The cumberland gap, made famous by its historic role in providing a western passage for early european pioneers, is actually a low place in. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Daniel boone and the cumberland gap adventures on the american frontier raum, elizabeth on. Cumberland gap national historical park by martha evans wiley. Kate gruener and her family are making the difficult trek from beans station, tennessee, through the cumberland gap then farther into the wilds of western kentucky. The loss of the cumberland gap opened east tennessee and southwest virginia to federal invasion in the second half of the civil war.
History historic town of cumberland gap, tennessee. Huntin for his supper, hed never fail to shoot him a squirrel or a turkey or a quail. This view of the cumberland river valley is from the narrows overlook. Since the time of daniel boone, the cumberland gap served as the primary route through the rugged cumberland mountains separating southwestern virginia from eastern kentucky.
Stand in three states at once along the tristate peak. The eastern national bookstore is located at the park visitor center and carries books, maps, videos, postcards, and numerous other items which showcase cumberland gap national historical park. Cumberland gap is a natural passage through the mountains near the point where virginia, kentucky, and tennessee meet. One of three natural breaks in the rugged appalachian mountain range, it served as a gateway in prehistoric times, when native americans used it as a footpath and buffalo used it to seek greener pastures. Sure theyre items are a bit expensive but they are worth it. The focus of this project is to connect the various familys whose ancestors settled in or passed through the counties surrounding the cumberland gap. All interviews are available, either on cd or in transcript form. The visitors center is in kentucky, the campground is in virginia, and gap creek and the iron furnace is in tennessee. White men wandered the kentucky tennessee region years before boone. Cumberland gap national historical park middlesboro 2020 all. Cumberland gap national historical park images of america. The bluegrass state offers many scenic hiking trails, plenty of historical sites, and even some destinations that offer both natural beauty and history.
The cumberland gap and cumberland river were named by dr. The cumberland gap is a vshaped passage through the appalachian mountains at the intersection of kentucky, virginia, and tennessee. Cumberland gap national historical park, middlesboro. This lithograph, printed in the 1870s, show a perhaps exaggerated view of the formidable terrain that early explorers encountered as they passed through the cumberland gap. Best known for its pivotal role in opening up the western frontier and its association with explorers and pioneers, the legendary cumberland gap has long been celebrated in music and literature. The story of where we came from, how we got here, the land we settled and the society we created. The gap was used in the latter half of the 18th century by westwardbound migrants travelling from the original american colonies to the transappalachian frontier. Genealogy jamboree and pioneer day genealogy, family history. Hensley settlement is an appalachian living history museum on brush mountain, bell county, kentucky in the united states. The gap was first used by the native americans as a westward gate to hunting grounds in kentucky and tennessee. A companion project, the cumberland gap mtdna project focuses on the mitochondrial maternal dna lines. We can help you plan everything from a conference with meals and meeting space to an intimate gathering in a private house.
While many pioneers planted deep roots in the cumberland river valley the majority continued to west tennessee, down the natchez trace to alabama, mississippi and louisiana, to arkansas and texas and ultimately to california and the west coast. Things to do near cumberland gap national historical park on tripadvisor. Bookstore cumberland gap national historical park u. It is famous in american colonial history for its role as a key passageway. Volume i founding of the cumberland settlements the first atlas 1779 1804 this is a tale told by survivors an epic related by those who explored and hacked out a way through a howling wilderness, built cabins, cleared land, planted crops, and fought for survival against european armies and five tribal nations. To better preserve that history, cumberland gap national historical park was authorized in 1940 and now covers more than 24,000 acres in kentucky, virginia, and tennessee. The majority of the hensley settlement collection was created from 19601970. Later the area became a hunting ground and battlefield for other native peoples, such as the shawnee from the north and the cherokee from the. It is a thoroughly captivating story of a wilderness journey in 1794. Offers a chronological timeline of important dates, events, and milestones in kentucky history. During the civil war it was considered a strategic location held, at times by both confederate.
Items can be purchased at the store, by mail, or online. Cumberland gap official map and guide cumberland gap cumberland gap national historical park, kentucky virginiatennessee gpo. Aaa travel guides cumberland gap national historical. When the trail opened in 1775 it became the route of 70,000 settlers who came to kentucky on foot or horseback before the trail was upgraded to wagon road in 1796. It is famous in american colonial history for its role as a key passageway through the lower central appalachians. Cumberland gap kentucky east tennessee photo pictures map, civil war surrender cumberland gap, experience the cumberland gap, western north carolina and cumberland gap history photos picture details.
Daniel boone and 35 axmen blazed a trail called the wilderness road from virginia through the cumberland gap and into central kentucky for the transylvania company. The gap provides a natural doorway through the mountains. The songs title refers to the cumberland gap, a mountain pass in the appalachian mountains at the juncture of the states of tennessee, virginia, and kentucky. Cumberland gap national historical park home facebook.
