Trail of Tears State Park
Encyclopedia
The 3415 acres Trail of Tears State Park was acquired in 1957. It is located in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
, on the Mississippi River
. Activities in the park include camping
, fishing
, picnicking, swimming, and hiking
, for backpackers as well as for equestrian uses.
The park is a memorial to the Cherokee
Native Americans
that died on the Cherokee Trail of Tears. The park features an interpretive center with displays about the Trail of Tears, as well as displays and specimens of local wildlife. Fishing is allowed at the 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) Lake Boutin as well as the Mississippi. A lookout provides a view of the river and across the river to Illinois
.
An archeological site in the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1970.
There are four trails at Trail of Tears:
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Activities in the park include camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, picnicking, swimming, and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, for backpackers as well as for equestrian uses.
The park is a memorial to the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
that died on the Cherokee Trail of Tears. The park features an interpretive center with displays about the Trail of Tears, as well as displays and specimens of local wildlife. Fishing is allowed at the 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) Lake Boutin as well as the Mississippi. A lookout provides a view of the river and across the river to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
An archeological site in the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1970.
There are four trails at Trail of Tears:
- Peewah Trail – 10 miles (16.1 km)
- Sheppard Point Trail – 2 miles (3.2 km)
- Lake Trail – 2 miles (3.2 km)
- Nature Trail – 0.5 mile (0.80467 km)
See also
- List of Missouri state parks
- Cherokee Nation (19th century)Cherokee Nation (19th century)The Cherokee Nation of the 19th century —an historic entity —was a legal, autonomous, tribal government in North America existing from 1794–1906. Often referred to simply as The Nation by its inhabitants, it should not be confused with what is known today as the "modern" Cherokee Nation...