Cumberland Gap National Park - Middlesboro, KY, USA - National Parks of the World on Waymarking.com

For hundreds of years before Europeans came to North America, Native Americans followed game trails across this gap. They called it Athiamiowee or "Path of the Armed Ones".

In 1673, Gabriel Arthur was probably the first European to cross the gap when he was taken by a band of Cherokees throughout the region.

It wasn't until 1750, however, before Europeans started making regular trips across the gap. Dr. Thomas Walker led a famous exploration of the area. He named the Cumberland River after Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. The name stuck to the region and soon the gap was known as the Cumberland Gap.

In 1775, Daniel Boone was hired by the Transylvania Company and he led a group of men to improve the trails across the gap so that wagons could traverse them. It is estimated that some quarter million settlers passed over the gap before 1810.

During the U.S. Civil War, the gap was contested territory and passed back and forth between the Union and the Confederacy. Some of the earthworks still exist on the mountains that tower over the gap.

In the 20th century roads were built over the gap, but in 1996, the Cumberland Gap Tunnel was built underneath it and the roads were removed and the trails restored.

Cumberland Gap is inside the Cumberland Gap National Park and over a million people visit the park each year.

Park Name: Cumberland Gap National Park Historic/Cultural Park: yes Natural Park: yes Recreation Area: yes Wildlife Refuge: no Park Website: [Web Link] Type of Listing: Entrance Fees in Local Currency: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Dates of Access: From: 01/01/2008 To: 12/31/2008 Hiking: yes Camping: yes Bicycling: yes Horseback Riding: yes Off-Roading: no Swimming: no Snorkling/Scuba: no Boating: no Rock Climbing: no Fishing: no Other Activities: Exploring history Other Park Type not listed above: Not listed Other Type Detail: Not listed Hours available: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/08/2022 Don.Morfe visited it 07/19/2018 Sneakin Deacon visited it 05/17/2016 Markerman62 visited it 07/29/2014 ricson917 visited it 08/04/2013 DnRseekers visited it 08/19/2012 Manville Possum visited it 06/24/2012 Go Boilers! visited it 10/22/2011 Lat34North visited it 08/22/2010 Web-ling visited it 08/22/2010 Curly Tiger visited it 08/22/2010 Nutri-Mom visited it 08/22/2010 Miss Pumpkin visited it 10/23/2008 PersonsMD visited it 05/24/2008 onfire4jesus visited it 04/07/1990 Volcanoguy visited it

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