George Masa's Legacy Continues to Shape Great Smoky Mountains National Park Nearly a Century Later
Nearly a century after his death, the legacy of George Masa, a Japanese immigrant photographer and mapmaker, continues to influence the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A new exhibit at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, North Carolina, highlights Masa's life, his extensive photography of the region, and his crucial role in the establishment of the national park and the routing of the Appalachian Trail. Masa's work, which included documenting the largely unmapped terrain, was instrumental in showcasing the beauty of western North Carolina to a wider audience and garnering support for conservation efforts. Paul Bonesteel, author and filmmaker, has extensively researched Masa's life, uncovering new details about his identity and contributions, which are now being shared with visitors. 
