Cherokee in Swain County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
How the World Was Made
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 10, 2023
1. How the World Was Made Marker
Along time ago, there were only two people and the animals. And they all lived together on a tiny little rock in the middle of the water. There was no more room on the rock, so the animals decided they would dive down in the water and try to find some more land. Mr. Turtle said, "Maybe I can find some more land." So he dove down. When he returned, on the bottom of all four of his feet there was some mud. And they carefully got all the mud off, and they laid out on the rocks. And when it was dry enough, Grandfather threw mud out into the water, and it became land.
It was very soft and muddy. And there buzzard flew with his great wings, and said, "With the air from my wings I'll make a fan and dry it." But each time when his wings went down it made a big valley, and each tine the wings would go up, it would make a big mountain. And today when you look all around us, what do we have here? Mountains were his wings went up and made mountains and valleys when they went down.
Adapted from Kate Smith Littlejohn,
this page online
Erected by National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Notable Events.
Location. 35° 30.007′ N, 83° 17.984′ W. Marker is in Cherokee, North Carolina, in Swain County. It can be reached from Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) near Saunooke Bridge Road. The marker is located on the Oconaluftee River Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cherokee NC 28719, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains and specifically in the Great Smoky 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,
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 10, 2023
2. How the World Was Made Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Place of the Poplar Boundary Tree (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hogs (approx. 0.9 miles away); Sorghum Cane (approx. 0.9 miles away); Broomcorn (approx. 0.9 miles away); Sorghum Mill and Furnace (approx. 0.9 miles away); Blacksmith Shop (approx. 0.9 miles away); Corn Cribs (approx. 0.9 miles away); Springhouse (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cherokee.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 159 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 3, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
