Last updated: May 22, 2026
Place
Nancy Ward Gravesite
Jamie Hargis, CC BY-SA (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nancy_Ward_Tomb_Polk_County_Tennessee_1.JPG)
Quick Facts
Location:
Located on Hwy 411 south of Benton, TN.
Significance:
Nancy Ward’s bravery catapulted her onto the Women’s Council and the Council of Chiefs. She was a trusted liaison to the newly arriving white settlers.
Designation:
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
MANAGED BY:
State of Tennessee, Hiwassee/Ocoee State Park
Amenities
2 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto
At the age of 17, Nancy Ward earned the name of Ghighau, or “Beloved Woman,” for rallying the Cherokee warriors to victory after her husband died in battle. This act of bravery catapulted Ward onto the Women’s Council and the Council of Chiefs. Her high standing among her people, her remarriage in the 1750s to English trader Bryant Ward, and her desire for peaceful coexistence made Ward a trusted liaison to the newly arriving white settlers.
In 1923, the Nancy Ward Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a monument on her grave. She is buried next to her son, Five Killer, and her brother, Longfellow.
Content credit: VisitClevelandTN
Safety Considerations
In 1923, the Nancy Ward Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a monument on her grave. She is buried next to her son, Five Killer, and her brother, Longfellow.
Content credit: VisitClevelandTN
Site Information
Location (Hwy 411 south of Benton, TN)Safety Considerations