Tellico Blockhouse, Archaeological site and military outpost in Monroe County, Tennessee, US
Tellico Blockhouse was a fortified military post located where Nine Mile Creek meets the Little Tennessee River, featuring a main structure surrounded by defensive wooden walls. The compound served as both an administrative center and a trading hub for the surrounding frontier region.
The blockhouse was established in 1794 following an agreement between Governor William Blount and Cherokee leader Hanging Maw. It remained active until 1807, representing a period when settlers maintained formal relations and regular presence on the frontier.
The blockhouse served as a meeting point where settlers and Cherokee people exchanged skills and goods based on mutual economic needs. Visitors today can see how the site represents an early period of direct cultural interaction between groups living on the frontier.
The site is located within Fort Loudoun State Historical Area and displays exposed foundation remains from archaeological excavations. Visitors should be aware that this is an active or interpreted archaeological area, so walking carefully through the site is recommended.
In December 1797, the garrison held one of Tennessee's earliest recorded Christmas celebrations with a formal dinner party on the frozen Little Tennessee River. This event reveals how frontier settlers maintained familiar traditions despite their remote location.
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