09/04/2026
A river runs through it.
Sequatchie Valley an informative color map design used to illustrate the over 70 mile long, five mile wide valley and some of the major highways which today cross this unique obstacle for early settlers. Early domain of various native people and former lands of the Native Cherokee Indians until 1838 when they were forced by the U.S. Government to Oklahoma. The only detailed recorded daily journal of the Cherokee crossing the valley is in the Reverend Daniel Buttrick Diary. Records indicate two travel routes crossing the valley from the departure points at Birchwood and Brainerd Mission, at Chattanooga, TN over Walden Ridge and for at least two detachments the first leaving in November 1838, of one thousand people through present day Dunlap camping on their second travel day, near Coops Creek at the base of the Cumberland Plateau in proximity of the Dunlap Coke Ovens Park on then named Hill (Turnpike) Road. Today a printed copy details the hardships and timeline of this ordeal. The original hand written words exist in the Harvard University Library. A transcribed printed copy is displayed in the members room at the Sequatchie Valley Historical Association-Dunlap Coke Ovens Museum, Dunlap, TN
