Reelfoot Lake is a Tennessee oddity. Created by the massive New Madrid earthquake, it has the distinction of being known as one of the premiere eagle watching areas in the state. The lake is used for fishing, but you can't swim in it. There is also relatively little in the area it is located in either. What is at the state park is a nice boardwalk that allows you to see the cypress trees of the area, a small museum that notes some of the history (particularly the Night Riders and a yo-yo champion) of the area, and a bird sanctuary.
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Located in Union City, this is one of the most eclectic museums I've ever visited. With exhibits ranging from dinosaur bones to NASA programs to a room of torture devices, this museum is fascinating in its randomness. It has three floors and an extensive outside area that has a replica turn of the century town that reminds one of a movie set, a massive agriculture barn, a train station with trains, a settler village and an English and Japanese garden with hedge maze. I'm not sure what to sum this experience up as, but it was fun just not knowing what to expect next. My friend described it as "Disneyland for history" and I can't argue with that. A few miles down the road from the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is the Chota Memorial. This memorial is almost hidden even though there are signs to the general area. After going down a gravel road you will see the Tanasi Memorial, which recognizes the Cherokee city that was in the area that the state is named after. Further down the road you will reach a dead end turn around. Off to the left there is a metal gate that you walk around and go about a quarter mile to reach the Chota Memorial. This recognizes an area that was a major city and is made of pillars that symbolize each of the branches of the Cherokee tribe. Oconastota, a Cherokee leader involved in the historical siege of Fort Loudoun, is also buried here. The place is interesting and very remote. We wouldn't have known about it if not for a ranger at Fort Loudoun encouraging us to find it.
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AuthorA librarian doing the travel. Archives
May 2024
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