Environment & Ecology: The Cumberland Gap Greenway

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

This memory-monument represents ecology and environment. Metal forms a fluid topography mimicking the environment of the Cumberland Gap region. The stone and metal intersect and undulate, like a foggy day in the Cumberland Mountains, when mountains and tree lines merge with mist and clouds. The sculpture reflects how life and land are interdependent. Read more about this theme below and look through related images.

Images

"The Pinnacles in the New Cumberland Gap"

Tourists gather on wood structure built atop a mountain peak, taking in forested vista of rolling mountain ridges and blue skies.

"Dogwood Blooms over Gap Creek"

"Climbing Pinnacle Mountain"

Hikers trek up a rocky feature of "Pinnacle Mountain"

"Cumberland Gap Should Be Preserved as a National Park!"

A newspaper article advocating for the establishment of The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Backstory and Context

Author-Uploaded Audio

A park ranger discusses preservation and wildlife in the area.

Text-to-speech Audio

Within this lush and immersive landscape, a unique ecosystem operates. One can find a variety of life, past and present, from the fossil remains of ancient seas to the returning Black bear. The diverse, thriving ecology can be experienced first hand in and around Cumberland Gap.

Through persistent effort of the local community, the Cumberland Gap National Historical was established in 1940. The park has initiated many restoration projects and acquired land on several occasions over the years, including the purchase of 1800 acres from the American Association, a late 19th century enterprise that targeted the region for investment. The town of Cumberland Gap is now surrounded by a healthy wilderness home to 970 vascular plant species, 140 species of birds, 40 species of mammals (including endangered bats dependent on the cave systems), 27 fish species, and 36 species of reptiles and amphibians. From the town, one can access several park trails. Just a minute’s walk down Tiprell Road brings you to the trailhead for Whitt’s Ridge Trail on the left, which leads to LMU and offers an overlook view of Cumberland Gap. Additionally, there are park trailheads in the east and west corners of town that access multiple trails to vantage points, caves, and historical sites. A walk on the Daniel Boone Greenway traverses through the town’s iconic covered bridges and an old railroad tunnel in route to LMU and Harrogate. The paved greenway hosts a certified Tennessee Arboretum with 60 native tree species identified along the four mile stretch. A majority of the plants in the gardens along this tour were provided by Knoxville's Native Plant Rescue Squad, whose mission is to reclaim and redistribute native plants.

Sources

Shattuck, Tom N.. The Cumberland Gap Area Guidebook. Edition 5th. Middlesboro, KY. The Bell County Historical Society, 2005.

Sundin, G., L. Worsham, N. Nibbelink, G. Grossman, and M. T. Mengak. 2013. Natural resource condition assessment for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/CUGA/NRR—2013/620. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Tennessee River Valley Geotourism. Accessed April 14th 2021. https://tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org/entries/daniel-boone-greenway-arboretum/f9d77bb2-d666-4ecb-a710-57f129e6b5ff.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Bell County Historical Society

Photography by Caroline Hatfield