There is a small, picturesque park in the Volunteer State with a long, important and fascinating history that’s well-worth a closer look. Port Royal State Historic Park in Tennessee is the site of an early American settlement, and it’s actually the site of a dark chapter in Native American history. There’s a lot to uncover in this little park, and it’s a unique day trip destination that’s just waiting to be experienced. Here’s what you need to know about Port Royal State Historic Park.

You’ll find Port Royal State Historic Park in Adams, Tennessee, just east of Clarksville. It’s about a 45-minute drive north of Nashville.

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The park was once the Town of Port Royal. It was established in 1797, one year after Tennessee became a state. In its early days, Port Royal was a tobacco inspection point and a flatboat yard.

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Port Royal boomed as a tobacco town, with flatboats carrying loads of tobacco down the Red River on a journey to New Orleans. Eventually the town had a silk milll, general stores, tailors’ shops, inns, taverns, churches, and warehouses.

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In 1838 and 1839, Port Royal was a resupply station and stopover for the Chickamauga Cherokee along the march to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears, a forced removal of Native Americans by the United States Government. The park remembers this troubled history and preserves a section of road used by the Chickamauga people.

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In 1978, the State of Tennessee established the site as an official State Historic Park. The park has the remains of several old roadbeds, some dating to prehistoric times.

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The park is a popular place for hiking, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, photography and exploring history. The park holds the ruins of many old buildings, including of stores, homes, and warehouses. There’s an old steel bridge across Sulphur Creek that was built in 1887 – it’s now open for pedestrian use.

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While the park isn’t a place for long hikes, it has some nice walking paths that will take you past the park’s important areas. See a map here. There’s a pleasant picnic area, so you may want to pack a lunch for your day trip. For more Tennessee day trip inspiration, check out these 11 incredible natural attractions that everyone should visit.

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Address: Port Royal State Park Trail of Tears trailhead, Clarksville, TN 37043, USA