Clingmans Dome:: Highest Mountain in the Great Smokies

by Marci Spencer

Clingmans Dome towers over the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains as the highest point in both the national park and the state of Tennessee. The mountain holds an ancient allure--the Cherokee treasured it, as did early settlers, and it captivates throngs of visitors today. Scarred by logging, invasive species and modern pollution, the mountain endures. Through lush narratives and fascinating detail, author Marci Spencer presents the natural and human history of this iconic destination, including Senator Thomas Clingman's 1858 journey to measure the mountain and the 1934 birth of the park.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2013

Reviews

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the natural and cultural history this book had to offer, though I felt it was pretty heavily imbalanced (the chapter on wildflowers went on, and on) and wished it had some sort of conclusion.

[Kristina Plaas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marci Spencer has written the definitive book on Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An engaging read, Spencer covers everything you want to know about the highest mountain in Tennessee, 3rd highest in North Carolina -- history, nature, wildlife, Cherokee culture, and more. I found this book to be an invaluable resource to enhance my service as a park volunteer at Clingmans Dome. I highly recommend it!

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clingman's Dome was disappointingly dull. The first few chapters, dealing with site history were on-point, thereafter it felt like Spencer held a roundtable of what readers might want in a chapter and then set forth to provide something for everyone. Unfortunately, the composition is dodgy and lacks engagement. Wildlife and flora chapters...ugh.