[4]:v The surrounding states purchased and deeded the land of the park to the federal government in 1955, and the official opening took place in 1959. Box 1848 US 25E South . See glistening stalagmites and flowstone cascades, as well as marks made by Civil War soldiers on this 1.5 mile tour spanning four levels of the cave. [14], The park includes a visitor's center, renovated in 2004, which features a museum and auditorium, providing exhibits on the areas cultural and natural history, as well as book and gift shops. The park is named after Cumberland Gap - a narrow, natural break in the Cumberland Mountains which are part of the Appalachian Mountains. Cumberland Gap is the historic mountain pass on Wilderness Road that opened the pathway for westward migration. Later attempts in 1929 sought to create memorials for Civil War battles fought in the area, and also failed. Support Programs Like This . Today, Cumberland Gap continues to attract adventurous people. [3]:29 As of 2010, 14,091 acres (5,702 ha) of this was designated as Recommended Wilderness. [5]:xvii These include 108 non-native species of plants, and 31 considered to be highly aggressive invasive plants. Contact the Park. A 2006 study listed the six plants which would be most beneficial if removed from the park as being: Martin's Fork Wildlife Management Area and State Natural Area, List of areas in the United States National Park System, List of national parks of the United States, "National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics", "Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park", "Geology of Cumberland Gap National Historic Park", "Cumberland Gap National Historical Park", "Martins Fork WMA and State Natural Area", Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, "Cumberland Gap and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park", "The Cumberland Gap, the Notch America Squeezed Through", "Fact Sheet: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park", "Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, KY", "Plan a trip to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park", "Tourism to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Creates $46 Million in Economic Benefit", "Cumberland Gap National Historical Park receives prestigious award", "New quarter honors Cumberland Gap National Park", Official Cumberland Gap National Historical Park website, Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, National Register of Historic Places listings in Virginia, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Magoffin County Pioneer Village and Museum, Bat Cave and Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserves, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, History of the National Register of Historic Places, National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cumberland_Gap_National_Historical_Park&oldid=994082519, National Historical Parks of the United States, Rural history museums in the United States, National Register of Historic Places in Bell County, Kentucky, National Register of Historic Places in Harlan County, Kentucky, National Register of Historic Places in Claiborne County, Tennessee, National Register of Historic Places in Lee County, Virginia, Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee, Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Kentucky, Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia, Protected areas of Claiborne County, Tennessee, Protected areas of Harlan County, Kentucky, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Phases I and II, 1,850 acres (750 ha) of land purchased in 2008 from Ataya Hardwoods by, Phase III, 1,268 acres (513 ha) of land purchased in 2009 from Molpus Woodlands Group, Phase IV, 905 acres (366 ha) of land purchased in 2009 from Molpus Woodlands Group, This page was last edited on 14 December 2020, at 01:00. Visitor Center … And every autumn, the annual hawk migration wows visitors as the skies fill up with spectacular birds of prey. [7][6][4]:v It was authorized by Congress to occupy an area not to exceed 50,000 acres (20,000 ha). [5]:18[10], The park was established on June 11, 1940 by Franklin Roosevelt in order to "commemorate the story of the first doorway of the west". Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is an important spot in terms of early westward expansion and a great place for a weekend getaway. Whatever time of year you choose to visit Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Middlesboro, it’s always a good idea to … This film lasts 11 minutes. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. [5]:13, The park runs along the Cumberland Mountains, stretching about 20 miles (32 km) with an average width of 1.6 miles (2.6 km). Beginnings of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park fom early postcard. The Cumberland Gap takes a close look at the fantastic natural and historical features found in the park. [12]:17 Around 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the center, along the Skyland Road, lies the Pinnacle Overlook, which, at an elevation of 2,440 feet (740 m), overlooks the gap and the surrounding country. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is located along the tri-state border of KY, VA, and TN..... 14 Figure 3. US Highway 25E was an integral part of the historic Dixie Highway and became a major north-south thoroughfare. One of the many historic national park sites honoring the life of the 17th President, this park preserves his two homes, tailor shop, and grave site. [4]:30, Tri-State Peak is located in the park, and is accessible by trail. [20], 20,000 acres (Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia) operated by the U.S. National Park Service, View from the Pinnacle Overlook toward the southwest, overlooking Fern Lake and the surrounding park, 2009. Camping near Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is easy with Hipcamp, where private landowners offer one-of-a-kind camping experiences. “Cumberland Gap...is a landmark of what nature can do when she wishes to give an opportunity to the human race.”— James Allen. [12]:13, Guided tours of the Hensley Settlement and Gap Cave are provided from the tourist center. [2], The park covers 24,000 acres (9,700 ha) and is among the largest national parks in the eastern United States. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Kentucky , National Parks , Tennessee , Travel Adventures , Virginia - Trail (Anne) - October 16, 2018 Near the junction Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee and within the Appalachian Mountains, lies an area well-traveled by Native Americans centuries before European settlers arrived in the 1600s. [18] Peak rates of visitation normally occur during the seasons of spring, summer and fall. The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located at the border between Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, centered on the Cumberland Gap, a natural break in the Appalachian Mountains. Nestled at the corner of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky is a small gap in the wall that is the Cumberland Mountains. [9][4]:27, The climate of the area is mild, with hot and humid summers and mild winters, and an average annual temperature of 54 °F (12 °C). Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is a 24,000 acre park located in the U.S., on the borders of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. There's Only One...Cumberland Gap. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park became a National Park in 1940. The visitor center features a museum with interactive exhibits about the Gap's role as a transportation corridor, an auditorium that shows films about the area's cultural and natural history, a book store and the Cumberland Crafts gift shop with crafts from Appalachia. The Cumberland Gap is one of many passes in the Appalachian Mountains but the only one in the continuous Cumberland Mountain ridgeline. US 25E South , VA 40965 3.97 MI . Camping Camping. A legendary passageway and a magnificent destination all its own, Cumberland Gap has hosted buffalos and Cherokee warriors, pioneers and modern day adventure-seekers. Explore camper reviews and photos of the campgrounds in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. The Raptor Rhapsody at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is an … [1] According to one federal study, in 2013 visitor spending amounted to $46 million in nearby communities, supporting 639 local jobs. Duration: 11 minutes, 39 seconds. Mailing Address: 91 Bartlett Park Road Middlesboro, KY 40965 . Depending on where you go in the park, you might see cottontail rabbits, gray squirrels, opossums, striped skunks, bobcats, white-tailed deer, raccoons, black bears, and possibly even an elk. Explore an array of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, US vacation rentals, including houses, & more bookable online. [5]:55[a], The park is home to at least 145 species of birds, and 40 species of mammals, including the near-threatened bat, Myotis sodalis (Indiana bat). P.O. Visitors to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park enjoy many miles of trails and scenic features, as the park stretches for 26 miles along Cumberland Mountain, ranging from one to four miles in width and containing 24,000 acres. The park is composed of three separate sites, in Washington, New Mexico, and Tennessee, that each played a significant role in The Manhattan Project. Tourists flocked to see where Daniel Boone blazed the first major westward trail. A marker designating the tripoint of the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, is located at the peak of the mountain. nationalparks.org. Also, if you book your Cumberland Gap National Historical Park vacation package in Middlesboro with Travelocity, you’ll get access to our best travel discounts. [15] No hunting is permitted within the park. [3]:29 It includes the area of the Wilderness Road running through the passage across the Cumberland Plateau and through the Cumberland Gap, an important geological feature that facilitated travel for American settlers and Native Americans. The park surrounds Cumberland Gap, a natural corridor providing passage across the Appalachians. Visit our site. Two weeks ago, Greg and I spent the weekend exploring some of Southwest Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and part of that time was spent in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. If … The grand panorama from the Pinnacle Overlook is the most-visited attraction in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. 1500 K Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005Phone: (202) 796-2500 | Toll-Free: (888) GOPARKS | Fax: (202) 796-2509 | [email protected]The National Park Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the Cumberland River, providing visitors hiking, camping, and kayaking. Diagrams showing the Cumberland (left) and Powell (right) rivers and their creation of the Cumberland Gap through the Pine (left) and Cumberland (right) ranges (McFarlan 1943). Nearby Parks. Raptor Rhapsody. No matter when you visit Cumberland Gap, you’ll want to wear comfortable clothing and footwear appropriate to the season. The protection of our national parks is a job we can all do. The park is composed of three separate sites, in Washington, New Mexico, and Tennessee, that each played a significant role in The Manhattan Project. This pass through the mountains was used for hundreds of years… [11][10], In 1992 the park purchased the area surrounding Gap Cave, which had previously been privately owned. Phone: (606) 248-2817. 91 Bartlett Park Road , VA 40965 3.52 MI . Hikers beware: weather can be unpredictable, especially at higher elevations. The species Agrilus planipennis (emerald ash borer) and Lymantria dispar dispar (gypsy moth) also represent imminent threats from surrounding areas. In 1938, the National Park Service agreed to support a park if the lands were donated to form one, and the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Association was created, sparking more unsuccessful attempts in Kentucky, and then passage of a bill in Virginia in 1939 that paved the way for federal authorization. Hiking Hiking and Backpacking. White Rocks. Woodland bison, elk, and deer in search of salt licks and food first trampled the pathway. [16] The nearby Wilderness Road Campground includes 160 campsites. In the park, you can hike more than 85 miles of trails, and explore groves of hemlock, fields of wildflowers, and meadows of rhododendron and fiddle ferns. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. [5]:15, The park contains over 62 miles (100 km) of streams. "Where the borders of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia converge, a path to new worlds appears. Our parks need the support of people like you who love and visit them. [4]:v Elevation varies from a low of 1,100 feet (340 m) to a high of 3,500 feet (1,100 m). Rt. Entrance Fee: $0.00, There is no fee to visit this great park. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Middlesboro , KY. Park Info on NPS. MIDDLESBORO, KY (WATE) – The visitor center at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park reopened Tuesday. Last updated: January 9, 2020. [4]:10 By 1996, the park had undergone some $280 million in improvements, including construction of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel.[4]:10. Lexington, Kentucky approximately 130 miles away. According to many accounts, between 200,000 and 300,000 settlers came through the Gap into Kentucky and beyond from 1775 to 1810. Early native Americans traveled through it along a game trail, before English-speaking settlers, including Daniel Boone, came through in the 1700s to carve out what became known as Wilderness Road. For a long time the Cumberland Gap itself was used by Native Americans as hunting grounds because it served as a … Rent a whole home for your next weekend or holiday. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Cumberland Gap National Park has a lot to offer: rich history, spectacular scenery, impressive vistas, unique geologic sandstone formations, magnificent underground caverns, and abundant and diverse plant and animal life. Guided Tours Guided Tours. 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