Greetings from Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

It was really moving. I stared to tear up because it was that moving. I will continue to read more about it. My mom really enjoyed as well along with my grandparents.

Sincerely,
Kate

Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

This trail memorializes one of the darkest chapters in American history. In 1838, the U.S. government forced more than 16,000 Cherokee Indians from their homelands in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, and marched them to what is now Oklahoma. The trip alone killed hundreds of Native Americans; thousands more died afterward. The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail traces their route to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the current capital of the Cherokee Nation. An exhibit at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah features 16,000 hand-crafted beads representing the people who made that awful journey.

State(s): Alabama Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee,

Established: 1987

“You learn a lot.”

National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!

{{ active ? "Cancel" : "Begin"}}

Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.

You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.

In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!

Here’s your unique story page link:

{{ storyUrl }}

* indicates Required fields

Click to choose a file to upload

Submitting your story means that you agree to our Terms of Service

More Stories

  • Greetings from Grand Teton National Park

    These bison are in the Tetons. I set up the camera and watched the pair for an hour or so, then took this picture when things looked just right. This area would surely make a great spot for a baseball stadium. There would be room for the stadium, parking lot,…

  • Greetings from Yellowstone National Park

    Yellowstone was the first national park I ever visited, and launched me on my journey to visit as many parks as I possibly could throughout my life. The beauty of Yellowstone is unbelievable. I remember feeling so emotional gazing at all of the scenery and majestic animals. My trip here…

  • Greetings from Yosemite National Park

    I lived outside of Yosemite National Park.

Donate

Preserve Our Parks

Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.

Donate Now