Last updated: June 15, 2026
Place
Coker Creek Welcome Center
NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
12197 TN-68, Coker Creek, Tennessee 37314.
Significance:
The Coker Creek Visitor Center, nestled in the Cherokee National Forest of southeast Tennessee, occupies a historically significant stretch of the Trail of Tears and interprets this tragic episode. Guided by the National Park Service, it serves as an official Trail of Tears National Historic Trail site, offering educational materials and interpretive displays for visitors.
Designation:
Historic site on the Trail of Tears NHT.
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
1 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
The Coker Creek Visitor Center, nestled in the Cherokee National Forest of southeast Tennessee, occupies a historically significant stretch of the Trail of Tears and interprets this tragic episode. It offers educational materials and interpretive displays for visitors.
Adjacent to the center lies the Unicoi Turnpike, an ancient Cherokee travel route that later became a main corridor for Cherokee removal during the winter of 1838–39. Modern hiking trails along this roadway include interpretive panels that recount the harrowing experiences of Cherokee detachments forced westward.
Today, visitors can explore the landscape on foot or through exhibits, tracing the same paths trod by Cherokee families facing displacement. The Visitor Center bridges natural beauty and historical gravitas, connecting people to the emotional landscape of the Cherokee exodus. It stands as a poignant educational landmark where the region’s cultural geography and the memory of forced removal converge—ensuring this story remains alive.
Site Information
Location (12197 TN-68, Coker Creek, Tennessee 37314.)
Safety Considerations