Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Trail Trail News of Tears Association Pea Ridge Celebrates Re-opening of Historic Road by Kitty Sloan In the winter of 1838-39, an estimated of Tears National Historic Trail. The park along the restored road. As park superin- 10,000 Cherokees traveled along the entrance is on the Auto Tour Route along tendent John C. Scott noted, Cherokees Springfield to Fayetteville Road from U.S. Highway 62. were truly walking in the footsteps of their Missouri into Arkansas, stopping overnight ancestors. Even the weather echoed the at William Reddick’s farm for their last Three miles of the historic Northern Route “hail, rain, wind and thunder” that Dr. W.I.I. rations before heading west to their new are within the 4,300-acre park, two along its Morrow, physician with the Richard Taylor homeland. The site of Reddick’s farm is paved driving tour. The third was only detachment, reported in his diary on now Pea Ridge National Military Park, a recently rediscovered, restored, and re- March 18, 1839. Stormy weather stranded federal protection component of the Trail opened for foot-traffic. A 1930s county most of that detachment at Reddick’s farm for an extra day. At the commemoration, walkers merely got soaking wet, although pellet-size hail covered the ground and a tornado the next day damaged some park facilities. An estimated 500 people attended the dedi- cation ceremony sponsored by the Cherokee Nation, the National Park Service, and the Trail of Tears Association. Chief Smith was the featured speaker. TOTA President Jack Baker served as mas- ter of ceremonies and Vice President Troy Wayne Poteete delivered the keynote address, Why Cherokees Remember; both Photo courtesy of Betty Barker Seated next to the podium at the ceremony was (L-R) Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, Joe Baker and Poteete are citizens of the Dillard from U.S. Representative Marion Berry’s office, Miss Cherokee LaShawna Fields, National Trails Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Adult System-Intermountain Region Superintendent Jere Krakow, and TOTA state chapter presidents Kitty Sloan Choir performed four hymns that had been of Arkansas, Curtis Rohr of Oklahoma, and Deloris Wood of Missouri. sung during Removal, including one writ- road had been misidentified as the route of ten along the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee INSIDE THIS ISSUE the 1830s road. But modern satellite map- Color Guard and Miss Cherokee LaShawna ping technology helped locate the true trail Fields also participated. The National Park • TOTA President’s Message................2 beneath 70 years of overgrowth. In 2005, Service was represented by Ernie Quintana, NPS Superintendent’s Message....... 2 the one-mile natural segment was listed on director of the Midwest Region at Omaha, Trail of Tears Legislation.................. 3 the National Register of Historic Places. as well as Jere Krakow and Aaron Mahr of Arkansas Waysides......................... 3 On March 11, TOTA members from the National Trails System-Santa Fe. New Book....................................... 3 Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, plus TOTA Chapter News.................... 4-5 hundreds of other visitors, gathered at the The dedication ceremony included the Major Ridge Home.......................... 6 park to commemorate the Trail of Tears. unveiling of the first of six sets of site-spe- National Register Listings................ 7 Principal Chief Chad Smith of the cific and context wayside panels funded by 2005 Conference Photos.............. 8-9 Cherokee Nation led a memorial walk See PEA RIDGE, page 6 Newsletter of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Partnership • April 2006 - Number 8 Trail of Tears Association President’s Message Senate Committee Hears Testimony Arkansas Trail Locations The dedication of a segment of the Trail of Andrew Jackson, just outside Nashville, this legisla- to Install Wayside Exhibits Tears National Historic Trail at Pea Ridge Tennessee, has also been certified. We tion will be on Trail of Tears Documentation Act: National Military Park on March 11, 2006, appreciate all of the individuals and organi- passed later Up for Vote in Senate; Held Up in House Subcommittee by Mark Christ was a very significant event. For the first zations that are having their sites certified this year. A The Arkansas Historic Preservation by Paul Austin & Jerra Quinton time, a portion (about two miles) of the and helping to tell the story of Indian significant Program (AHPP) is continuing work Trail as it existed in 1838-39 is available at a removal. feature of this As was reported in the last issue (August Benge and Bell routes, totally approximately with the NPS National Trails System public facility so that the general public legislation is 2005) of Trail News, Congressman Zach 2,000 miles of additional trail. Office—Santa Fe (NTSO) and Arkansas may walk along