Cowan in Franklin County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Cumberland Mountain Tunnel
Photographed by Deborah Spencer, July 13, 2025
1. Cumberland Mountain Tunnel Marker
1849 - 1852
Length 2228 ft.
V. K. Stevenson, President; E.D. Sanford, Principal Assistant Engineer; Jas. H. Grant, Chief Engineer; M. Merriweather, Assistant Engineer; Thomas C. Bates, Contractor.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars.
Location. 35° 9.862′ N, 86° 0.629′ W. Marker is in Cowan, Tennessee, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of Cumberland Street West (U.S. 41A) and Tennessee Ave S, on the right when traveling east on Cumberland Street West. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Cumberland St W, Cowan TN 37318, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee and in the Highland Rim. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America,
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cowan, Tennessee (here, next to this marker); Dr. Charles Doyle Couser (within shouting distance of this marker); Tullahoma Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker); Passing Through Cowan (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Tullahoma Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker); Cowan Railroad Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Goshen Cumberland Presbyterian Church (approx. 3.2 miles away); Peter Turney (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cowan.
Regarding Cumberland Mountain Tunnel. Also known as the Cowan Tunnel, when opened in 1852 was longest railroad tunnel in the world.
Photographed by Deborah Spencer, July 13, 2025
2. Cumberland Mountain Tunnel Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2025, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. This page has been viewed 151 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2025, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
