Tellico Plains

Then - Humans have inhabited the bottomlands of the Tellico River for at least 10,000 years. In 1886, a representative of the Smithsonian Institute described the remains of 15 Native American mounds here, stating that one mound in particular was the finest he had ever seen. Great Tellico, one of the largest and most powerful towns of the Cherokee Nation in the 18th century, stood about a mile from present-day Tellico Plains. The Tellico Iron Works operated here until it was destroyed by federal troops during the Civil War. The town was later reborn as a booming timber town. In the early 20th century the fertile bottomlands became home to the Stokely-Van Camp Cannery. An important crossroads for centuries, the Overhill Trading Path and Warriors' Path diverged at Tellico Plains. The Overhill Trading Path climbed over the mountains into North Carolina while the Warriors' Path ran southwestward to join the Cherokee settlements along the Hiwassee River. Modern roads have covered over much of the old path but Tellico Plains still retains its position as a crossroads for travelers. In 1996 the Cherohala Skyway was completed across the mountains between Tellico Plains, TN and Robbinsville, NC, making Tellico Plains the western gateway to this National Scenic Byway.

Now - Tellico Plains has emerged in the 21st century as an inviting mountain village, where visitors can buy handmade crafts, visit the Charles Hall Museum, start a trip on the Cherohala Skyway, or enjoy the Cherokee National Forest. The Skyway Visitor Center provides restrooms, visitor information, and interpretive exhibits about the Cherohala Skyway and Cherokee National Forest.