Cumberland Gap NP - Middlesboro, KY
Posted by: Lat34North
N 36° 36.174 W 083° 41.713
17S E 258922 N 4054204
This guest book is located in the museum at the Cumberland Gap visitor’s center. The book is located next to one of the displays in the Museum.
Waymark Code: WMCY6Z
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 10/25/2011
Views: 3
"Cumberland Gap (el. 1,600 ft (490 m)) is a pass through the
Cumberland Mountains region of the
Appalachian Mountains, also known as the Cumberland Water Gap, at the juncture of the U.S. states of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. Famous in American history for its role as one key passageway through the lower central Appalachians, it was an important part of the
Wilderness Road and is now part of the
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. The Cumberland Gap was discovered in 1750 by
Dr. Thomas Walker, a Virginia physician and explorer. Long used by Native Americans, the path was widened by a team of loggers led by
Daniel Boone, making it accessible to pioneers, who used it to journey into the western frontiers of Kentucky and Tennessee."
Source: Wikipedia:
Cumberland Gap
Today Modern day explorers and travelers can visit this great gateway and the many miles of trails and scenic features found in the park. (Source: NPS -
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park). Most of the park is not accessible by road but is a great place for those that enjoy hiking. The “Saddle of Cumberland Gap” where the
Wilderness Road cross the Cumberland Mountain is about 1.2 miles from the road and the peak of Tri-State Mountain is 0.6 miles beyond. This is the point where Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee all come together. The spot is marked by a bench mark.
The
Wilderness Road was blazed by
Daniel Boone in 1775.