Great Smoky Mountains National Park Headquarters

Barber McMurry was instrumentally involved in the eventual establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, eventually designing the National Park headquarters.

In 1924, Charlie and West Barber, along with George Barber Jr. (Charlie's brother and Physical Director at YMCA Knoxville), organized a hike to Mount LeConte to admire the natural beauty of East Tennessee — at the time threatened by logging. The group returned to Knoxville to found the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, petitioning local, state and federal leaders about the importance of stewardship and preservation of East Tennessee's forests.

Barber McMurry designed the National Park headquarters, opened in 1940 with the dedication of GSMNP "for the permanent enjoyment of the people" by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 2.