Living history in Ooltewah, Tennessee

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The James Brown Cherokee Plantation, located at 9521 Ooltewah Georgetown Road in Ooltewah, Tennessee, is a historic site with a rich and significant history. Built between 1835 and 1841, this plantation house belonged to James Brown, a Cherokee Indian who played a key role in the Trail of Tears. Despite leaving the property, his daughter Jane and Dr. Yarnell of Brainerd Missions School continued to reside there. The house, built in a simple Federal-style brick design, is surrounded by a family graveyard where some of the Brown family members are buried. The James Brown Cherokee Plantation is a Certified Site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, marking the tragic journey that many Native American Indians were forced to endure. As part of this historical trail, visitors can reflect on the hardships faced by the Cherokee Indians as they were uprooted from their homes and relocated to Oklahoma. The journey, known as The Trail of Tears, was a devastating chapter in American history, with many lives lost due to lack of resources and harsh conditions.