Seasonal Interpreter Programs: July 1st – July 12th
***In keeping with CDC guidelines to prevent Covid-19, all guests MUST register in advance for the listed programs. We encourage attendees to bring masks and keep 6 feet apart from other guests. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation***
Carter Mansion and Sabine Hill Home Tour: Our beautiful historic homes have a TOUR FEE. Adults – $8.00; Children (7-17) – $4.00; Children (0-6) – FREE
***Historic homes are located off-site from the park grounds. See website for addresses***
Register here: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/sycamore-shoals
Wednesday, July 1st
10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.
10:30 a.m. “Making Rivercane Arrows” – How did the Cherokee make arrows for hunting and warfare? Join Taylor Moorefield and see it done first-hand! Meet in the fort and we will walk down to the long-hunter camp as a group for the program. Duration: 45 minutes.
2:00 p.m. “Colonial Letter-Writing” In today’s world of media, the traditional act of letter writing is increasingly less practiced. Laura Ellis will demonstrate the art behind the main source of communication on the frontier, including formal etiquette, wax stamping, and the varieties of message sending during the Revolutionary War. Please meet inside the visitor’s center gathering place. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
Thursday, July 2nd
10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.
10:30 a.m. “Native Flames” – Join Taylor Moorefield for a talk and demo of primitive fire methods used by the Cherokee and other native tribes. You will learn what types of local woods are effective for fire by friction, purposes and uses for fire by the native peoples. Meet inside the fort. Ages 10 and up. Duration: 45 minutes.
2:00 p.m. “It’s a Farmer’s Life for Me” – Early settlers in the Watauga Valley made their livelihoods off farming the surrounding land and utilizing it as much as possible. Laura Ellis will be inside Fort Watauga, right behind the visitor’s center, explaining a typical 18th Century farm and the responsibility that came with it. Many of their farming traditions are still in common practice today! Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
Friday, July 3rd
10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.
10:30 a.m. “Useful Plants of Appalachia” – Join Taylor Moorefield on an easy hike through our walking trails along the beautiful Watauga River. On the hike we will identify and discuss 20+ plants, trees and flowers along the trail, and any edible and/or medicinal uses they offer. Traditional uses by Cherokee and settlers will also be discussed. Plant lovers, history enthusiasts, and self-sufficiency buffs alike will enjoy this program! Ages 12 and up. Rain or shine. Bring water and comfortable walking shoes, and dress for the weather. Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour.
2:00 p.m. “A Life in Linen” – How was linen made? What did early settlers use for dye? Join Laura Ellis inside the fort as she answers questions like these and explains the importance of flax and linen on the frontier, as well as get an idea of fabric dyeing in the late 1700s. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
Saturday, July 4th
10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.
10:30 a.m. “Do Not Forget Your Knots!” – Taylor Moorefield will demonstrate and discuss several useful knots for camping, shelter building and utility uses. You will get a chance to learn and practice these knots! Duration: 1 hour.
1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
2:00 p.m. “Fort Watauga Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a detailed walk through the fort. She will explain the earliest history of the land, the families who raised the walls, and the siege between the Native Americans and settlers here in the area. Laura will also go into the culture that surrounded the fort walls. If interested, please meet her outside the fort’s main gate, located right behind the visitor’s center. Duration: 30 minutes.
Sunday, July 5th
1:00 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
3:00 pm. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Duration: 1 hour.
Wednesday, July 8th
10:30 a.m. “Music on the Frontier” – Join Taylor Moorefield and hear history come alive through song! Taylor will play songs and tunes from the 18th century and discuss the ways the settlers made music, and the important role it played in their daily lives. Meet in the Visitors Center. Duration: 30 minutes.
10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.
1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
2:00 p.m. “Women on the Frontier” – Sit down and learn all about the daily lifestyle of young ladies, upper-class women, and the working housewife in 18th Century South. Laura Ellis will hold casual discussions on what women wore, etiquette, and daily chores that were done in order to keep the home in order. This event will be held in the second cabin inside Fort Watauga right behind the visitor’s center. *Due to CDC guidelines, this program is limited to 5 people.* Duration: 30 minutes.
Thursday, July 9th
10:30 a.m. “Frontier Firearms” – Witness the flintlock rifle in action! Learn about this significant tool and weapon of the frontier, its history, uses, construction, and see it fire. All ages welcome! Meet at the fort. Duration: 30 minutes.
10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.
1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
3:00 p.m. “Food Through Time” – Laura Ellis will be inside Fort Watauga’s second cabin stirring up some history- food history, that is! You are invited to join her inside the second cabin as she tells of how food was prepared and preserved in the 18th Century, and the cultures that influenced today’s culinary favorites. Please come and fill your brain! *Guests are prohibited from consuming this program’s food, so please eat beforehand* Duration: 30 minutes.
Friday, July 10th
10:30 a.m. “Whipping Rope – An Ancient Skill” – In this program, you will learn how to whip rope or cordage – a vital skill in primitive tools crafting. Whipping is a method of attaching two objects together, and can be used to make many stone tools, weapons, shelters, or structures. Ages 10 and up. Meet at the fort. Duration: 45 minutes.
10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.
1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
2:00 p.m. “Creek Crawl” – Laura Ellis will be hosting a “critter hunt” along the trail. Tennessee’s waterways are prime area for animals large and small to build their homes and hideouts. The mission is to those creatures and the benefits they bring to the region. Please meet Laura at the trail’s butterfly garden, under the field’s large poplar tree, if interested. Catching equipment will be provided and individuals should prepare to get wet. Children Welcome! Duration: 1 hour.
Saturday, July 11th
10:30 a.m. “Project Pine Glue” – Before modern glue, the Cherokee and other native peoples crafted their hunting tools with an incredibly strong natural glue made from pine resin and other ingredients. Come learn how it was made and see it in action – it still works as effectively as it always has! All ages welcome. Meet in the fort. Duration: 30 minutes.
10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.
1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
2:00 p.m. “Fort Watauga Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a detailed walk through the fort. She will explain the earliest history of the land, the families who raised the walls, and the siege between the Native Americans and settlers here in the area. Laura will also go into the culture that surrounded the fort walls. If interested, please meet her outside the fort’s main gate, located right behind the visitor’s center. Duration: 30 minutes.
Sunday, July 12th
1:00 p.m. “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Duration: 1 hour.
3:00 pm. “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Duration: 1 hour.
If you would like to receive updated information throughout the year, please send your email address to jennifer.bauer@tn.gov
Visitors Center Hours:
9 am–4 pm -Mon.- Sat. (Closed: Lunch &Cleaning 11:30 am -1:30 pm) 1 pm – 4:30 pm Sun.
Our Visitors Center is closed on most State holidays. Park grounds open from dawn until dusk.
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park – 1651 W. Elk Avenue- Elizabethton, TN 37643
423-543-5808
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