In 1977, one of the museum's cabins—the Patterson cabin (also from the New River area)—was used in the television series "Young Dan'l Boone", and has since been renamed the "Dan'l Boone Cabin" (although it has no real relation to the famous explorer). Articles in "Parade" and "Reader's Digest" and an appearance by Irwin on the "Today Show" in the mid-1980s greatly boosted attendance. In the 1980s, Alex Haley visited the museum, and immediately decided to move to East Tennessee (he bought the farm across the street from the museum). Haley was inspired by the museum's Steve Parkey exhibit, and made plans to write a novel about this African-American blacksmith from Southern Appalachia. Haley brought many celebrities to the museum, including Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda, Brooke Shields, Lou Gossett Jr., Quincy Jones, and more.