Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites the public to participate in a 60-minute program at the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District Brown’s Ferry Federal Road Trace on Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m. Participants should take the Manufacturer’s Road exit off Highway 27 and drive west, following the “Special Event” signs to the Brown’s Ferry Federal Road parking area.
The “Federal Road” on Moccasin Bend was originally used as a Cherokee trading road before the Europeans first appeared on this land.
It was also used as Europeans traded their goods for the deer skins that were coveted in their native Europe. As they traded their goods to American Indians, the indigenous peoples started depending on those goods, which made their lives much easier. As the skin trade diminished, American Indians took more to the European way and started trading slaves to get those goods in order to make their lives easier. As part of the Trail of Tears, the Federal Road, crossing Moccasin Bend, witnessed many African American slaves owned by the Cherokee travel over it and watched as American Indians traveled deeper into slavery.
As a reminder, comfortable, supportive footwear, portable chairs, appropriate clothing for the weather and water are recommended for this program.
For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/chch.