CLINGMANS DOME - TN/NC
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 35° 33.764 W 083° 29.919
17S E 273542 N 3938323
In 1939, the highpoint of Tennessee had a wooden observation platform, which was replaced with a concrete structure in 1960.
Waymark Code: WMEMVQ
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 06/15/2012
Views: 35
From the guidebook, we read:
The road ends at a large parking plaza, 7.7 m. A Class B trail to the summit of CLINGMANS DOME (6,642 alt.), about 0.5. m. in length. From the plaza are fine views of the Blue Ridge Range, and the Natahala National Forest and Andrew's Bald in North Carolina. From the top of Clingmans Dome are visible a number of the highest peaks in the Smokies; Mt Kephart, Siler's Bald, and Mt. Collins. On some days clouds fill the valleys on both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides, and on the brightest days the blue haze, from which the Smokies derive their name, dims the landscape.
----- TENNESSEE - A Guide to the State (third printing 1949).
The observation platform at Clingman's Dome continues to be a very popular tourist destination while visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When the guidebook was written, the observation platform was a large wooden tower, which was replaced with a spiraling concrete structure in 1960. As the guidebook says, the views can be clear of the surrounding mountains or completely fogged in clouds.