U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., was in Townsend on Monday, June 15, to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and to address a group of people.

Resolutions to recognize the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park passed both houses of Congress on June 3, 2009. The resolutions were sponsored by Senator Corker as well as Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and by Congressmen Phil Roe (R-Tenn. 1) and Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn. 2).

 “I love being outdoors and feel very fortunate to have grown up in East Tennessee near the Smokies,” said Corker. “My real introduction to the park came when I was a student at UT, and later when I hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail. These mountains are truly a national treasure, and I look forward to joining my fellow Tennesseans as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”

 The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, attracting over nine million visitors each year. The park today covers approximately 521,621 acres of land in both states, making it the largest protected area in the eastern United States.

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