkmont and the high ridges long before the National Park existed. In time, he sold much of his land to support the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, leaving a legacy that reaches far beyond the logging era.