Mt. Mitchell is topped by an impressive stone observation tower which would command a dramatic view of the surrounding area on a clear day. The high point is marked with a sign denoting its status as the highest point east of the Mississippi.

Mt. Mitchell is named after the Rev. Elisha Mitchell, who died exploring this mountain.

The high point, proper, is amid a cluster of rocks on the summit, and is marked with this USGS benchmark.

The state park which surrounds Mt. Mitchell has a number of trails and other facilities, including a gift shop near the summit and a restaurant a short distance down the road toward the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our visit coincided nicely with lunch time, so we ate at the park restaurant, where we spotted these spider webs hanging from the overhang above the windows. Cloud droplets had coalesced onto the spider webs, creating a jeweled appearance.