The Story Behind the Facts...
The Trail of Tears Routes
The Legend of the Cherokee Rose
Facts:
> Between 1838-39, 17,000 Cherokee Indians were rounded up by the Government and forced from their homes.
> The Cherokees were not the only ones to be forced, along with them were the Creeks and Seminole Indians.
> They were jailed until boats could be found to take them by river to Fort Gibson, in Indian Territory(Oklahoma)
> Not enough boats could be found and those left behind had to travel overland.
> They were put on 645 wagons and on a rainy day in October they started  marching through Nashville, Tennessee  and up to Hopkinville, Kentucky.
> On the way 4,000 died from exposure and fatigue.
> Moved because gold was found on their land, near New Echota, the Cherokee  capital       
> Most Cherokee's escaped to Western North Carolina, over 145,000 still live  here today.