Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park |
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| Location | Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee |
| Area | 70 acres (28.3 ha) |
| Created | 1975 |
| Operated by | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Website | Sycamore Shoals |
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park is a special place in Elizabethton, Tennessee. It's a state park that covers 70 acres along the Watauga River. This area is a National Historic Landmark because many important events happened here. These events helped create the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. They also helped people settle the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.
At the park, you can find a visitor center, a museum, and a rebuilt Fort Watauga. There's also the historic Carter House and Sabine Hill, which are nearby. For thousands of years, Native Americans lived around Sycamore Shoals. The first European settlers arrived in 1770. They formed the Watauga Association in 1772, which was one of the first governments west of the Appalachian Mountains.
In 1775, a big land deal called the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals happened here. Richard Henderson and Daniel Boone were involved. Millions of acres of Cherokee lands were sold, which led to the creation of the Wilderness Road. During the American Revolution, Fort Watauga at Sycamore Shoals stopped a Cherokee attack in 1776. It was also where the Overmountain Men gathered in 1780 before a famous battle.
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What You Can See and Do at the Park
The park's visitor center has cool displays about the area's history. There's also a theater where you can watch a free movie. It tells the story of the Overmountain Men and the Revolutionary War in this area. You'll also find park offices and a gift shop here.
Explore Fort Watauga
Behind the visitor center is a rebuilt Fort Watauga. This fort was first built in the mid-1770s to protect settlers. The new fort looks like the original, based on old records and what archaeologists found. Next to the fort is a large outdoor theater. Here, you can watch Liberty: The Saga of Sycamore Shoals. This is the official outdoor play for the State of Tennessee! You can also enjoy a picnic near the visitor center.
Walk the Mountain River Trail
There's a 2-mile trail called the Mountain River Trail. It's a gravel path that follows the Watauga River. Along the trail, signs explain the important historical events that happened at Sycamore Shoals. It's a great way to learn and enjoy nature.
Discover the Moon Tree
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park has a special "Moon tree". This tree grew from a seed that went into space on the Apollo 14 mission in 1971! NASA and the U.S. Forest Service worked together on this project. The tree was planted at the park in April 1976 to celebrate the United States Bicentennial.
Historic Places in the Park
Main Park Area
The main part of the park includes the historic river shoals, the visitor center, a picnic area, and the rebuilt Fort Watauga. It's located on the west side of Elizabethton, right by the river.
The Carter Mansion
The Carter Mansion is a very old house, built between 1775 and 1780. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This house might be the only building left that connects us to the Watauga Association. It's the oldest frame house still standing in Tennessee! John Carter and his son, Landon, built this frontier home. Its beautiful details and paintings make it one of Tennessee's most important historic houses.
John and Landon Carter were important leaders during the American Revolution. They also helped in conflicts with Native Americans. When Tennessee became a state in 1796, Carter County was named after Landon Carter. The town of Elizabethton was named after his wife, Elizabeth Maclin Carter. The mansion is on the east side of Elizabethton.
Sabine Hill
On November 1, 2017, the historic Sabine Hill home and its property became part of the park. It's another special place to visit in Elizabethton.
Sycamore Shoals: A Place of History
Early Settlements
For thousands of years, Native Americans lived in the flatlands around Sycamore Shoals. They might have farmed here during the Mississippian period (around 1000–1600 C.E.). When Europeans first arrived in the early 1700s, the Cherokee used these flats for hunting. In the 1760s, hunters and traders set up camps in the Watauga Valley. They called the flats the Watauga "Old Fields" because they looked like old farms.
In 1770, James Robertson visited the Watauga Valley. He was looking for places for families to settle. A trader showed him the Old Fields, which Robertson called a "Promised Land." He planted corn and built a cabin. A few months later, Robertson returned with families to start the Watauga settlement.
The Watauga Association
In 1771, maps showed that the Watauga settlement was on Cherokee land. So, Robertson arranged a 10-year lease for the land. Since they were outside the control of any British colony, the Watauga settlers created their own government. It was called the "Watauga Association." During the celebration of the lease, a Cherokee warrior was sadly killed by a white man. Robertson's good diplomacy helped keep the peace with the Cherokee, who had threatened to remove the settlers.
Role in the American Revolution
In March 1775, an important agreement called the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals was signed. Richard Henderson and Cherokee leaders Attakullakulla and Oconastota were involved. This treaty sold about 20 million acres of land between the Kentucky River and the Cumberland River. This included much of what is now Kentucky and part of Tennessee. However, this sale went against a British rule, so the colonies of Virginia and North Carolina did not accept it. Still, this purchase led to Daniel Boone creating the Wilderness Road.
Soon after the treaty, some Cherokee leaders, like Dragging Canoe, disagreed with the sale. They joined with the British, planning to push settlers back over the Appalachian Mountains. The Watauga settlers formed the Washington District and a Committee of Safety. They gathered weapons and built forts, including Fort Watauga. In July 1776, the Cherokee attacked the settlements. On July 21, 1776, a Cherokee force attacked Fort Watauga. But the fort's defenders, led by John Carter, James Robertson, and John Sevier, successfully fought them off.
On September 25, 1780, Sycamore Shoals was the gathering place for the Overmountain Men. This group of frontier soldiers crossed the mountains. They went on to defeat a British army at the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. The Overmountain Men had also fought in other battles, like the Siege of Charleston and the Battle of Musgrove Mill in 1780. They also took part in two campaigns against the Cherokee in 1776 and 1780.
Fun Annual Events
The park hosts many exciting events throughout the year:
- Traditional Arts Workshops (January–December)
- Garrisons and Living History Weekends (January–December)
- Sunday Jams at the Carter Mansion and the Shoals (January–October)
- Mountain River Concerts (January–October)
- Muster at Fort Watauga (May)
- Native American Festival (June)
- Colonial Kids Day Camp (June)
- Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals, the Official Outdoor Drama of the State of Tennessee (July)
- Watauga Valley Art League Art Show and Competition (July)
- Carter Mansion Celebration (August)
- Overmountain Victory Trail Celebration (September)
- Fort Watauga Knap-In (October)
- Mysterious Candlelight Tours of the Carter Mansion (October)
