Historical Markers and War Memorials in Benton, Tennessee
Benton is the county seat for Polk County
Benton is in Polk County
Polk County(16) ► ADJACENT TO POLK COUNTY Bradley County(56) ► McMinn County(53) ► Monroe County(41) ► Fannin County, Georgia(5) ► Murray County, Georgia(24) ► Cherokee County, North Carolina(25) ►
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On Benton Station Road, 0.1 miles east of Circle R Drive, on the right when traveling east.
Named in honor of William Hinton “Bear” Lawson who lived in this area from Aug. 10, 1842 to June 17, 1913. His generosity created the historic area now known as Benton Station. — — Map (db m178034) HM
On Benton Station Road at Ward Street, on the right when traveling west on Benton Station Road.
Like most of Appalachian Tennessee, Polk County was a divided land during the Civil War.
Residents formed both Confederate and Federal units. Benton, the county seat, was a regional crossroads, but Ducktown, where the Burra Burra Copper Company . . . — — Map (db m178020) HM
On Benton Station Road at Depot Street, on the right when traveling east on Benton Station Road.
In 1906, the L & N Railroad completed a new line through this community (then called Murny) and constructed a station, which also served Benton. William Hinton "Bear” Lawson's generosity made the station possible. He gave the railroad free access . . . — — Map (db m178037) HM
On Old Highway 411, on the right when traveling east.
According to legend, Nancy Ward (Nanye’hi or Na-ni) was born in the 1730s at Chota in the Overhill Towns, at a time when Cherokee society was largely traditional despite the extensive fur trade. As the child of a Cherokee woman, Nancy was by birth a . . . — — Map (db m109274) HM
On Old Tennessee Route 411, 0.5 miles north of Hwy 411, on the right when traveling north.
High priestess of the Cherokee and always loyal friend of white settlers, is buried on the ridge to the west. She repeatedly prevented massacres of white settlers and several times rescued captives from death at the hands of her people. She is also . . . — — Map (db m80167) HM
In 1910 J.G. White Construction Company began work on the Ocoee Dam #1. A coffer dam* was built using large timbers and bows of evergreens. These were laid to help hold back the banks of dirt. Tracks were built on top of the coffer dam allowing dirt . . . — — Map (db m178044) HM
Construction began on Ocoee No. 1 in 1910 and 18 months later it was supplying
electricity to nearby Chattanooga. Designed and built by the Tennessee Electric Power Company (TEPCO), TVA acquired both Ocoee No. 1 and No. 2 in 1939.
Located in a . . . — — Map (db m178038) HM
Once called the “Dynamo of Dixie,” Ocoee No. 1 has dependably and efficiently generated electricity for most of this century. When built in 1912, hydroelectric power in the United States was in its infancy.
Over the years the powerhouse . . . — — Map (db m178040) HM
On U.S. 411 at Benton Station Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 411.
[East side]
Confederate
States
of
America
1861-1865
Dedicated
to
Polk County
Confederate
Soldiers
To remember is to honor
[South side]
Polk
County
unit
Co. E, . . . — — Map (db m178022) WM
On U.S. 411 at Benton Station Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 411.
Lest we forget
Dedicated to the
veterans of Polk
County who served
during:
Korea 1950-1955
Vietnam 1964-1975
Persian Gulf 1990-1991
November 11, 1993 — — Map (db m178033) WM
On U.S. 411 at Benton Station Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 411.
[Center]
Dedicated to the memory of
the men of Polk County, Tenn. who
gave their lives and to all who
served in World Wars I and II
[Left wing]
And these our dead
World War I
Adams, James • Breeden, Bascome • Cate, . . . — — Map (db m178023) WM