Michael Hardin's Cades Cove Matchstick Cabins

Cades Cove is the most popular spot to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Established as an historical site in 1945, the area was once home to the early pioneer settlers that moved to the area. Today visitors experience the beauty of the mountains, view the bears and other wildlife, and tour the remaining log cabins, churches and the working gristmill on the 11 mile loop around the cove. Artist Michael Hardin spends his spare time recreating the cabins, churches and the grist mill from matchsticks; each having been first struck, and then painstakingly glued into place to form the walls of the buildings. Each structure takes between 3 to 6 months to complete and Hardin says he often works on two buildings at a time, allowing the glue to harden on one while working on the second. The detail is impressive with tiny hinges on the doors and real bells in the bell towers. The Primitive Baptist Church even has pews and benches. To date Hardin has created the John Oliver Cabin, The Primitive Baptist Church, The Methodist Church, The Missionary Baptist Church, John Cable Mill, and the Carter Shield Cabin. I find it interesting that the Methodist Church built in 1830 took 115 days to complete and cost $115. Mr. Hardin’s cabin took slightly longer to finish but cost less than $10. Michael Hardin’s Cades Cove Matchstick Art is truly amazing and a tribute to times gone by.