Cumberland Gap National Historic Park

We arrived at Cumberland Gap fairly early in the day, hoping to miss the predicted rain.  The park was established to recognize the historic significance of the gap.  It was originally used as a pathway through the Appalachians by animals, including bison.  The Indians followed, allowing them to trade with distant tribes.  Danial Boone was one of its earliest explorers, using it to find the legendary Kentucky.  The Gap was too narrow for wagons, so the 200,000 plus pioneers traveled the area on foot or horseback, carrying everything they owned on their backs.  This route allowed the west to be settled.  Daniel Boone eventually moved his family to Kentucky via this route.

During the 1920's, a road was built through the gap, allowing auto traffic.  It was closed after completion of a tunnel in 1996 and the area was re-naturalized in 2002.  Although the brochure indicates it has been returned to its original look, I think it will be another 20 years, after the trees have grown in, that it will look more like it looked during the time of the pioneers.

 After going to the Visitor Center and speaking with a ranger, we decided to take the 4 mile scenic drive to Pinnacle Point.  At 2440 feet, it overlooks the gap.  In the distance you can see several towns, the area where the tunnel is located and Fern Lake.  We then drove down to a parking lot where several trail heads are located.  We headed out on Object Lesson Trail.  This trail was built with hard-packed gravel  in the 1800's to demonstrate the convenience of having good roads for travel and to encourage citizens to vote money to improve roads- thus the name.  I guess it worked...  The trail took us to the Gap itself.  You can still see where the road went through, the trees are coming back, but are still small.  Would love to see it again in 20 years!

We headed back to the Visitor Center to view the film on the history of the Gap.  The primary focus was on Daniel Boone and his role is expanding this country.  After lunch in the car, we headed west towards Mammoth Cave National Park.