David Crockett Birthplace State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Crockett Birthplace State Park |
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19th-century inscription on the footstone of the original Crockett cabin
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| Location | Limestone, Greene County, Tennessee |
| Area | 105 acres (0.42 km2) |
| Created | 1973 |
| Operated by | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Open | Year Around |
| Website | David Crockett Birthplace State Park |
David Crockett Birthplace State Park is a special place in Greene County, Tennessee. It's located right by the Nolichucky River. This park covers 105 acres. It's believed to be the birthplace of the famous American frontiersman, soldier, and politician Davy Crockett (1786-1836). At the park, you can see a copy of Crockett's childhood cabin. There's also a museum and a big campground for visitors.
Davy Crockett grew up in the mountains and river valleys of East Tennessee. He became known for his hunting skills and great storytelling. He became a colonel in the local militia. In 1821, Crockett was elected to the Tennessee state legislature. Later, in 1827, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. As a congressman, Crockett disagreed with many ideas from President Andrew Jackson. He especially opposed the Indian Removal Act. Because he disagreed with Jackson, Crockett lost his election in 1835. He then moved to Texas. In 1836, Crockett joined the Texas Revolution. He died at the Battle of the Alamo in March of that year.
Over time, stories and movies made Davy Crockett a huge American folk hero. Many tales about him were exaggerated. But they helped make him one of the most famous figures in American history.
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Exploring the Nolichucky River Area
The Nolichucky River starts in the Unaka Mountains. It flows west through a beautiful valley. This valley goes through Washington County, Greene County, and Jefferson County. The river then joins the French Broad River near Newport. David Crockett Birthplace State Park is where the Nolichucky River meets Big Limestone Creek. This spot is about 68 miles upstream from where the Nolichucky joins the French Broad River. Just past Big Limestone Creek, the Nolichucky River has rocky areas. It also makes a sharp turn southwest because of nearby hills.
David Crockett Birthplace State Park is close to the town of Limestone. This is about 10 miles east of Greeneville. You can easily find the park from Andrew Johnson Highway. This road is also U.S. Route 11E/U.S. Route 321. There are clear signs and a historical marker to guide you. The Earnest Farms Historic District is located across the Nolichucky River from the park.
A Look Back at the Park's History
People have lived near the Nolichucky's Big Limestone Creek for a very long time. Native American settlements were here as early as 1000 B.C. They continued for many centuries. Over time, farming in the 1800s and 1900s changed the land. This made it harder to find old artifacts. However, people have found many arrowheads and other items left by early inhabitants.
European settlers started arriving in the Nolichucky valley after the French and Indian War. In 1771, a merchant named Jacob Brown started the Nolichucky Settlement. This settlement included much of the land where the park is now. Brown first leased the land from the Cherokee people. He bought it in 1775. During the American Revolutionary War, the settlement joined with the nearby Watauga Association. In 1777, it became part of Washington County, North Carolina. In 1783, the Nolichucky Settlement and others formed Greene County. A land buyer named George Gillespie bought the land in 1782. He owned the property when Crockett was born. Samuel Stonecypher bought the property in 1824. His family owned it until the Davy Crockett Birthplace Association bought it in the 1950s. This association created the park. They gave it to the state of Tennessee in 1973.
Davy Crockett's Link to the Park
Davy Crockett himself said he was born "at the mouth of Lime Stone, on the Nola-chucky river." He remembered that his father, John Crockett, had moved to Tennessee years before. His father's name appears in local records from the late 1700s.
Crockett also told a story from when he was very young. His brothers almost drowned in the Nolichucky. They tried to paddle over "a fall in the river, which went slap-right straight down." This might have been the rocky areas downstream from Big Limestone Creek. Crockett said that after this, his father moved. They settled about ten miles above Greenville.
In 1977, experts looked for signs of an 18th-century cabin at the birthplace site. They didn't find clear proof of a cabin. However, they noted that the area had been plowed and farmed a lot. This could have disturbed old evidence. They did find old artifacts from the 1700s and 1800s.
What You Can See at the Park Today
Visitors to David Crockett Birthplace State Park might be surprised. The birthplace cabin is on a flat river area. This is different from how the song "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" described it. That song said he was born on a "mountaintop." The Stonecypher family, who owned the land, had a story. They said Samuel Stonecypher took apart Crockett's cabin in 1824. He used the logs to build a small house nearby. This became known as the Stonecypher cabin. But the Stonecyphers claimed the original cabin's foundation stone stayed in its first spot.
Around the 1880s, this stone was carved. It reads, "On this spot Davy Crockett was born Aug 17 1786." In the 1950s, the Davy Crockett Birthplace Association used logs from the Stonecypher cabin. They built the replica of Crockett's cabin you see today. The carved stone was placed in front of this new cabin. No one knew exactly what Crockett's original cabin looked like. So, the association copied a late 1700s log cabin from another part of Greene County.
In 1967, a local club placed a large, round monument near the cabin. This monument has the names of all 50 U.S. states. Each name is carved into a stone from that state. Behind the cabin, there are areas set up. They show what frontier life was like in the Appalachian region. You can also see other exhibits in the park's museum.
In 2017, the park was updated. They wanted the birthplace area to look more like it did long ago. The original replica cabin was moved to the park entrance. A new pavilion was also built.
Park Activities and Facilities
The park has many things for visitors to enjoy.
- A visitor center
- 88 campground sites for camping
- 2 picnic pavilions for gatherings
- 2 picnic areas for meals
- A swimming pool
- A playground for kids
- A public boat launching ramp for river access
There are also several short hiking trails. These trails follow along the riverbank and bluffs.
Images for kids
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View of the park from the cliffs above the Nolichucky
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The Nolichucky River, near the campground
