Brown's Ferry Federal Road

A park ranger leads a tour of the Brown's Ferry Federal Road on Moccasin Bend.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Moccasin Bend

Designation:

National Archeological District

This trace joined the road from Washington, Tennessee, to the Federal Road that crossed the face of Lookout Mountain, thereby connecting the growing hub of Ross's Landing (modern-day Chattanooga) to points west. John Brown, a local Cherokee, claimed the land and ferry across the river, benefiting from the growing trade. Yet in 1838, thousands of Cherokee crossed the road as part of the forced removal to Indian Territory. Just 25 years later, salvation came to the besieged US army in Chattanooga as supplied on the "Cracker Line" crossed over the road.