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Nancy Ward Grave
At the age of 17, Nancy Ward earned the name of Ghighau or “Beloved Woman” for her valor on the battlefield after her husband, a Cherokee warrior, died in battle and she valiantly took his place, rallying her fellow fighters to victory. This act of bravery catapulted Nancy into many positions of power in the Cherokee governing systems, among them, the Women’s Council and the Council of Chiefs. Her high standing among her people, her remarriage in the 1750s to English trader Bryant Ward, and her desire for peaceful coexistence made Nancy a trusted liaison to the newly arriving white settlers. Nancy would use her considerable influence in the Cherokee Nation innumerable times to negotiate peace treaties between both the English colonists and later, the emerging United States government and her native people. She is buried beside the graves of her son Five Killer and brother Long Fellow. In 1923, the Nancy Ward Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a monument on her grave. Newsweek.com recently named Nancy Ward 1st on a timeline of women Political Pioneers.
Red Clay Historical Park
The last of the council grounds of the Cherokee Nation before their removal along the tragic Trail of Tears are located here. A Cherokee farm and council house of the period have been replicated to offer visitors a glimpse of how the area might have looked 150 years ago. The sacred council spring produces over 400,000 gallons of sapphire-blue water a day, providing the area's long-ago residents with fresh spring water. An interpretative center houses a theater, exhibits and artifacts. Recreational facilities include a 500-seat amphitheater, a picnic pavilion, picnic area with grills and tables, and a two-mile loop trail with a beautiful limestone overlook tower. Limited handicap accessibility. The park is open 8 a.m.-sunset, March to November; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., December-February, Closed December 22 to January 1. Take Blue Springs Road or Dalton Pike off Hwy. 64 Bypass and follow signs. 423-478-0339. Red Clay's Web Site.
Hair Conrad Cabin at Blythewood Farms
In the early 1800s, the area was inhabited primarily by Cherokees, among them Tekahskeh, or Hair Conrad as he came to be known. Conrad, a "man of means" and leader of the first detachment of Cherokees from Rattlesnake Springs on the infamous Trail of Tears, built his cabin in the architectural style of white settlers during the early 1800s. The cabin, the oldest residential structure in Bradley County, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Blythewood is a working farm, breeding championship show horses. It is best to call for a tour of the farm and cabin so someone can be there to greet you. 433 Blythewood Road SW, 423-476-8942.
Cleveland Downtown Historic Walking Tour
A downtown walking tour allows you to personally experience Cleveland’s unique history. Among the historic sites along the tour are AmSouth Bank, the oldest continuously operating bank building in Tennessee; The Spot, a unique restaurant built prior to 1900; and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a Gothic Revival structure rich in local folklore. A copy of the self-guided tour brochure is available at the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 225 Keith Street, 423-472-6587, and at the Museum Center at 5ive Points, 200 Inman Street, 339-5745, where the tour begins.
Ducktown Basin Museum
Denuded red hills shimmer with glowing colors ranging from soft pastels to dark copper and reddish hues and are surrounded by a ring of deep purple mountains, giving the illusion of a basin or bowl, hence the name Ducktown Basin. The copper, used by the first inhabitants, the Cherokees, and "discovered" by European settlers in 1843, led to the growth of the copper industry in the region and the only copper mines of their kind in the Southeastern United States. The non-profit historical museum located in the Burra Burra Mine Historic District is the first state-owned historic industrial site and is noted on the National Register of Historic Places. May-October, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; November-April, Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Ducktown. 423-496-5778.PO Box 488, Ducktown, TN 37326. 423-496-5778.
Museum Center at 5ive Points
The “River of Time” exhibit interprets seven time periods dating from prehistory to today, depicting the life and times of people who lived and worked in the Ocoee Region. Changing exhibits highlight topics such as Cherokee pottery, Civil War history, quilts and the early industrial era. Unique Museum store features high-end crafts and arts from teh Southern Appalachian region. Meeting facilities and catering available. Handicap accessible. Admission: $5 for adults and $4 for children and seniors. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. 200 Inman Street. 423-339-5745. www.museumcenter.org
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