Cumberland Gap

:"Cumberland Gap" is also the informal name for a section of the A74 road in England.

Related Topics:
A74 road - England

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The Cumberland Gap is a pass across the Cumberland Mountains region of the Appalachian Mountains. It is located near the spot where the current-day states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia meet. The pass elevation is 1600 feet (488 meters).

Related Topics:
Cumberland Mountains - Appalachian Mountains

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The Gap was the chief passageway through the Appalachians in early American history. It was formed as an ancient creek, flowing southward, cut through the land being pushed up to form the mountains. As the land rose even more, the creek reversed direction flowing into the Cumberland River to the north. Used in prehistoric times by migrating animal herds, the Indians used it after their arrival into North America. The gap was named for Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland who sponsored an expedition into the area in 1750. In 1775, Daniel Boone brought a company of men to cut out a path through the gap to enable a settlement effort by the Transylvania Company in Transylvania. The trail was widened in the 1890s to accommodate wagon traffic. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 immigrants passed through the gap on their way into Kentucky and the Ohio Valley before 1810.

Related Topics:
Cumberland River - Indian - North America - Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland - Daniel Boone - Transylvania Company - Transylvania - 1890s - Kentucky - Ohio Valley

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U.S. Highway 25E passed overland through the gap before the completion of a tunnel in 1996. The original trail was then restored.

Related Topics:
U.S. Highway 25E - A tunnel - 1996

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