This Beautiful Park Tucked Away In Tennessee Has An Intriguing History
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Tennessee is full of history. From the early settlers of the Appalachians to the boom of river commerce through the entire 20th century, there has been no shortage of incredible and fascinating things that have happened right here in our state. One of the most interesting spots in the state is the Old Stone Fort park outside of Manchester. The park is home to ruins that have been around for nearly 2000 years, but that’s not all the history that this park has.
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park may only be 50 years old as a State Park, but it has been a significant part of Tennessee history for much longer.
The park is home to a stone fort (as you probably guessed) that was built by Native Americans nearly 2000 years ago during the Middle Woodland period. Some of the walls are still visible today.
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The park is absolutely stunning and offers plenty of opportunities to learn and get outdoors. The visitor center houses a small museum where you can learn more about the area's history.
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While we don't know if the builders of the fort actually used it as a fort or as something else, we do know that they lived there for about 500 years after first building it.
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Perhaps the most interesting part about the park is the spot that archaeologists have identified as the entrance to the fort. The entrance was originally designed to align perfectly with the rising sun on the summer solstice.
There are even some remains of the old paper mill that was on the Duck River at the site during the 1800's. Now, most of the walls have given way to the nature around them.
While this bridge is certainly not 2000 years old, it is really cool. For a nice break, walk out to the middle and enjoy watching the many kayakers that paddle down the river.
For water lovers, the streams at Old Stone Fort are known for being some of the clearest in the state. The park also features a few waterfalls that you can climb on! So whether it's history or nature, Old Stone Fork park is the perfect place to go.
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