Cumberland Gap

narrow pass through the Cumberland Mountains

The Cumberland Gap is a narrow pass through the Cumberland Mountains. It is a part of the Appalachian Mountains. It is near the junction of the U.S. states of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. First used by Native Americans, it was famous during American colonial history as an important path through the lower Appalachians. In 1775 the trail was started by Daniel Boone.[1] Over the next 35 years, over 300,000 Settlers used it to get to the western borders of Kentucky and Tennessee.[1] It was an important part of the Wilderness Road. It is now part of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.[2]

Photograph of the Cumberland Gap in winter

References

change
  1. 1.0 1.1 "The Wilderness Road". History/A&E Television Networks, LLC. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  2. "Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, KY,TN,VA". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 10 February 2016.

Other websites

change

  Media related to Cumberland Gap at Wikimedia Commons