Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area

Sycamore Shoals is a 70-acre park featuring the reconstructed Fort Watauga, located along the Watauga River in eastern Tennessee. The site demonstrates how early European settlers lived and worked in this region.

In 1775, Richard Henderson and Daniel Boone signed the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals here, which transferred Cherokee territory to European settlers. This event marked a turning point in the settlement of this part of America.

The fort displays exhibits about meetings between European settlers and Native peoples in this region. The displays help visitors understand how different groups used this land over time.

A 3-kilometer walking trail runs through the park with signs explaining the history. The site offers guided tours and historical reenactments throughout the year.

The park is home to a special tree grown from seeds that traveled to space in 1971. The seeds returned in a spacecraft and were later planted in various locations across the United States.

Location: Carter County

Inception: 1975

Website: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/sycamore-shoals

GPS coordinates: 36.34470,-82.25220

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41