The Walker Sisters: Life and legacy in the Smokies 

This is my family! I’m so proud. These are my great aunts!

The Walker sisters were my great great aunts. My great grandfather was their oldest brother. They were strong, brave women, and I'm proud to be their great awesome nephew.

The Walker sisters were my great aunts. My grandfather was their oldest brother. They were strong, brave women, and I'm proud to be their great niece.

I feel their pain, I'm almost 80 years old. I grew up in a Holler that had at one time belonged to my family. I still live here and remember when someone came when I was very young to ask my Daddy about buying our place. Seemed like he studied about it a long time before he said, some things are just not for sale!

This lady needs a golden grammy for this story because she told this story so well and I would love to see this as a movie .

Why would anyone give this a thumbs down let alone 35+thumbs down??? It was a beautiful story!

I know an older man who ran an antique shop and the government ran him out of his home when he refused to sell. They just took it after offering more money and he refused again. Always felt bad for him and the many others this happened to. It's not right. This story is wonderful. Those sisters are just awesome.

It was in the mid 1950s when my parents drove us across country through the Ozarks. We stopped in the Ozarks to find something to eat as a black family of nine. While at a country store a white man in overalls and told my father to come to his house to eat. My father agreed. His home was a small shack but his wife throw a large spread with my mother and us girls helping her while the men say on ths porch and talked. Her home looked like the Walker home but much smaller. The family asked us to stay the night since it was late. Us children to slept outside with their children that night. While my parents slept in the house. We played almost the entire night. My brothers went hunting. We loved those people since they were so kind and friendly. Many years later I asked my father why did he agree to stay with strangers. Be said because he asked and they seem kind. Those days are gone.

I have to give credit to old Mrs Walker, gave birth to all those children. and raised them, educated them. She must have been a very strong woman.

When I was a young girl my family and I were camping and touring in Cade’s Cove. We walked in to see the school house and ended up meeting the last living Walker sister. I must’ve been eight or nine, and it made an impression on me that I remember to this day. She showed us that her bed was a trundle bed and told us that when the Indians came her parents hid the children in the trundle part of the bed. Though it may be unacceptable to speak about it that way now, as a child, that’s the part I remember. This lovely piece brought back those memories of our childhood camping vacations in the Smokies.

There ought to be more people like this. It would have kept folks honest.

My people were of the same Smokey Mountains and I bet the Walker Sisters had some deep Cherokee and English/Scots-Irish roots! Lovely people, thank you for allowing us to share their story. God bless their souls.

How lovely! We’re so lucky the filmmakers featured Robin Goddard, who grew up with the sisters, through their friend Elsie Burrell. She speaks with conviction about the Walker sisters.

R.I.P. Walker Sisters. They did alright. They lived their lives. They believed in what they believed in. Kinfolk was their bedrock. From cradle to grave let today’s world know and remember the Walker Sisters. Respect, love, land and God. Truly I say, that the Walker Sisters were the richest sisters in the Smokies. A big shoutout from Australia.❤️🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🇦🇺

More people should be like this. Living like this teaches us valuable lessons.

It's wonderful that they lived out their lives there.

"Mountain" people knew a whole lot more about living and life than other people. Smart, sensible, and hard working.

This story is so heart touching. They were devoted to each other, and lived a happy simple life. You can't get much better than that, now days people are whining because they can't have everything under the sun. These ladies were strong, and smart unlike your average person. They knew what real happiness was.

Beautiful people beautiful sisters I love to hear stories like this I hope I meet them in Heaven someday

We so enjoyed visiting their home in the Smokies about 3 years ago. We thought we had seen everything in the park in Our 60 years of annual trips and then we happen to see a sign for their house. What a wonderful story. A time that must have been a wonderful time to live back in those mountains. My Grandparents lived not quite so far removed but in the mountains of east Tenn. The Smokies are my favorite place on planet earth.

How is it the government can come in after all these years this family tended this land and take ownership.....? It really grinds my gears! Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful story 🖤 God bless them for standing their ground!

My grandparents were still living like that in 1965. He died and she continued to live that way until 1981. Yes 1981 and still no electric and running water. She never wanted it.

