Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in partnership with Friends of the Smokies, has completed a full reconstruction of the historic John Messer Barn in Greenbrier following extensive storm damage. Park leadership, Friends of the Smokies leadership and descendants of the Greenbrier community celebrated the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 28.
The Messer Barn is the oldest structure in Greenbrier and the only building in that area that predates the establishment of the park. Multiple storm events severely damaged the barn, making it unsafe for visitors. The reconstruction incorporated traditional techniques and materials similar to the barn’s original construction, including hand-hewn-looking logs, wooden studs in place of nails and the careful preservation and reuse of the barn’s original doors.
Friends of the Smokies provided funding for the project through the Forever Places endowment, part of the Friends’ ongoing investment in preserving the park’s historic structures. Through donor support, Friends of the Smokies protects the historic buildings of the Smokies for present and future generations.
