trail of tears commemorative park and heritage center

The trail of tears park is worth a stop. There's not very much to do but walk on the trails. It's an educational stop where you can learn what happened here. You can almost feel it!

There isn't a lot to see here but what there is is worth the stop by. This is a very significant place in the history of the Cherokee Indians and their being ousted from their land. Take a few minutes and go by here and visit this sacred place!

We saw the sign for the park while traveling southbound on Pennyrile Parkway just before our exit. We went to the park after we had been in Hopkinsville for a couple of days. Park is well maintained and clean. Nice parking area with plenty of room. Toured the museum with Kristina as our personal guide. She is very knowledgeable of the history of the area and the Cherokee people that where in this area. Well worth the time to visit. If as I, you know of the Trail of Tears but not much more than it happened, this is a stop that will give you more information into the history of our nation.

I went to the pow wow and it was fun but they hold it at the wrong time of year and it's hot! The vendors have high prices but good products. B- Review

The site let's you reflect on the suffering endured by the Indians. We were disappointed that the museum wasn't open. We were there during the time posted for it to be open.

Saw that there was going to be a Native American display over this last weekend and decided to take the family. I am glad that we did. Not only did we get to try some different food; some great Indian art & exhibits, but the Native American dancing was stupendous. For hours they danced and danced and played music. There were teepee displays and people who educated us on life of a Native American. Great day!

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. The cabin museum was nice but I wish it had been big enough to hold more displays. It was nice but could have had more. It is an excellent side trip.

Bittersweetly beautiful park. We were able to walk the cemetery and give respect to the Chiefs buried there, we got to stop in to the visitors center and speak with the woman in there ( I didn't get to catch her name) she was so nice and gave us lots of info and chit chatted. They will be having a Pow-Wow in September but unfortunately I don't think we will be around this area to attend, which saddens us because we have experienced many and they are an awesome experience, especially in a place that has so much history. If you have the chance to ever go to one I suggest you do! So much of the Native history gets hidden or taken away, so we were grateful to be able to take this opportunity to come see this, and we hope to be able to go back again before we leave and speak with the wonderful people there. Just make sure to check hours of operation, so you can experience all the things you may wish to see, but even if you don't get to the park itself is worth checking out and experiencing

We used to live almost 20 years ago in the subdivision next to this park. Then, the Park only had the monuments of the Cherokee chiefs but now it has been developed with cabins, flags and much stuff to read about the Trail of Tears, which makes this history of the Cherokees come alive. So informative but so so sad.

We were in the area and thought that this would be a good stop for knowledge and to remember the 1,000's who died needlessly.It is a dog park plain and simple. The chiefs graves are truly inaccessible. You cant even see the markers really through the poorly done and poorly maintained iron rod fence.If you take a photo of the statues, that are well done, all you will get is a fantastic picture of, AGAIN another poorly done iron rod fence. REALLY concrete rebar??!! For a fence to surround Cherokee graves??!! The "heritage" center was closed. Sad. My children learned nothing from those who care for this park except that really they do not care about those who they are "honoring". The closed "heritage" center is much like the fence that separates visitors from the history sad, not well maintained, and not up to what these men who rest here deserve!The sign directing visitors to the park is tiny and decrepit and seems like an afterthought. This park needs to change if thy are going to teach anyone anything! I would be ashamed if I worked here!

From Hopkinsville, and have been associated with the Trail of Tears Park as a volunteer for a number of years. It is First class for a local attraction and draws visitors from all areas of the country. The Park is well maintained and includes a gift shop and information center. The grave sites of two Cherokee Chiefs are located in the Park. The Annual Pow Wow is intertribal and has a large attendance when held the first weekend after Labor Day each year. If in the area a visit would be a pleasing experience or a pleasant rest stop if passing thru Hopkinsville.

Trail of Tears State Park hosts an annual Trail of Tears Pow Wow. The park itself is very nice, easily accessed by handicapped, great parking, plenty of rest rooms. Two Cherokee Chiefs buried on the grounds. Well kept.

I live in the area, and have recently become more attracted to this place. The history is well represented and preserved at the visitor's center which is near the graves of the Indian Chiefs. The graves are fenced off to protect them, and are well maintained. Hanging on the fence are mementos and tributes left by members of the tribes that gather there every year for the annual PowWow. There are a few tables for picnicking behind the information center, in a beautiful shady area. I feel a real sense of history here. The other area of the park is not used as much as it could be, and is left alone except during the annual festivities. There is a trail of sorts that is approximately half of a mile long. The first part is only compacted gravel, the later part is asphalt. I like to do my walking here, but I would like to see some more care given to the actual park area. Perhaps some displays of native plants that the People would have used would be nice, with a description of the plant and how it was used.

Hopkinsville is a significant location on the Trail of Tears. The little park, musuem and cemetery are very well presented and maintained.

I've visited the park several times but missed the only time of the year that it actually comes alive. To say the park is a 'must see' is a misnomer, in my opinion. The annual festival is what's really to be seen. The larger part of the park itself is dreary and unkempt. It's not safe after dark and the walking trail (if that's what it is) isn't marked or paved. Park benches are strewn to the sides every which way - impossible for any kind of picnic.The heritage center is rarely open, unfortunately, because it has an accurate and remarkable history of the natives trek through the area. The sparkle is truly the grave sites. They are marked and labeled with care, and blooming flowers and a small picnic area give you a tiny glimpse of the beauty the earliest settlers must have experienced along the river's bank.