Murphy in Cherokee County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Unicoi Turnpike Trail

A Path Through time

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 5, 2018

1. Unicoi Turnpike Trail Marker

Inscription. The path now known as the Unicoi Turnpike Trail has existed for over 1,000 years. The earliest European maps of the area note the trail as a connector between Cherokee Territories and the coastal ports at Charleston and Savannah. In 1756, British soldiers hauled weapons and supplies across the trail to establish Fort Loudoun. In the early 1800’s the trail was converted into a toll road and turnpike. In 1838 over 3,000 Cherokees traveled over the Unicoi Turnpike during the Trail of Tears.

1. Fort Loudoun
2. Tellico Blockhouse
3. Sequoyah Birthplace Museum
4. Chota and Tanasi Memorials
5. Tellico Plains
6. Charles Hall Museum
7. Coker Creek
8. Unicoi Gap
9. Joe Brown Highway
10. Murphy
11. Cherokee County Historical Museum
12. Belltown (Cane Creek) Massacre
13. Trail of Tears
14. Hiking Trail

Exploring an Ancient Path
We invite you to travel through layers of history as you trace the Unicoi Turnpike Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina. Historic sites and museums along the way will illustrate the role this important transportation route played in our nation's history. A two and one half mile section of

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the original roadbed at Coker Creek is open for hiking.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1756.

Location. 35° 5.205′ N, 84° 1.983′ W. Marker is in Murphy, North Carolina, in Cherokee County. It is on Unicoi Turnpike north of Alpine Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the entrance to the Cherokee County Historical Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Murphy NC 28906, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 5, 2018

2. Unicoi Turnpike Trail Marker

Marker is located to the left of the entrance.

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Water Powered 500 Pound Hammer (here, next to this marker); Cherokee Heritage Trails (here, next to this marker); Tsali (here, next to this marker); Millstone from Thomas C. Thatham Mill (a few steps from this marker); Prison Cell Door (a few steps from this marker); Nuya Saligugi (a few steps from this marker); In Memory of the Servicemen of Cherokee County (within shouting distance of this marker); Harshaw Chapel and Cemetery (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murphy.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Cherokee War (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).

Unicoi Turnpike Trail Marker on left side of entrance door. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 20, 2016

3. Unicoi Turnpike Trail Marker on left side of entrance door.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,280 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 18, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 3. submitted on September 8, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.