Mountain Memories by Thomas Kinkade ~ Published February, 2008 - As a "mountain kid," who grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, I have a special fondness for the quality of mountain living - its simplicity, self-reliance, sense of union with nature, and gratitude for God's gifts.

Nestled between dramatic peaks, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, is a perfect mountain community that touches my boyhood Mountain Memories. I've decided to honor the town's celebration of its bicentennial by featuring a romanticized vision of its present, as well as honoring its rustic past in my limited edition portrait of the town - Mountain Memories.

Mountain Memories is rich with the color and energy of modern Gatlinburg, but I couldn't resist adding vintage cars (including a classic T-bird) and horse-drawn carriage. The past is never far from the surface here.  -  Thomas Kinkade

Key Points

1. The street depicted in Mountain Memories is the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway. Running over 23 miles from Sevierville,TN to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Parkway passes through beloved mountain towns of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg,TN.

2. Thom has incorporated 17 N’s in Mountain Memories as tribute to his love for his wife Nanette.

3. Make note of the license plate on the ’56 T-Bird in the right of Mountain Memories. The numbers N5282 represent the day Thom and Nanette joined their lives in holy matrimony — May 2, 1982. This is an actual car Thom spotted when he went to pick up his daughters from gymnastics practice. The owner actually backed it out of the garage and posed the car for him!

4. Thom's dog, Brilla, has made a special appearance on the left side of Mountain Memories.

5. The original Gatlinburg candy store, Aunt Mahalia's Candies, can be seen on the right of Mountain Memories. This gourmet shop was established in 1939 and still makes their delicious candies the old fashioned way in a glass enclosed kitchen using only the freshest and finest ingredients.Yum!

6. Thom has included the state dog of Tennessee into his image Mountain Memories, the Bluetick Coonhound. Can you find her?

7. In Mountain Memories, Thom honors Gatlinburg's celebration of its bicentennial. It features a romanticized vision of its present and honors its rustic past. Although rich with the color and energy of modern Gatlinburg, it also emphasizes vintage cars and a horse-drawn carriage, representative of 1807 when Gatlinburg was formed as White Oak Flats.