Pinnacle overlook at cumberland gap national historical park provides a breathtaking view of the historical gap and the adjacent area in several states. Books amillion e cumberland gap pkwy corbin ky 40701. They honored prince william, the duke of cumberland, the son of king george ii. Camping near cumberland gap national historical park is easy with hipcamp, where private landowners offer oneofakind camping experiences. Member of the cumberland gap region tourism association. The settlement is part of the cumberland gap national historical park and it is located approximately 10 miles 16 km north of the park visitor center on ridge trail the settlement contains twelve homestead log cabins, a oneroom school house, and a blacksmith shop. The cumberland bride by shannon mcnear is the fifth book in the daughters of the mayflower series. This book is a valuable addition to both the tennessee historian and the civil. Many settlers over the coming years used this trail to settle kentucky. Come to the historic town of cumberland gap, tennessee october 1617 and celebrate national family history month with the genealogy jamboree and pioneer days. The gap was discovered by thomas walker in 1750, but it was daniel boone who in 1775 marked the trail the pioneers would follow as they headed west. Through the gap once passed the wilderness road, a route hacked out by a party under daniel boone that thousands of. After hunting in kentucky on a few expeditions during the following six years, daniel boone was hired by land speculator judge richard henderson of salisbury, north carolina, to mark a trail through the cumberland gap and into kentucky for others to follow. Travis hallucinating back and forth through time and space, helped.
The reasons early settlers used the cumberland gap also made it attractive to the union. He also widened and improved the trail across the cumberland gap so that wagons could travel through. For information about items in our bookstore or to place an order by mail please call 606 248. Cumberland gap history info cumberland gap national historical park cumberland gap is a pass through the appalachian highlands near the border of virginia, kentucky and tennessee. Thomas walker and daniel boone blazed the wilderness road through the gap into kentucky. Facility use and dining have limited availability and require advanced notice. Things to do near cumberland gap national historical park. The cumberland gap is a mighty fine place, three kinds of water for to wash your face.
Booksamillion e cumberland gap pkwy corbin, ky gift. You can stand in three different states at once within cumberland gap in kentucky. This is probably my favorite book store because they have all kinds of books. The 50th anniversary, prepark community, employee, and job corps collections have been gathered in the past six years.
Cumberland gap mountain pass, united states britannica. Similar books to cumberland gap national historical park images of. The bookstores at cumberland gap national historical park and fort boonesborough state park offer visitors interesting books and videos. Still, for all that the great hunter accomplished he is credited with the settling of kentucky he was a latecomer here by maybe 100 years. Nestled in the shadows of the cumberland mountain, lincoln memorial university shares a unique location with a world famous natural feature that serves as a boundary for tennessee, kentucky, and virginia. About cumberland gap national historical park at the convergence of kentucky, tennessee and virginia, cumberland gap national historical park covers 24,000 acres of heavily forested, rugged mountains honoring the historic pass. The cumberland gap, which measures 1,304 feet in altitude, is natures passage through the cumberland mountains between kentucky, tennessee and virginia.
It was on the first of may, in the year 1769 smoky. Kentucky history timeline important dates, events, and milestones in kentucky history. Cumberland gap, natural pass elevation 1,640 feet 500 metres that was cut through the cumberland plateau in the eastern united states by former stream activity. The first of boones many solo treks through the cumberland gap was in 1769. Cumberland gap national historical park united states history. Aided by continental shifts, a meteorite impact, and flowing water, the cumberland gap region has become a visual marvel and a timeless asset to.
Well have genealogical and historical societies, lectures by genealogist and historians, crafters, living history and others. Kentucky s first inhabitants are descendants of prehistoric people who migrate from asia over the arctic land bridge. In 1775, the nowlegendary frontiersman daniel boone blazed a trail through the cumberland gapa notch in the appalachian mountains located near the intersection of kentucky, virginia and tennesseethrough the interior of kentucky and to the ohio river. Cumberland gap national historical park has five oral history collections. The cumberland gap, the notch america squeezed through the. It is located near the point where kentucky, virginia, and tennessee meet between middlesboro, kentucky, and the town of cumberland. Cumberland gap national historical park, made up of 24,000 acres spread over kentucky, virginia and tennessee, was authorized in 1940. Daniel boone was a hunter, fur trapper and trailblazing american frontiersman whose name is synonymous with the exploration and settlement of kentucky. Daniel boone and the cumberland gap adventures on the american frontier. Cumberland gap national historical park national park service. Aided by continental shifts, a meteorite impact, and flowing water, the cumberland gap region has become a visual marvel and a timeless asset to human and animal migration. Cumberland gap national historical park middlesboro.
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