New discoveries enhance understanding of enigmatic Smokies photographer
From George Masa’s 1915 arrival in Asheville until his death in 1933, the trailblazing Japanese photographer explored the Smoky Mountains, mapping trails and capturing the region’s grandeur and beauty in photographs that helped make the case for the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But Masa’s friends — and the researchers who followed — have long wondered: where did Masa’s love of the mountains originate?
Join HBS for a ‘celebration of place’
Highlands Biological Station is hosting a free “celebration of place” event.
The one-day event will feature:
• Rare & unusual native plants for sale, including the beloved Oconee Bells.
‘George Masa: A Life Reimagined’ wins two regional awards
“George Masa: A Life Reimagined,” was recently recognized with two regional awards: the 2024 North Caroliniana Society Book Award and a 2025 Award of Excellence from the East Tennessee Historical Society. Both organizations praised the book for its contributions to cultural and historical interpretation in their respective states.
Smokies Life publishes George Masa biography
Smokies Life has announced the publication of “George Masa: A Life Reimagined,” the first comprehensively researched biography of the visionary Japanese photographer whose dedication to art and conservation helped spur the national park movement in the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as the creation of the Appalachian Trail.
