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| This dipiction of Daniel Boone leading a group of people through the Cumberland Gap is in the main Visitor Center in the National Historic Park |
While I was in the Lincoln Museum the docent on duty
mentioned that the Cumberland Gap
National Historic Park was just outside the window. That’s all it took to
pique my interest. I first drove to the Visitor Center and looked at the exhibits.
The Cumberland Gap started as a path trampled down by wildlife that used the
natural passageway. Native Americans reinforced the path as they hunted. Dr.
Thomas Walker was the first European to survey the road in 1750 but it was
Daniel Boone who is most strongly associated with the Gap. Boone first
traversed the route in 1769 and thereafter led several groups of settlers
through. The Cumberland Gap became the primary route that opened the west. “In
the years 1780-1810 between 200,000 and 300,000 people crossed through the gap
heading west.”
Later the Gap played a strategic role during the Civil War as
both sides fought to control it. Recognizing the importance of this passageway
Congress designated it a National Historic Park in 1940.
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| Civil War cannon on display at the Visitor Ctr |
From the Visitor Center I decided to drive up to the Pinnacle Overlook. I noted the sign
warning “No motorhomes over 20 feet” and though oh, what’s 21 feet – it can’t
be that bad. Well, it was one of the most windy, steep roads I’ve ever driven
on in any kind of vehicle and had a number of sharp hairpin turns. Later I saw an
interpretive sign with a photo of the road looked like. Had I seen it before
making the drive I think I would have heeded the warning.
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| Road to the Pinnacle Overlook |
Once on top one could see three states – Virginia, Tennessee
and Kentucky. Except for the roads, Fern Lake and the towns everything was
covered with dense forest in all directions. It was a pretty spectacular vista.
I made a short stop at the Daniel Boone Visitor Information
Center and then headed for the Wilderness Road Campground where I found a
lovely, quiet spot for the night – my first night in Virginia.
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| Short path from the parking to the overlook |
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| Pinnacle Overlook |
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| Vista from the Overlook. The small town at the bottom is the Town of Cumberland |
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| A portion of the display at the Daniel Boone Information Ctr |
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