Existing comment:
A Great Undertaking:
Between 1775 and 1810, 210,000 to 300,000 pioneers passed through Cumberland Gap. Following trails that had first been beaten down by the bison, and then traveled on by the American Indians, these hardy travelers came from the East, particularly Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Until 1796, the pioneers passed through the Gap on foot. Some were lucky enough to have a pack animal to carry the few belongings essential for the trip and for the new life that lay ahead. Often bringing little more than the clothes on their backs, they carried rifles and ammunition for hunting and defense, cooking implements, agricultural tools and a few books.
In 1796, the Wilderness Trail was improved and widened to allow wagons. Tolls were collected to keep the road in good condition for traffic now flowing in both directions. As pioneers continued their westward migration, they encountered farmers taking livestock and grain to markets in the East and South. |