When Will Sparks built this cabin around 1880, he had no way of knowing it would still be standing nearly 150 years later and be one of the most photographed buildings in a national park. It’s easy to see the charm of this small cabin from the road, tucked behind a few trees in a forest clearing with a stream out back. This cabin, like the John Oliver cabin, is cozy and unassuming—one room with a fireplace, a staircase leading to the loft above, and a porch outside. Over the years, additions expanded the living space of the cabin’s occupants, and a barn and other outbuildings were added. At one time there was a chicken coop, garden, and cellar for storing foods.

George W. "Carter" Shields, for whom the cabin is named, was one of a handful of owners over the years. Carter fought with the Union Army during the Civil War and was severely wounded at the Battle of Shiloh. His injury impacted the rest of his life, but he overcame it and shortly after the war married Lina Gregory and moved to Kansas. They returned to Cades Cove and purchased this property in 1910. The Shields would remain in this home for 11 years before selling it.

Soon after this time, the property was acquired as part of the newly created Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As with most of the other buildings in Cades Cove, this cabin was returned to its “pioneer era” and stands as you see it today. Though the modern era of Cades Cove has no permanent residents, millions of visitors are drawn to this area each year for many of the same reasons as its original inhabitants—proximity to surrounding communities, flat land with scenic views, water, and abundant wildlife. The legacy of human history in Cades Cove will continue as long as people enjoy and care for this land as its past owners have done.