Can you imagine being the last sister to survive? How lonely she must have been.

I love that this lady who knew them so well is able to greet visitors and explain the legacy of the Walker sisters as it truly is. This is a fascinating story!

I can't imagine everything you had ever known was going to be taken away for other people's pleasure. I'm glad they kept the home and lived out their remaining years .

I have decided to adopt them as, "Sisters of my Heart". Love their strength, their wisdom, the I dependance/independence of their lives.

So lovely to see the lady who is a descendant of the only Walker sister who married. So sweet and special.

I'm really glad that they got to stay on their land until the day they died. God bless them🙏❤️💐😊

I grew up on the ball and cup toy. What a great story.. I have learned so many things about my family lineage they seem so familiar to me. Poor sister Polly. I know her pain.

My mother had some Walkers in her mother's people. Mama was born in the Rudd Hollar and her daddy (Jim Rudd) worked at the 'Little River Lumber Co.' as an edgerman at the mill until the great depression came. (There is a tourist stop in Townsend which contains a history on it and in the visitors center in Townsend has a book called 'Whistle Over the Mountain' which contains a brief history of the people there.) I lived in Maryville in the 1970s as a kid. My brothers still live there. The story of these sisters are typical of the people that lived and made these mountains there home. It is great that the history is preserved for generations to see. My grandparents were in there 90's when they passed and are buried at the Bethel.

I Grew hearing there Story These Sisters..Were The America Dream. Iam from East Tennessee... And i grew up in those Breath Taking Mountains ..and They will always be Home To Me. They just Loved there Home And were proud of that..and you just dont see that today. Thank you Sisters

I'm glad they got yo to live out their lives there. I have visited their place and its haunting beautiful.

What a wonderful story! Back then it was a hard life. We are so spoiled, I don't know that we could do what it took to live back then.

What a blessing it would have been to have known that family.

Sweet and kind story of country family.

I studied under Inez Burns and even took her little Ford Falcon and 3 others to Cades Cove and other places making tracings and chalking tomb stones. Also many times we met with Ms Elsie at the College Woods. I learned more about Blount County History than many will ever know. Thanks for your history of the Walker sisters. I was also a close friend of Lester Shields.

Real history, a bite of Americana. Stories to feed a lifetime and leave you wanting more.

It is so awesome to hear things like this. They had love and lot's of it.

What a great family.

Robins' storytelling was amazing.

I've been there about month ago and I've met the gray haired gentleman at the near by historic mill. He told me and others some wonderful stories about sisters, mill and the area. I will never forget this adventure in the smokies and for sure I will be back there sooner or later 💚

Oh my gosh, I love this story!!!

Simply beautiful people.

GOD BLESS THEM ALL

I pray everyday that education will return to this country God knows now 95% of college student couldn’t pass an 8th grade examination from back then.God save this country.🙏🏼

My family battled the Park Service too. Grand Teton tried off and on oust our family from the inception of the park. It became a big part of your family story, and probably is not over yet.

As a kid I got to meet Miss Elsie and get to be in a spelling bee she would have. And the Walker Sisters cabin is an amazing sight!

Thankyou for sharing absolutely a beautiful story. I loved it. Beautiful hard working lovely people

I can only imagine what a unique and delicious treat to have visited them at meal time. I would’ve found a way to stop by at breakfast, lunch and supper

I can understand their desire to continue to live the way they did. I'd want to as well. Beautiful story & happy to know they at least were able to live out their lives their way where they wanted to & be buried together. Modern families could learn a great deal from these people.

Charming, charming, charming! Brought tears to my eyes 💕🕊️

Now that's a piece of history . What a great hard working family . We could all learn something from them .

I had not heard of these beautiful strong women and “happened upon” this story. What wonderful history and I am glad that, even though the government grabbed the homestead, they have taken care of it. So interesting and I am glad I now know about them.

I am so glad the cabin and artifacts were saved. If I get a chance I would like to visit the Smokies.

I wish I would have lived back in those days. I want to see it all. Those are the true ways to live

Such a beautiful heartwarming story. Bittersweet! Our Government can be ruthless and with the Walker Sister’s they were just that!

