Our Town Cleveland: Cherokee History at Red Clay State Park

TOM ROWLAND, MAYOR OF CLEVELAND: "It was a sad chapter in our country's history."

Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland helped solidify this land as a historical Landmark. As president of the Cherokee Red Clay Association in 1979, Rowland and state leaders established the Red Clay State Park.

TOM ROWLAND: "The Red Clay Historic area means a lot to history, not only to South East Tennessee but to the entire nation."

Red Clay was the Last Eastern Capital of the Cherokee Nation. In 1838, federal Troops displaced the Cherokees to Oklahoma. The walk is infamously known as the Trail of Tears.

MAYOR ROWLAND: "It's a treasure and it's a place that really gives up the beginning of Bradley County. It's a place where we can remember an unfortunate incident that happened in our history."

Almost 2 centuries later, the Red Clay State Park is visited by historians and Cherokee descendents.

CAROL CRABTREE, PARK MANAGER: "many people are getting interested in their family histories, and they're trying to trace their roots back. So there's a lot of interest in the native american history."

But right in it's back yard, Rowland says the park is relatively unknown.

MAYOR ROWLAND: "I find it amazing that local people, I find that people I talk to I haven't been to red clay they say. Yet people come from all over the nation the world even."

CAROL CRABTREE: "We often have people come in and say they have lived in the area all their lives and this is the first time they're coming in and just stopping in to see Red Clay to see what we have. And I say it's about time for you to come and see us!"

In Bradley County, Jason Law WDEF News 12.

Red Clay State Park is located in the Southwest corner of Bradley County near the Georgia State Line.