• fog flows through Cumberland Gap

    Cumberland Gap

    National Historical Park KY,TN,VA

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Increase in camping rates at the Wilderness Road campground

    Effective June 1, 2013, camping rates will increase. Tent sites will increase to $14.00 per night and RV sites with electrical hookup will increase to $20.00 per night. Group camp sites will increase to $35.00 per night.

  • Special Program offered in place of Hensley tour on June 16

    The regularly scheduled Hensley tour will not be offered on June 16 but will be replaced by a special Father's Day program. The road to the Hensley Settlement will be open to visitors and living history demonstrations will be offered. More »

  • Cave Tour Alert!

    White Nose Syndrome is a disease that is killing bats in great numbers and has been found in park caves. While visiting Gap Cave please do not wear or bring anything that has been in other caves. Skylight Cave is currently closed.

  • Civil War Event Cancelled

    Invisible Souls: Behind the Veil of the Civil War, a special event showcasing stories of the Civil War October 4, 5, and 6, 2013 has been cancelled. Please call the park visitor center at (606) 248-2817, extension 1075 for more information.

Research

archives photo

Archival Collections

The archives of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park cover hundreds of linear feet of documents pertaining to all aspects of the park and its history. Here's a brief synopsis of each collection. To schedule an appointment to view the archives, please contact the park archivist.

The Resource Management Collection contains records created during the pre-park planning for a national park that preserves and interprets the historic migration corridor of the Cumberland Gap, and park management of the resources protected within and region affecting the Cumberland Gap NHP.

The Hensley Settlement Collection contains records created during the pre-park planning for acquiring the Hensley Settlement lands to be made part of the national park, family records and research, records created during park administration of Hensley Settlement, and historical research on the Settlement.

The Kincaid Collection includes the correspondence, manuscripts, newspaper articles, photographs, brochures, and hand-written notes of Robert Kincaid, author of the classic history The Wilderness Road.

The Tunnel Collection documents the entire administrative history of the construction of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel from the early planning stages in the late 1950s through the completion of the tunnel in 1996 and continues through the rehabilitation of the Gap after the tunnel opened to vehicular traffic.

 
iron furnace 200

historic photo of the Iron Furnace

Photograph Collections

Earl Palmer Appalachian Photograph Collection

William A. Barnhill Collection: Historical Photographs of Pioneer Life in Western N. C. 1914-1917

Although the historic photo collection of the park is currently under the process of being digitized, hundreds are currently available to be seen.

For more information about historical photo collections at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park please contact the park archivist.

Did You Know?

Hikers on the Sugar Run trail.

Cumberland Gap is an incredible destination for hikers and backpackers... over 85 miles of trails and numerous backcountry camping areas.