In August 1843, a gold prospector working on Potato Creek discovered a reddish-brown and black decomposed rock that contained deep red crystals; his "gold" turned out to be red copper oxide. At the time, this copper deposit was one of the world's largest finds.The Copper Basin, a 75-square-mile geologic formation, was once home to the Southeast's largest metal mining operation, employing more than 2,500 people at its peak. The land was mined from the 1850s until 1987. The Burra Burra Mine, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is an example of the devastating environmental damage stemmed from such large-scale industrial development. By 1907, more than 50 square miles of countryside had been destroyed by the release of sulfur dioxide during ore roasting, the cutting of forests for fuel, and the subsequent erosion of exposed topsoil (Duggan, 1998).

Located on Burra Burra Street, one quarter mile north of the intersection of US Hwys 74/64 and TN 68, Ducktown, TN.

Fort Loudoun played a significant role in helping Great Britain secure the trans-Appalachian region from France during the Seven Years War, or as it is known in America, the French and Indian War. As the first planned British fort in the "Overhill" country, Fort Loudoun, for a while, helped ally the powerful Cherokee Nation to the English cause and block further French penetration of the area from the west.

Named after John Campbell, the fourth Earl of Loudoun, who was the British Commander in Chief in North America from 1756 to 1758, Fort Loudoun had its inception from Governor James Glen of South Carolina who saw the need for a fort among the Cherokee as early as 1746. However, it was not until October 1756, that actual construction of the fort began (Townsend, 1998).

Located off Highway 360, south of Vonore, TN from Highway 411. This site is a 3 minute drive from Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and will coordinate educational trips for both sites.

The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is Tennessee's only Indian-operated historical attraction. The land that the museum occupies is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only land the Eastern Band owns in Tennessee, the state of past Cherokee prominence. The exhibits focus on Cherokee lifeways in the Overhill area.

Also highlighted are the accomplishments of Sequoyah, the developer of the Cherokee written language, which is still in use today. Sequoyah was born in the Overhill town of Tuskegee, mere hundreds of yards from the museum, which bears his name. The Overhill towns are now almost entirely under the waters of Tellico Lake. The exhibits, with archaeological objects, remind every visitor that East Tennessee was the home to the most populous and politically important eighteenth-century division of the Cherokee. The Cherokee Memorial, which is on the grounds, is a burial mound where Cherokees exhumed during the Tellico Project have been reburied and honored (Townsend, 1998).

Located off Highway 360, 1.2 miles southeast of Vonore, TN, fron Highway 411.  This site is a 3 minute drive from Fort Loudoun and will coordinate educational trips for both sites.

The textile industry was the one Appalachian industry that employed mostly women. Often several family members worked for the same mill in order to qualify for a company house.

This museum tells the story of the lifestyle within the southern textile mill town of Englewood. Photographs and memorabilia dating back to 1916 adorn this museum as it pays tribute to the women of the textile industry.

Located at 17 S. Niota Street Downtown square, off Hwy. 411, Englewood, TN.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 1906 restored depot was once the home of the L&N Atlanta Division headquarters. The 15 room, yellow pine, Victorian building was the first permanent structure built in the planned township of Etowah, TN. Once a bustling passenger station and local gathering place, the depot is now home to a railroad museum.

In the museum, "Growing Up With The L&N: Life and Times in a Railroad Town", visitors will examine how the L&N Working class was affected by the early boomtown years, the 1922 national shopman's strike, the Depression and two world wars.

Located at 727 Tennessee Avenue, Highway 411, Etowah, TN.

Long before the great Western Gold Rush of 1849, North American gold was first discovered about 1799 in North Carolina. The next discovery of gold on this continent was in the mid-1820s just across the mountains in Coker Creek, Tennessee.

This fury for the quest of gold brought about a change. Thousands of Cherokee Indians who lived along the Unicoi Mountains were forced off their land and deported to Oklahoma along the Trail of Tears in order to make room for the exploitation of gold (Brown, 1991).

Located off TN Hwy 68, approximately 10 miles south of Tellico Plains, TN.

America's largest underground lake, the Lost Sea, is a fascinating geological development with immense cavern rooms and rare formations. The lake, covering 4 ½ acres, is recognized by the U.S. Department of Interior as a Registered Natural Landmark. This is due to the natural phenomenon of the lake as well as the abundance of a large collection of rare anthodites, more commonly known as "cave flowers".

Located by Exit 60 from I-75 at Sweetwater, TN.

The Old Copper Road, which opened in 1853, was the first transportation route into the mountains. For generations, this road was traveled by men and their mules hauling copper from the Ducktown mines to the railroad in Cleveland, TN.

Even earlier, in 1838, during the removal of the Cherokee Indians, this wilderness was used as a hiding place for many Cherokees. Due to lack of transportation, the Cherokee knew they were safe from the white men. Many Cherokee survived because of this area of mountain. In 1851, when time came to start the road, many Cherokee families were discovered living in the area and were hired to help build the road.

Today, visitors can touch retaining walls that were laid by Cherokee hands. The Old Copper Road is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Located on Highway 64, near Ducktown and Copperhill, TN.

This museum has thirty exhibit rooms that showcase the history of McMinn County. Starting from the late 1800s up to the 1940s, the extensive collection of memorabilia tells many stories. Visitors can see an old general store, a Victorian room, an old school house, and a collection of toys from long ago.

McMinn County was once home to Cherokee Indians and many relics are collected here. A time line of several wars, including the Civil War, is preserved also.

Located at 522 West Madison Avenue, Athens, TN