Cumberland Gap National Historical Park | |
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
 View from the Pinnacle Overlook toward the southwest, overlooking Fern Lake and the surrounding park, 2009 | |
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| Location | Kentucky,Tennessee, andVirginia, United States |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Cumberland Gap, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 36°36′15″N83°41′14″W / 36.60417°N 83.68722°W /36.60417; -83.68722 |
| Area | 20,508 acres (8,299 ha) |
| Visitation | 704,598 (2019)[2] |
| Website | www |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000353[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
TheCumberland Gap National Historical Park is aNational Historical Park located in theSoutheastern United States, located at the border betweenKentucky,Tennessee, andVirginia, centered on theCumberland Gap, a natural break in theAppalachian Mountains.
The park lies in parts ofBell andHarlan counties in Kentucky,Claiborne County in Tennessee, andLee County in Virginia. The park contains the Kentucky-Virginia-Tennesseetripoint, accessible via trail.[3]
The town ofCumberland Gap, Tennessee, is located inside of the park's territory.[3]
The Cumberland Gap Visitor Center is located onU.S. Highway 25E just southeast of the city ofMiddlesboro, Kentucky, and just northwest of theCumberland Gap Tunnel and the town of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. 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 theCumberland Crafts gift shop with crafts fromAppalachia.[4]
The park covers 24,000 acres (9,700 ha) and is among the largest national parks in theeastern United States.[5]: 29 As of 2010, 14,091 acres (5,702 ha) of this was designated asRecommended Wilderness.[6]: v Elevation varies from a low of 1,100 feet (340 m) to a high of 3,500 feet (1,100 m).[7]: 13
The park runs along theCumberland Mountains, stretching about 20 miles (32 km) with an average width of 1.6 miles (2.6 km).[8] The park straddles atri-state area encompassing land fromKentucky,Tennessee, andVirginia.[5]: 29 It includes the area of theWilderness Road running through the passage across theCumberland Plateau and through theCumberland Gap, an important geological feature that facilitated travel for American settlers and Native Americans.[7]: 13 [9][8] It includes 24 known cave features ranging in size from around 20 feet (6.1 m) to more than 16 miles (26 km) in length.[6]: 10 [10]
There are a number of large cliff systems in the park, the most prominent of which is the 500 feet (150 m) cliffs of White Rocks, located in the eastern portion of the area.[6]: 34 [10] At the northeastern end, the park sits adjacent to theSillalah Creek Wildlife Management Area and theMartin's Fork Wildlife Management Area and State Natural Area.[11][6]: 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).[7]: 15
The park contains over 62 miles (100 km) of streams.[7]: xvii With the exception of one, Little Yellow Creek, all of these originate from within the park, with those to the north of the main ridge flowing into theCumberland River, and those to the south flowing into thePowell River.[7]: 16 Overall water quality in the park is good to fair, with some areas falling below recommendedpH levels, likely due to natural causes, and others exceeding recommended levels of microorganisms, possibly due to contamination from campgrounds.[7]: 46
The area of the park is 97% forested and contains 970 species ofvascular plants, 90 of which are classified as sensitive orrare species.[7]: xvii These include 108 non-native species of plants, and 31 considered to be highly aggressiveinvasive plants.[7]: 55 [a]
The park is home to at least 145 species of birds, and 40 species of mammals, including thenear-threatened bat,Myotis sodalis (Indiana bat).[7]: xvii The streams in the park house around 27 species of fish, includingChrosomus cumberlandensis (blackside dace), federally listed as anendangered species. Additionally, surveys have identified at least 36 species of reptiles and amphibians.[7]: xvii
Ecosystems in the park are threatened by a number of insect infestations from non-native pest species, includingDendroctonus frontalis (southern pine beetle), andAdelges tsugae (hemlock woolly adelgid). The speciesAgrilus planipennis (emerald ash borer) andLymantria dispar dispar (gypsy moth) also represent imminent threats from surrounding areas.[7]: 73
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Business leaders fromMiddlesboro, Kentucky, meeting inCincinnati for the Appalachian Logging Conference, proposed a Lincoln National Park, centered around Fern Lake as early as 1922.[7]: 18 [12] However, two bills introduced into theKentucky State Legislature the following year by State CongressmanJohn Robison both failed. Later attempts in 1929 sought to create memorials forCivil War battles fought in the area, and also failed. 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.[7]: 18 [12]
The park was established on June 11, 1940, byFranklin Roosevelt in order to "commemorate the story of the first doorway of the west".[9][8][6]: v It was authorized by Congress to occupy an area not to exceed 50,000 acres (20,000 ha).[6]: 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.[13][12]
In 1992, the park purchased the area surroundingGap Cave, which had previously been privately owned.[6]: 10 By 1996, the park had undergone some $280 million in improvements, including construction of theCumberland Gap Tunnel.[6]: 10
Toward the southern end of the park lies Fern Lake, created by an earthen dam in 1890, which provides water to the nearby town ofMiddlesboro, Kentucky.[14]: 19 The area surrounding the lake was purchased by the park in four phases following the passage of the Fern Lake Conservation and Recreation Act, increasing the overall size of the park by 20%:
As of 2010 there were plans to acquire an additional 600 acres (240 ha) of land surrounding the lake.[6]: 10 As of 2018, the park had an estimated $15 million indeferred maintenance.[16]
The park includes a visitor 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.[14]: 13
Guided tours of theHensley Settlement andGap Cave are provided from the tourist center.[14]: 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.[14]: 19 [17]
There are 85 miles (137 km) of hiking trails, ranging from shorter routes such as the 2.6 miles (4.2 km) Sugar Run Trail, to the 21 miles (34 km) Ridge Trail, which spans the park and reaches an elevation of 3,513 feet (1,071 m).[18] The nearby Wilderness Road Campground includes 160 campsites.[17] No hunting is permitted within the park.[6]: 30
Tri-State Peak is located in the park, and is accessible by trail. A marker designating thetripoint of the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, is located at the peak of the mountain.[19]
The park saw 737,547 visitors in 2017, according to statistics by theNational Park Service.[2] According to one federal study, in 2013 visitor spending amounted to $46 million in nearby communities, supporting 639 local jobs.[20] Peak rates of visitation normally occur during the seasons of spring, summer and fall.[7]: xvii
In 2017, the park received the Keeper of the Light Award from the Southeast Region of the National Park Service, which recognizes excellence in education.[21] In 2016, theUnited States Mint released a commemorative quarter as part of theAmerica the Beautiful series honoring the park.[22]
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