• Trail of Tears artwork and trail walk

    Trail Of Tears

    National Historic Trail AL,AR,GA,IL,KY,MO,NC,OK,TN

A Journey of Injustice

Remember and commemorate the survival of the Cherokee people, forcefully removed from their homelands in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee to live in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. They traveled by foot, horse, wagon, or steamboat in 1838-1839.

Features

  • Original Route sign

    Tell-Tale Signs

    Imagine more than 15,000 Cherokee people being forced to march across nine states to Oklahoma. Follow their path by following these road signs.

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  • Chieftains Museum

    Travel the Trail

    Walk trail segments, and visit museums, parks, cemeteries, cabins, and forts connected to the Trail of Tears journey for five Indian tribes.

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  • Official Trail of Tears NHT logo

    Partners

    The National Park Service works with federal, state, county, and local agencies, tribes and private individuals as partners to administer the trail.

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  • videos and exhibits

    The Trail Comes Alive

    Watch stories of hardship, endurance, love, and loss come alive between a Cherokee grandfather and his granddaughter. Will their culture survive?

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  • Trail of Tears NHT Map

    A Complete Set of Tools for a Complex Story

    Ready to follow the trail? Need a map? Your toolkit includes brochures, maps, and links for trip planning.

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  • Paspport Book

    Your Passport to the Trail

    Visit over 25 sites where you can get your book stamped. Sites & location information listed here. Everyone loves the National Park Passport Program!

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  • Your Link to History

    This story is one of racial injustice, intolerance, and suffering—but is also a story of survival. Read all about it through ongoing research studies.

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Did You Know?

Elkhorn Tavern at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, on Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

The Cherokee people in the southeastern United States built European-style homes and farmsteads, developed a written language, established a newspaper, and wrote a constitution. But they had no equal protection under the law and could not prevent being removed from their homes on the Trail of Tears.