the same pathway that that it would Wamp of Tennessee and Marion Berry of State Parks to place Trail of Tears inter- thousands of Cherokees tread 167 years Other events are happening to raise the expand the Arkansas, and 17 co-sponsors, introduced Senators Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and pretive wayside exhibit panels at six ago. I would like to thank Park awareness of the Trail. One such event is Trail of Tears H.R. 3085, known as the “Trail of Tears Lamar Alexander and William Frist of Arkansas locations. These exhibits, Superintendent John Scott and all of his the publication of Stone Songs on the Trail of National Documentation Act,” last June. Presently, Tennessee co-sponsored a Senate version of funded through NPS Challenge Cost- staff for making this possible, and especial- Tears by Pat Musick with Jerry Carr and Bill Historic Trail trail routes in the states of Georgia and the “Trail of Tears Documentation Act” (S. Share, will provide site-specific inter- ly Kevin Eads, Chief of Resources Woodiel. This book that tells the story of into Georgia North Carolina, where three-fourths of the 1970) this past November. It has since then pretation at Helena, Village Creek State Management, for all of his work in restor- the Trail of Tears in a unique fashion is Jack Baker, President of the Trail and North Cherokee people lived at the time of been referred to the Senate Energy and Park, Cadron Settlement Park, Lake of Tears Association ing the Trail and in planning and organizing bringing the story of Indian removal to Carolina. At Removal, are not considered part of the Natural Resources Committee where hear- Dardanelle State Park, Pea Ridge the ceremony dedicating the Trail. I urge many people that were not aware of this the time of removal 54% of the Cherokees Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. This ings were held, which included testimonies National Military Park and North Little you to visit this site and walk along this event in American history. lived in Georgia and 22% in North piece of legislation, if passed by the House by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Rock. The AHPP also has received portion of the Trail. Carolina, and yet the Trail does not extend and Senate, will result in the recognition of Smith and TOTA President Jack Baker. In See Arkansas Waysides , page 6 The legislation to expand the Trail of Tears into those states where over three-fourths these trail routes, as well as significant sec- March, the bill was voted out of committee All along the Trail of Tears National National Historic Trail is moving forward. of the Cherokees resided. tions in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and sent to the Senate for deliberation. A Historic Trail more sites are being identified There was a Senate hearing on February 16, Kentucky, and Tennessee, including the vote is expected soon. and more interpretation is being placed on 2006, on this legislation where Principal Plans are moving forward for our annual already identified sites. One of the latest Chief Chad Smith of the Cherokee Nation conference and symposium to be held this In February of this year, Baker and TOTA sites to be certified is property owned by spoke eloquently in favor of the bill (S. fall in Springfield, Missouri. I hope to see The Trail of Tears Association Executive Director Paul Austin met with the Bill and Sheryl Hubbs in southwest 1970). There will likely be another hearing all of you there. thanks the following U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks of Missouri. A portion of the Trail crossed scheduled soon in the House on their ver- senators for their co-sponsoring the Resources Committee, where H.R. 3085 their property. The Hermitage, home of sion of the bill (H. R. 3085). It is hoped that Jack D. Baker of S. 1970: has been referred. Subcommittee staff indi- cated that Committee Chair Richard Lamar Alexander (R, TN) Pombo (R-CA) has been reluctant to refer Tom Coburn (R, OK) any trails’ legislation out of committee. William H. Frist (R, TN) However, Congressman Wamp remains National Trails System Office Superintendent’s Message Trail of Tears - Land Route, original image by committed to continue his efforts to get this Cherokee artist Sam Watts-Scott, 2005 The administration of national historic Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) is pend- Through the initiative of the Association bill out of committee and passed. trails is the central focus of efforts here in ing in the House of Representatives. and the Partnership for the National Trails the office of the National Trails System- System, we received a funding increase of New Book Offers Artistic Journey Along Benge Route in Arkansas Santa Fe. Our mission statement frames the Other key activities include ongoing efforts $35,000 for the Trail of Tears NHT for this focus thusly: With our partners, we provide for a 20-minute interpretive film for the Trail fiscal year.