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History
Settled in the late 1760s,
Carter County’s historical notability is among the most fascinating
in the state. Home of the first permanent settlement outside the
original 13 colonies and the first majority-rule system of American
democracy, the Watauga Settlement at Sycamore Shoals (in what is
now Elizabethton) was home to prominent military officials, legislators,
and members of the Constitutional Convention.
Sycamore Shoals, at the convergence
of the Doe and Watauga Rivers, was also the site of the largest
private land deal in American history. Resulting in the purchase
of 20 million acres of land, the Transylvania Purchase marked the
beginning of the westward expansion and gave “all the lands
of the Cumberland Watershed and extending to the Kentucky River”
to the settlers.
In 1780, 1100 men gathered
at Sycamore Shoals before making a 14-day march to King's Mountain,
South Carolina, where they confronted and defeated Major Patrick
Ferguson’s British militia.
European settlers first inhabited
the Carter County region in the late 1760s. Among these early settlers
was William Bean, who owned a farm approximately eight miles west
of what is now Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River, James Robertson,
and Valentine Sevier Sr., the father of John Sevier. In the early
1770s, John Carter, a notable Revolutionary War patriot and father
of Landon Carter, established a plantation just north of present-day
Elizabethton. More
History...
Doe River Covered Bridge
Built in 1882, this white clapboard bridge is believed
to be the oldest in the state still in use today. It spans 134 feet
across the Doe River and is surrounded by a park with walking paths,
benches, picnic tables and plenty of ducks.
Carter Mansion
The Mansion, located on Broad Street Ext., is the
oldest frame house in Tennessee. It was the home of John and Landon
Carter, leaders in the Watauga Settlement. Built between 1775 and
1780 on lands bought from the Cherokees, the structure reveals a
fine detailed interior.
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area
Located at 1651 W. Elk Ave., the Sycamore Shoals
State Historic Area allows park visitors to step back in time to
the turn of the 18th century. The park is the home to a reconstruction
of Fort Watauga. The original fort was excavated about a mile away
on the shores of the Watauga River. The Overmountain Men mustered
here in September 1780 before their march to fight the battle of
King's Mountain. Here was established the first permanent American
settlement outside the original 13 colonies and the Watauga Association
- the first majority-rule system of American democratic government
- was formed in 1772. The outdoor drama, "The Wataugans,"
is performed in late July in the Park Amphitheater. Visitor Center
with theater, museum, and bookstore are provided. Picnicking and walking
trails are available.
Veteran's Monument
Located on E. Elk Avenue in Courthouse Square, the
Veterans War Monument was erected in 1912, and was dedicated in
honor of all soldiers of Carter County in all the wars from the
Revolution down to the present date. The monument base, which is
20 feet square and 65 feet tall is built out of river rock
and cement.
Veteran's War Memorial
The Veteran's War Memorial Park located in downtown
Elizabethton was built in 2002 as a memorial to Carter County soldiers
killed in America's wars. Monuments are inscribed with names of
local soldiers killed in World Wars I & II, the Korean Conflict,
the Vietnam Conflict, Desert Storm, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
A Veteran's Memorial Walkway is planned between Elk Avenue and E
Street, and will include a Wall of Honor with 3,000 bricks inscribed
with the names of local servicemen who have served their country in
the military. The walkway is expected to be constructed this year.
Watauga Lake
Completed on Dec. 1, 1948, the Watauga Dam is 328
feet high and 1,000 feet long at the top, 32 feet thick at the top,
and 1,260 feet thick at the bottom. The embankment creates a
reservoir 16 miles long and 269 feet deep. The town of Butler was
moved to allow Watauga Lake to become a reality. Foundations and
memories are all that remain of the old town near Butler, safely
guarded in the depths of Watauga Lake. The lake, one of the most
pristine in the TVA system, is popular for boaters, fishermen and
skiers.
Roan Mountain State Park
Located in Roan Mountain, and nestled beneath the
6,285-foot peak of its namesake, Roan Mountain State Park has cabins,
campground, and a wide range of recreational programs.
Atop majestic Roan Mountain grow the largest natural display of
Catawba rhododendron in the world. Beautiful any season of the year,
the gardens come into full bloom in mid-June.
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