Hiwassee River Heritage Center facts for kids
| Established | May 17, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Location | 8746 Hiwassee Street Charleston, Tennessee, United States |
| Type | History museum |
| Owner | Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Historical Society |
The Hiwassee River Heritage Center is a cool history museum in Charleston, Tennessee. It opened in 2013. This museum teaches about the Cherokee people and the Civil War in the area. It's also an official stop on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Area
Before European settlers arrived, the land around Charleston and Bradley County was home to the Cherokee people. The U.S. government bought land north of the Hiwassee River from the Cherokee Nation in 1819. This spot is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) from the museum today.
In 1821, the Indian Agency moved to what is now Charleston. This agency was a government office that dealt with Native American affairs. The city of Calhoun is right across the Hiwassee River from Charleston. These two towns were often called "twin cities."
The Trail of Tears Connection
From 1832 to 1838, the Red Clay Council Grounds was the last capital of the Cherokee Nation in the East. Today, it's a state park. Charleston became the main spot for the Cherokee removal, which was a sad part of the Trail of Tears.
In 1835, Fort Cass was built near the Indian Agency. This fort held captured Cherokees and U.S. soldiers before the forced removal. Other camps were set up in valleys south of Fort Cass, between Charleston and Cleveland. Two of the biggest camps were at Rattlesnake Springs.
The Civil War Years
After the Cherokee removal, the area saw a lot of action during the American Civil War. In November 1861, the nearby Hiwassee River bridge was burned. This was part of the East Tennessee bridge burnings.
The Henegar House was used by both Union and Confederate generals as a temporary headquarters. There was also a Confederate hospital at the Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
What You'll Find at the Museum
The Hiwassee River Heritage Center is located in an old bank building. Inside, you'll find an interpretive center with panels that share detailed stories. These stories focus on the area's Cherokee and Civil War history.
The center also has real artifacts from the Cherokee and Civil War times. You can see a painting from 2012 called Sherman Leaving the Henegar House by Don Troiani. It shows Union general William Tecumseh Sherman leaving the Henegar House with his troops.
Other exhibits teach about local African American history and the Tennessee Valley. You can also learn about Charleston's role in the 1960 movie Wild River.
The Outdoor Trail Experience
The museum also has a short outdoor path called the National Historic Trail Experience. Along this trail, signs explain the Cherokee removal and events leading up to it. You can read about these events from both the Cherokee and European viewpoints.
The Hiwassee River Heritage Center is one of five places in Bradley County that are official interpretive centers for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
How the Center Started
The Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Historical Society led the effort to create the Hiwassee River Heritage Center. They started planning the project in 2011. The center officially opened its doors on May 17, 2013.
The information panels were created by Middle Tennessee State University's Center for Historical Preservation. An expansion of the center began on August 26, 2016. This expansion added the National Historic Trail Experience, more exhibit space, and a meeting room. The building's outside was also renovated. The expanded center was officially opened on March 30, 2019.
See also
