Horace Kephart

Born in 1862, Horace Kephart was an American author, librarian, and outdoorsman best remembered for his writing about life in the southern Appalachians. After working as a librarian, he moved to the mountains of western North Carolina, where he immersed himself in local communities and the natural world that would define his later work.

He wrote Our Southern Highlanders, a vivid portrait of Appalachian people and culture, and Camping and Woodcraft, a practical guide that became a classic for campers and outdoor enthusiasts. His writing stood out because it combined hands-on knowledge with curiosity, respect, and a storyteller's eye for detail.

Kephart also played an important part in the movement to preserve the Smokies, and he is remembered as one of the early champions of what became Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He died in 1931, but his legacy lives on through both his books and his connection to one of America's most beloved mountain landscapes.