Near Ewing in Lee County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Hard Road to a New Life

— Cumberland Gap National Historical Park —

September 28, 2022

1. Hard Road to a New Life Marker

Inscription. What a road have we passed! Certainly the worst on the whole continent, even in the best weather; yet, bad as it was, there were 400–500 crossing...whilst we were...A man who is well-mounted will scorn to complain of the roads when he sees men, women, and children, almost naked, paddling barefoot and bare-legged along or labouring up the rocky hills whilst those who are best off have only a horse for two or three children to ride at once.
Reverend Francis Asbury, 1803

Come to a turabel mountain that tried us all almost to death to git over it & we lodge this night...under a grait mountain & Roast a fine fat turkey for our Supper & Eat it without aney Bread...we start Early travel over Some more very Bad mountains...tuesday night & wednesday morning it Snowed Very hard and was very coald & we hunted a good deal there while we Staid in Rough mountains & Kild three deer & one turkey Eanock Abram & I got lost tuesday night & it asnowing...I had a pocket Compas...and fired guns and they heard them and caim in By the Repoart
William Calk, His Jurnal March ye 25th 1775 Satterday

(Caption)
As a great wave of settlers moved west in the late 1700s to early 1800s, most people took the Wilderness Road in winter, so that they could be ready to plant their crops

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on the new frontier in the spring.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Francis Asbury, Traveling Methodist Preacher series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1775.

Location. 36° 36.155′ N, 83° 40.24′ W. Marker is near Ewing, Virginia, in Lee County. Marker can be reached from North Cumberland Road, 0.3 miles north of Wilderness Road (U.S. 58), on the right when traveling north. Marker is a wayside exhibit on the Wilderness Trail, most readily accessible from the Iron Furnace Parking Area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ewing VA 24248, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Warriors' Path (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hiking in the Gap (about 700 feet away); Gateway to Kaintuck (about 700 feet away); On Guard in Cumberland Gap (about 800 feet away); Iron Furnace (approx. 0.2 miles away); Daniel Boone's Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away in Tennessee); a different marker also named Daniel Boone's Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away in Kentucky); a different marker also named Daniel Boone's Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away in Kentucky). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ewing.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, November 13, 2022

2. Hard Road to a New Life Marker

Also see . . . Gateway to the West - Daniel Boone Leading the Settlers Through the Cumberland Gap, 1775. Information about the painting shown on this marker, which has also been reproduced as a large mural in the visitor center at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. (Submitted on October 6, 2022.)

Photographed By Tom Bosse, November 13, 2022

3. Hard Road to a New Life Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2022. This page has been viewed 112 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on October 12, 2022. Photos: 1. submitted on October 6, 2022. 2, 3. submitted on December 29, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.