Morton’s Antiques and Baseball Cards: A Gatlinburg Gem Nestled in the Smoky Mountains
Tucked away on a side street just off the main tourist drag in downtown Gatlinburg, TN sits Morton’s Antiques and Baseball Cards, a multi-faceted treasure trove that has been delighting collectors and history buffs for over 30 years. Stepping inside the welcoming storefront is like taking a trip back in time, as the long narrow shop is packed from floor to ceiling with all manner of memorabilia, curios, and unique finds covering over a century of Americana. Whether browsing for antique postcards and pottery, vintage baseball cards, or just soaking in the nostalgia, a visit to Morton’s is sure to satisfy anyone with a curiosity for history and nostalgia.
The store was opened in 1987 by Hugh Morton, a lifelong collector who had amassed an impressive array of items over many years of searching flea markets, estate sales, and anywhere else he might uncover a hidden gem. With a focus on turn-of-the-century ephemera and early 20th century collectibles, Hugh curated a selection that told the story of America through artifacts both common and rare. After building up his inventory, he decided to open a shop in Gatlinburg to share his passion while also selling items to fund further acquisitions. Little did Hugh know that his store would come to be a cherished local landmark and remain in the family for decades to come.
Upon Hugh’s passing in the late 1990s, the store was taken over by his son Larry Morton, who had grown up immersed in the business. Larry carried on his father’s vision while expanding the offerings to include new categories like trading cards, comic books, and vintage toys that appealed to younger collectors. He also embraced technology, building one of the first commercial websites dedicated to sports cards trading in the late 1990s. This forward-thinking allowed Morton’s to reach a global customer base and further cement its reputation as an authority in the hobby.
Stepping inside Morton’s today, it’s easy to get lost browsing the dizzying array of goods packed into every nook and cranny. The front counter area displays rows of antique postcards chronicling sites, scenes, and events from across America in the early 20th century. Further in, meticulously organized cases hold arrays of tobacco and trade tokens as well as an extensive selection of pocket watches waiting to be wound once more. Turning down the first aisle reveals shelf upon shelf of pottery and stoneware jars, kettles, and crocks in colorful glazes and often bearing the marks of distant potteries long since shuttered. Mixed in are glass bottles, jugs, and other containers that were once utilitarian but have since taken on new life as decorative curios.
Amid this overload of history are treasures like vintage photograph albums with candid shots of families, communities, and locales long changed. Faded newspaper clippings yellowed with age share stories of days past. Piles of turn-of-the-century postcards invite exploration of scenes as varied as a rural Appalachian community to the bustling boardwalks of Atlantic City in its Gilded Age heyday. All serve as portals to worlds that have floated downstream like fallen leaves, with Morton’s gathering and preserving these remnants of our collective past. Further towards the back, cases hold dazzling arrays of authentic Civil War-era artifacts including flags, documents, weapons, medallions, and more that transport visitors directly to that transformative era.
It’s in the back half of the shop where Morton’s truly spreads its wings as a haven for sports memorabilia enthusiasts. Shelves lined with rows upon rows of air-tight protected storage boxes contain the crown jewels – complete sets and individual cards from the earliest decades of the fledgling industry beginning in the late 19th century. Wandering eyes scan iconic images from legends like Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, and Ty Cobb that only the wealthiest of collectors may ever hold in-hand. Mixed in are whole runs from sets like 1909-11 T206 and 1912 TAG Cubs players that form a visual anthology of those bygone eras.
Basketball and football cards of similar vintage also get premier showcase space among the historical holdings. Even empires have to start somewhere, and Morton’s collection represents primary source material documenting the infant steps those sports took to reach the worldwide phenomena they are today. Every card for sale comes with a money-back guarantee of authenticity to protect not just collectors but the integrity of our sporting past. For those whose roots run deepest, there are also showcases holding teams’ worth of local stars from the region’s earliest minor and industrial leagues that have been largely lost to history outside of such archives.
This local focus expands to whole walls dedicated exclusively to University of Tennessee memorabilia including vintage photos, media guides, programs, and of course early cards featuring Volunteer greats. Further nods to regional passions include extensive selections of Smoky Mountains postcards, photographs and souvenirs alongside exhibits on local legends like Dolly Parton and Dollywood. There’s even a lively assortment of vintage political buttons, bumper stickers and pins representing presidential campaigns from FDR to Reagan. No matter the interest, a dedicated visitor could easily spend hours absorbed in Morton’s myriad collections.
Now run by Larry’s son Hunter, the third generation continues stewarding this treasure trove with the same passion and expertise as the family that came before. Recent years have seen ongoing expansion with the addition of comic books, vinyl records, sheet music, and movies posters to keep reaching new collectors. An emphasis on customer service, education, and preservation of our shared past remains at the heart of Morton’s mission. In a world increasingly focused on the fleeting present, this shop provides a much-needed refuge to slow down and appreciate history on a truly personal level. For over three decades, Morton’s Antiques and Baseball Cards has preserved priceless pieces of America while welcoming all with a curiosity for days gone by. Its future ensuring this legacy long lives on.
