Red Clay State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Clay State Historic Park |
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Eternal Flame of the Cherokee Nation
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| Type | Tennessee State Park |
| Location | Bradley County, Tennessee, US |
| Area | 263 acres (1.06 km2) |
| Open | year round |
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Red Clay Council Ground
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| Nearest city | Cleveland, Tennessee |
| Area | 150 acres (61 ha) |
| Website | Red Clay State Park |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001229 |
| Added to NRHP | September 14, 1972 |
Red Clay State Historic Park is a special place in southern Bradley County, Tennessee. It was once the last capital of the Cherokee Nation in the eastern United States. This was from 1832 to 1838.
After this time, the U.S. government forced most Cherokee people to move far away. This sad event is known as the Cherokee removal or the Trail of Tears. They had to move to what is now Oklahoma.
The park is very important to the Cherokees. It has a sacred spot called the Blue Hole Spring. This is a large natural spring. Red Clay State Historic Park is also a key stop on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
After the Cherokees left, the land became private farms. Later, local historians worked hard to save this important site. They wanted to make it a state park. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Red Clay State Park opened to the public in 1979.
Today, the park covers about 263 acres (1.06 km2) of land. It sits right on the border between Tennessee and Georgia. You can visit a museum there. There are also copies of Cherokee buildings that once stood on the land. Plus, you can explore three hiking trails.
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History of the Cherokee People
Before European settlers arrived, the Cherokees lived here. They were a Native American group. They spoke an Iroquoian language. Many believe they moved south from the Great Lakes area.
Their land covered parts of today's western North Carolina, western South Carolina, East Tennessee, northern Georgia, and northern Alabama. The Cherokees in Tennessee were called Overhill Cherokee. This was because they lived west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Cherokees created their own government. It was like the United States Constitution. European Americans saw them as one of the Five Civilized Tribes.
Why Red Clay Became the Capital
Between 1827 and 1831, the state of Georgia passed laws against the Cherokees. These laws stopped them from holding meetings. They also said Cherokee laws were not valid in Georgia.
In 1830, the U.S. government passed the Indian Removal Act. This law allowed President Andrew Jackson to make treaties. These treaties would force Native American tribes to move from the Southeast.
Because of these actions, the Cherokees left their capital, New Echota. In 1832, the Cherokee Nation moved its government to Red Clay. They chose Red Clay because it was in a central spot. Also, the Blue Hole Spring provided plenty of water. The Cherokees considered this spring sacred. By 1836, Red Clay had 91 log buildings.
Important Meetings at Red Clay
Eleven big meetings, called general councils, were held at Red Clay. These took place between 1832 and 1838. Principal Chief John Ross led these meetings. About 4,000 to 5,000 Cherokees attended each one.
During these meetings, the Cherokees sent groups to Washington, D.C.. They wanted to talk to Congress and the President. They kept saying no to giving up their lands east of the Mississippi River. They did not want to move west.
However, a group of Cherokees called the Treaty Party formed. They believed they had to move. Leaders like Major Ridge and Elias Boudinot were part of this group. On December 29, 1835, they secretly signed the Treaty of New Echota. They did this at the old capital, New Echota. The national council at Red Clay did not approve this.
The Trail of Tears Begins
Many Cherokees felt the Treaty of New Echota was a betrayal. The council at Red Clay rejected it on February 2, 1836. Later that month, two councils gathered. They made lists of about 13,000 Cherokees who were against the treaty. These lists were sent to Washington, D.C.
But on May 23, 1836, the U.S. Senate approved a slightly changed treaty. It passed by just one vote. President Andrew Jackson signed it into law. The treaty gave Cherokees until May 1838 to move on their own.
The last council at Red Clay happened in August 1837. The Cherokees tried one last time to keep their lands. But they were not successful. The Cherokee removal officially started on May 26, 1838. This forced journey became known as the Trail of Tears.
Red Clay After the Removal
After the Cherokees were forced to leave, the land became private. It was mostly used for farming. A railroad was built through the area in 1852. A train station was also built there.
During the American Civil War, some small fights happened near the railroad at Red Clay. In November 1863, Union soldiers destroyed the train station and tracks. This was to stop the Confederate Army from using them. Later, in 1864, Union troops used the site to prepare for battles.
The train station was rebuilt after the war. But it was torn down in the 1930s. The land that is now Red Clay State Park was sold many times. It stayed farmland for about 100 years. For a while, people forgot the exact spot of the council grounds.
Local historian John Morgan Wooten did research in 1934 and 1935. He found the likely location of the council grounds. This helped bring attention back to the important site.
Creating Red Clay State Park
In the late 1950s, local historians started working to save the Red Clay Council Ground. They wanted it to become a state park. James F. Corn bought 150 acres of the land in 1964.
In 1970, an agreement was made to buy the land for a park. The state of Tennessee bought the land in 1974. Red Clay State Park officially opened to the public on September 28, 1979.
Important Events at the Park
The Eternal Flame of the Cherokee Nation was placed at the park on April 6, 1984. This flame is a memorial to the Cherokees who suffered during the removal. It was a very special event. It was the first time the two main Cherokee tribes, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, met again since the removal.
In 2009 and 2015, more joint councils happened at Red Clay. These events brought together the three main Cherokee tribes. It was the first time all three met at the park since the removal.
The park also hosts events celebrating Cherokee culture. The Cherokee Cultural Celebration features exhibits about Cherokee heritage. A group called Friends of Red Clay used to host an annual pow wow in October.
What You Can See at Red Clay Park
Red Clay State Historic Park covers about 263 acres (1.06 km2) of land. It is in a rural part of Bradley County, Tennessee. The park sits right on the border with Cohutta, Georgia. The land here has hills and valleys.
Cherokee Village Replicas
At the park, you can see copies of Cherokee buildings. There is a replica of a Cherokee farmstead. You can also see sleeping huts. A copy of the council house, where important meetings happened, is also there. The original buildings were made of logs.
The Sacred Blue Hole Spring
The park has the famous Blue Hole Spring. It is also called the Council Spring. The Cherokees believed this spring was sacred. The spring comes out of a bowl-shaped dip in the ground. It looks deep blue, which is how it got its name.
A lot of water flows from the spring every day. This water flows into a nearby creek.
The Eternal Flame
You will also find the Eternal Flame of the Cherokee Nation at the park. This flame is always kept lit. It is a memorial to all the Cherokees who suffered and died during the forced removal.
The Interpretive Center
The James F. Corn Interpretive Center is the park's museum. Inside, you can learn about Cherokee culture from the 1700s and 1800s. You can see exhibits about their government, how they lived, and their beliefs.
There are also beautiful stained glass windows. They show the story of the Cherokee removal and the Trail of Tears. You can also watch a short film about the park's history.
Trails and Other Features
The park has three trails for walking:
- The Connector Trail (about 0.15 miles (0.24 km) long)
- The Blue Hole Trail (about 0.2 miles (0.32 km) long)
- The Council of Trees Trail (about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) long)
The Council of Trees Trail goes up a ridge. It has a stone tower where you can look out over the area. The park also has picnic areas and an amphitheater for events.
Images for kids
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Eternal Flame of the Cherokee Nation
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A replica of the Council House at Red Clay State Park
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The iconic Blue Hole Spring, which was considered sacred to the Cherokees
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A replica of a Cherokee farmstead showing a farmhouse, barn, and corncrib