Even though it's probably been 30 years Since I was there, holy cow i totally remember that ladder! I was so fascinated by it! LOL I really need to take my kids to visit this place!

What a fabulous group of ladies. I’d love to hear more of there story. So much we could learn from them on our own land and homestead. Sad there land was taken from them and not passed on to their family/sister Caroline’s children. But at the same time wonderful it’s been preserved for other’s to see and enjoy. How wonderful if their legacy and knowledge could be passed on to other’s including sewing, quilting embroidery basket making and all the survival skill’s. Thank you for sharing these strong women’s story.

Wow! How wonderful was this story.

We should all learn from this a very valuable lesson. God bless these women❤

Such a great story and they were definitely pioneer women!

What a group of strong ladies! I would love to read their stories in a book series. I love history. I enjoy reading about others. I hope someone will put their stories in a book.

Beautiful woman beautiful souls ❣️

God bless them all!!! So sweet

Heartwarming story... and Thank You to the people carrying it on...

Just imagine all the knowledge and life skills those ladies had between them. These are the type of people you want with you during a crisis.

I love the history of these magnificent people

This is such a wonderful story . These ladies are the epitome of dedication to their land their families legacy and to one another! Very inspiring!

I love visiting there. It is so peaceful if you go in the winter when others are not there.

Thank you for the beautiful story of the Walker sisters. How nice to have lived the life you love.

Great history, so glad this was told and their land is being preserved. Great story!

How could we loose so much in a couple of life times .great vid thanx

Born an raised in hayesville nc 1985 I remember my great grandmother still lived in her little cabin and the damn state done whatever they had to too get her land smh we really never own anything

I love watching videos like this a learning about people who were the foundation of what our country is today

What a precious memory....

Holy Father. Thank you for these beautiful folks.👏👏🙏

The grand daughter looks like her late aunts. What a wonderful family history and great legacy.

What a wonderful story of great, strong, productive women. Thank you for posting.

I love this so much. I have 11 kids. 7 boys and 4 girls 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Love this great story of the past! Wonderful sisters who led a very interesting live.🎈

Thank you so much for protecting and sharing the story of the Walker Sisters!!!!!

A wonderful life story about strong brave women Perfect that everything has been kept the way it was for their memory to live on I really enjoyed learning about the family

It happened in the Ozarks in Missouri to my aunt and uncle on the current river. Government stole all the land along the river. It was heartbreaking especially for the people that it was family land. Now it's Ozark scenic riverways.

What a wonderful story!! ❤️❤️❤️

The sisters valued family and this video shows their love for family , Friends and strangers, There isn't to many families so close net as these ladies had for one another , I wish I could have met them but they were born and died before my time , just a beautiful family

Outstanding story! I've spent a lot of time hiking in GSMNP. It is more priceless than any jewel!

What a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing!

This reminds me of my Aunt Susie's three sisters. All were never married and they lived in an old Victorian house. Kerosene heaters and stove and slept on the first floor in the winter. I recall when my Aunt got a new roof for them - what a big deal !

I love this story about their land and how proud the sisters were of the land. Also keeping their heritage alive! I imagine the father was quite strict in order to keep all the sisters ( minus one) spinsters! There isn't anything like that anymore!!

What a great story & family.

My father was raised in two old wooden Railroad box cars stacked on top of each other on the Missouri River. there were 15 siblings they're all gone now my father passed two years ago at the age of 96

Wonderful story, they lived life to its fullest.

Very interesting and special family. I deeply respect them and the way they took care of each and the respect they had for their homestead. Wish the world could be more like that today.

This life is all they knew and loved, so interesting! 🥰

Amazing I wish we could go back to that way of life again Families stuck together food was safe to eat and and a handshake meant something

Absolutely love these little bits of History that aren’t in the school books. TY 🙏

I cried what a beautiful wonderful family they were ❤️

Remarkable sisters who kept their land in spite of the cruel government. They were courageous and admirable. May they rest in peace.

I love this story.. i also think it's very interesting, and frankly, honestly telling that Louisa was the last sister to pass and the one sister that was described as one who loved to laugh and loved funny things. Bless their souls 🙏💚

Fabulous story! So happy it popped up!