Near Townsend in Blount County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Independent But Not Isolated

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 10, 2025

1. Independent But Not Isolated Marker

Inscription.
Rich Mountain Road near the Missionary Baptist Church provided the first settlers access into Cades Cove. Originally a path used by the Cherokee, this route was eventually widened into a wagon road. By the mid-1800s, five roads led into and out of the Cove - Crib Gap Road, Rich Mountain Road, Cooper Road, Rabbit Creek Road, Parsons Branch Road - compared to only one or (seasonally) two routes open to two-way traffic today. These roads provided the families of the Cove opportunities for commerce, as well as social and political interaction. A post office was established in the cove in 1830. Cove residents picked their mail up at the post office until 1904, when home delivery service was initiated. John W. Oliver not only served as the Cove's first mail delivery person, he also practiced scientific agriculture and sought to improve health care and education in his community.

(Photo Captions):

Church congregations held baptisms in large creek pools during the summer months. This baptism of Amy Burchfield is taking place in Abrams Creek in 1920.

Peter Myers and Margaret Shields Myers home, about 1900. Most of their children remained in Cades Cove until the national park was formed.

John W Oliver making a mail stop at the Jonathan Myers Store and Post Office.

Background photo by: Rick Holliday

Erected by National

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Park Service, Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Religion & Religious Structures • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.

Location. 35° 36.486′ N, 83° 49.582′ W. Marker is near Townsend, Tennessee, in Blount County. It is on Cades Cove Loop Road just west of Rich Mountain Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Townsend TN 37882, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee,

in the Great Smoky Mountains,

and in Greater Knoxville.

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 Confederate States of America,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 10, 2025

2. Independent But Not Isolated Marker

Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church is in the background.

are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Civilian Conservation Corps (within shouting distance of this marker); An Early Mountain Community (approx. 1.8 miles away); Tuckaleechee Villages (approx. 5½ miles away); The Little River Lumber Company (approx. 6.3 miles away); On this site August 17, 1915 (approx. 7.2 miles away); John Mitchel (approx. 7.2 miles away); Montvale Springs (approx. 7.7 miles away); Gamble's Station (approx. 8.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Townsend.

Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 10, 2025

3. Church Marker

Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church
Founded 1839

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.