Presentation Remarks Transcript: Reflections on Trail of Tears Preservation Work

Good morning everyone. Boy, am I proud to be here. The relationship between the Center, the Trail of Tears Association, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and many other groups has been deeply enriching for us. Hopefully, it’s been a meaningful contribution from our department to the vital work you all do to preserve a nationally significant story that must never be forgotten.

My connection to this work began in 1987 with the nomination of the Houston House, on the northern route near Woodbury, Tennessee. That log house, transformed over time into a Greek Revival structure, was the first “witness house” we studied. When the National Park Service released a draft trail document that year, we asked: “What about the Houston House and this route?” That kicked off our early involvement.

The next year, I met Shirley Lawrence and Gloria Scoggins. TVA’s Max Ramsey connected us with local folks in Meigs County. They wanted to involve TVA land in commemorating the Trail of Tears. He asked if we could help without any budget—which we did. Our 1990 plan included the conceptual design you still see at the memorial park today. This partnership with tribal members and local leaders became the model for our future work.

The 1990s were quieter as I edited the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. But the new century brought renewed focus. The Trail of Tears Association and Aaron Maher from the National Park Service reached out. Aaron, soaked from rain and apologetic for limited funds, offered to fund grad student support. I said yes. Training students for impactful careers has always been part of our mission.

This led to projects like expanding the Brainerd Cemetery National Register nomination, where a student’s thesis work eventually made her a top preservationist in Seattle. We documented sites like Bly Ferry, Ross’s Landing, Kelly’s Ferry Road, Rocky River Crossing, and the James Brown Farm and House in Hamilton County. These projects connected local communities to national stories.

One striking example was Port Royal State Park. When I visited in the early 2000s, picnic tables were placed on the old roadbed—unintentionally disrespectful due to lack of knowledge. Since then, the park has become a model Trail of Tears site with new leadership and interpretation.

We expanded nominations at significant properties, helped preserve Hair Conrad’s cabin, and created the passport driving tour in Bradley County. Collaborating with Melissa Woody and Amy Kostine was a turning point. With the Hiwassee River Heritage Center, we turned an old bank building into an exhibit space, despite skepticism. It started small—six panels and one display case—but evolved into a full interpretive trail.

Amy, as many of you know, has been a powerhouse. From graduate student to point person for the trail agenda, she has done it all. When she applied, she said she wanted to work on the Trail of Tears. She meant it.

We’ve expanded this work to Pulaski, where two trail strands intersect. There, we told straightforward stories with artifacts and tribal input. The museum’s initial vision remains vital today.

Back in 2013, while working in Montana, I received a pivotal call from Aaron Maher and Mike Taylor. They were in Santa Fe, I was on a mountain, but that call renewed our partnership with NPS and expanded our efforts nationally.

Since then, we’ve surveyed and documented witness structures and roads across several states—from the Van House in Georgia to Ballinger Mill in Missouri. We highlighted water routes, railroads (yes, there were southern railroads in the 1830s), and sites like Rockdale Plantation that reveal enslaved life in Cherokee communities.

Sadly, some sites were lost. The Snelson Brinker House in Missouri, an early commemorative site, was burned by vandals. But documentation ensures its story survives.

We produced guidebooks, site studies, and thematic research like “Rivers, Rails, and Roads” on transportation during removal. We tackled preservation at Red Clay State Park, and created new nominations in Georgetown and Kentucky.

One special project was the Cherokee Removal Museum at Bly Ferry, urged by Nancy Williams. I poured hours into exhibit case design, believing that artifacts displayed well can move people and spark deeper understanding. This is just phase one. More growth is coming.

As for retirement—yes, I plan to step down in summer 2026. But we have two full years left. Projects are active, and I have plenty of people keeping me in line.

What’s next? Our commitment to this story is unshakable. At the Center for Historic Preservation, we specialize in nationally significant stories rooted in local communities. The story of Cherokee removal isn’t just for big institutions. It’s for places like Charleston, Red Clay, Bly Ferry—places where people can stand on the land and feel the history.

You, our partners, have shaped public history. You launched careers—Amy’s, Dr. Shelton’s, many others. You’ve helped graduate students become leaders in preservation.

So thank you for what you’ve done—for my students, for the Cherokee people, and for this country.

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