One of the most compelling stories in the Tennessee Overhill is how the Industrial Revolution played out in this part of the Southern Appalachians. In the 1700s the Cherokee fur & hide trade opened this part of the southern mountains to the world market. European traders arrived, and were soon followed by settlers. By the mid-1800s the abundant water, timber,…
This 67-mile trail between Vonore, TN and Murphy, NC follows an historic trade and war path that predates written history. Along the way you can stop to visit historic sites and museums that reveal the many layers of history that unfolded along this ancient route. A restored 2-mile section of the original roadbed allows visitors to walk in the footsteps…
Copper mining took place in the Ducktown Basin (Copper Basin) from 1850 to 1987, with more than a dozen mines operating at one time. The Burra Burra Mine, located in Ducktown, Tennessee, operated from 1899 until 1959. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site includes the Mine Office, Shops, Change House, Hoist House, and Powder House. The…
The memorials are part of the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. Directions to Memorials – From the museum, turn right and follow Hwy 360 to the junction of Hwy 360/Hwy 455. Follow Hwy 455 for about 5 miles, and then turn left onto County Road 461 where you will drive alongside the lake to the memorials. A grave marker notes the burying place…
This 1200 acre park, features a reconstructed fort, located on the banks of Tellico Lake.originally built by the British in 1756, when this area was known as the “Overhills” – a designation given to Cherokee communities that rested on the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. Explore the barracks, shops and other structures. Historic Significance: Begun in 1756 and occupied until…
This trail tells the story of land and people and how the Industrial Revolution in the Upland South shaped both. Museums and historic sites reveal the stories of Cherokee settlements, European explorers, fur traders, miners, mill workers, railroaders, and farmers – the ordinary people who came to the Tennessee Overhill to live and work. The “Furs to Factories Trail” leads…
Exploring the Ancient Path The old trade and war path now known as the Unicoi Turnpike Trail predates written history. Covering approximately 67 miles from Vonore, TN to Murphy, NC, the Unicoi Turnpike Trail allows modern travelers to follow the footsteps of Indians, fur traders, explorers, British soldiers, and others who used this path for centuries. Along the way, historic…
