Cumberland Gap

[cw1865]

Visited the Cumberland Gap recently on a hiking trip with my kids. Obviously the history of the Cumberland Gap doesn't just relate to the Civil War. Its been a very important mountain pass for a very, very long time.

The above is an actual Civil War era earthworks. Fort McCook en route to the Pinnacle Overlook. The problem is the trees have since grown where its not obvious that the cannon could command the pass below. Honestly, a bit underwhelming.

Above is the view from the Pinnacle Overlook, here I am looking down at Cumberland Gap, TN (I think) and the highway in the middle background is headed into the mountain because that is the current tunnel. I'm taking the picture from VA, the town is TN and the other side of the tunnel is KY, in fact the car is currently parked in KY since the KY/VA line is very, very close to here.

The above is a picture of my babies in the woods, but also near the remnants of what reminded me of the Crater. As Confederate forces approached, the Union blew up a munitions warehouse to deny the Confederates the benefits of the contents.

Apparently the Confederates had to wait a full 18 hours to approach as munitions would randomly go off for some time after the initial fire/explosions.

This is en route to the KY/VA/TN tristate point.

Above is me and my babies doing the obligatory picture of us in three states at the same time (or close to it)

And of course major portions of the hike is happening along THE Wilderness Trail.

Yes, Daniel Boone WAS here!

 

[donna]

Nice photos. Went there several years ago.

 

[bankerpapaw]

Very nice pictures. Thanks for teaching your kids true history.

 

[Demaster30]

Great photos!! A lot of history around there

 

[Tony Z]

Enjoy those kids! Too soon, they're off with their own families.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for taking us long on your adventure tour. This is also in my bucket list. Maybe one day I can get to it!

 

[Sheltowee]

Excellent hiking trail on top of the ridge. Looks like you got some great weather!

 

[Lubliner]

Hi @cw1865. Can you identify the long square shaped concrete pillar that runs behind you in your tristate photo please?
The Cumberland Gap was occupied at different times by both sides during the war, and the camps were not very tenable as they could be turned by surrounding ground. Yet it was a major objective to control the pass throughout the war. Thank you for the pictures.
Is that hole under the rock from the blast long ago?
Lubliner.

 

[cw1865]

Hi @cw1865. Can you identify the long square shaped concrete pillar that runs behind you in your tristate photo please?
The Cumberland Gap was occupied at different times by both sides during the war, and the camps were not very tenable as they could be turned by surrounding ground. Yet it was a major objective to control the pass throughout the war. Thank you for the pictures.
Is that hole under the rock from the blast long ago?
Lubliner.

Sure that location has the USGS brass marker which you can see right in front of my son's left foot. The setting is covered with an overhang and outside of the marker the setting is the 3 states coming to that point. In the background is simply a plate marker for VA, to the right out of the picture, my left in the picture, was TN, and then in front of me was the one for KY.

Now if you are discussing what is in the background behind my daughter's left outside of the more manicured tristate pavilion that wall simply is 'the line' and there is another shooting out forming the TN/KY line and another forming the KY/VA line, that one is the VA/TN line and it just stops. I speculate it was the previous tristate marker and then it was modified to make the one I am currently standing on but they brought the wall in as the line and then focused on the brass plate as the tri state point itself.

 

[Lubliner]

Sure that location has the USGS brass marker which you can see right in front of my son's left foot. The setting is covered with an overhang and outside of the marker the setting is the 3 states coming to that point. In the background is simply a plate marker for VA, to the right out of the picture, my left in the picture, was TN, and then in front of me was the one for KY.

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Now if you are discussing what is in the background behind my daughter's left outside of the more manicured tristate pavilion that wall simply is 'the line' and there is another shooting out forming the TN/KY line and another forming the KY/VA line, that one is the VA/TN line and it just stops. I speculate it was the previous tristate marker and then it was modified to make the one I am currently standing on but they brought the wall in as the line and then focused on the brass plate as the tri state point itself.

Essentially, I was looking at the long concrete barrier behind the pavilion that runs parallel with the imbedded one your daughter's feet straddle, and wondered what the purpose of that extension was beyond the pavilion, and how far it ran. But your answer was sufficient to know it was a line of demarcation. Thank you.
Lubliner.