MO-Trail+of+Tears+State+Park


 * =Birding in Missouri=

Cape Girardeau County
=Trail of Tears State Park= 429 Moccasin Springs Jackson, Missouri 63755 Trail of Tears State Park Website Trail of Tears State Park Map

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Trail of Tears SP
Coordinates: 37.4519754, -89.4756039 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Tips on birding Trail of Tears State Park
From Audubon Society of Missouri Birder's Guide

About Trail of Tears State Park
Gain a better understanding of one of the saddest chapters in American history at Trail of Tears State Park, where nine of the 13 Cherokee Indian groups being relocated to Oklahoma crossed the Mississippi River during harsh winter conditions in 1838 and 1839. The park’s visitor center tells the tale of the thousands who died on the forced march, as well as the park’s many natural features. The park also has a cheerier side: shaded picnic sites, hiking and horse trails, opportunities to fish in both the Mississippi River and Lake Boutin, and majestic views of the Mississippi River and beyond. Its location right on the river makes the park one of the best places in Missouri for viewing migratory waterfowl.

In 1830, President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act, which called for the removal of American Indians living east of the Mississippi River to relocate west of the Mississippi River. Trail of Tears State Park commemorates the Cherokee Removal.

While some of the Cherokees left on their own, more than 16,000 were forced out against their will. In winter 1838-39, an endless procession of wagons, horsemen and people on foot traveled 800 miles west to Indian Territory. Others traveled by boat along river routes. Most of the Cherokee detachments made their way through Cape Girardeau County, home of Trail of Tears State Park. While there, the Indians endured brutal conditions; they dealt with rain, snow, freezing cold, hunger and disease. Floating ice stopped the attempted Mississippi River crossing, so the detachments had to set up camps on both sides of the river. It is estimated that over 4,000 Cherokees lost their lives on the march, nearly a fifth of the population.

Legend says that Nancy Bushyhead Walker Hildebrand died and was buried within the park’s boundaries. She was the sister of Rev. Jesse Bushyhead, who led one of the detachments, and the wife of Lewis Hildebrand, who led another. Her two children traveled on and made it to Indian Territory. The Bushyhead Memorial in the park is a tribute to her and all the other Cherokee who died on the trail.

Trail of Tears State Park is a certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The park’s visitor center features exhibits that interpret the forced relocation, as well as the park’s many natural features.

The park preserves the native woodlands much as they appeared to the Cherokee. Mature forests cover much of the park, which is characterized by sharp ridges and steep ravines. Located directly on the Mississippi River, visitors can view the plentiful wildlife, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, hawks and foxes. The large trees on the bluffs and cliffs along the river are noted as winter roosting sites for bald eagles.

The Indian Creek Wild Area features hardwood forests of white oak, black oak, tulip poplar and hickory. Floodplain forests along Indian Creek contain large sweet gums and willows, while junglelike areas thick with wild grapevines abound in the lowlands. Nearby, limestone bluffs tower more than 60 feet above the river. Peewah Trail, used by hikers and equestrians, winds through this 1,300-acre wild area.

The 300-acre Vancill Hollow Natural Area contains a type of forest more typical of the Appalachian Mountains than the Ozarks. This rare forest is characterized by a larger growth of trees, a greater diversity of species, and trees such as American beech, tulip poplar and cucumber magnolia. The moist ground is covered with a rich growth of luxurious ferns and wildflowers.

For visitors wishing to spend a night or more, basic campsites are located in the heavily wooded area of the park. Campsites with electrical hookups and electricity and sewer hookups are located in a campground near the river. Campground facilities include modern restrooms, laundry facilities, hot showers and a dumping station. For backpackers, a primitive camping area borders a loop of the Peewah Trail.

Anglers can cast their luck in the Mississippi River, which offers catfish, perch and carp, while the 20-acre Lake Boutin is stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish. Popular lake activities, such as boating (electric motors only), canoeing and swimming, and scattered picnic sites make Trail of Tears State Park an excellent place to come for a day of relaxation. From Trail of Tears State Park Website



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