History Left A Definite Mark At This One Fascinating Spot In Kentucky
Kentucky’s history is varied and vast and there is evidence of it all over our great state. Some historic moments and citizens are memorialized with parks or statues and other notable spots are preserved in time by nature. Close to the border of Illinois, not far from the Ohio River, stands an eye-catching natural bridge that has an extremely fascinating past. If you haven’t heard of or visited this important area, you’ll likely want to after learning about the mark history has made on it.
Located in the tiny town of Joy, Kentucky, the Mantle Rock Nature Preserve is near the Illinois border and notably, the Ohio River.
This historic area allows visitors to literally walk through history as these paths and forests were once a part of the Trail of Tears.
The area is now a 367-acre preserve with 2.75 miles of trails, where you can step on the same ground that the Cherokee once did in the 1800s as they were forced to travel west.
The trail itself is well maintained, with a designated parking area and plenty of naturally beautiful scenery.
Near the trail, you'll find a walkway that is lined with historic information about the Trail of Tears and the fascinating story of what happened in this very spot in 1838 and 1839.
As over 1700 Cherokee traveled west toward the Ohio River, they realized that they would not be able to cross the icy waters in the winter, so they looked for a place to take refuge.
As if it was there for this very purpose, the Cherokee discovered Mantle Rock, a 30-feet tall natural bridge that would help provide shelter from the elements.
The bridge is 188-feet long and is surrounded by other rock formations and thick woods. That, combined with other natural features in the area, became a temporary home for the Cherokee during the winter of 1838-1839.
Despite the vast bridge, many of the migrants did not survive their time in Kentucky. Those who did continued to make their way across the river, along the Trail of Tears.
Though fascinating, this historic spot in Kentucky is filled with sadness and mystery. You can walk this trail for yourself today, living the history of our state and experiencing the natural surroundings that the Cherokee did, all those years ago.
Mantle Rock Preserve is stunningly beautiful with a fascinating, yet mournful, past. Have you hiked to this historic spot? What did you think? Share with us in the comments.
For more information on the Preserve, including directions, visit here.
And in case you missed a few other hikes to historic spots throughout Kentucky, check out our recent article here.
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A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
