NPS Photo September 29, 1780 Although the Mineral Museum was not around when the Overmountain Men were on the campaign, the ground where it stands certainly was. Gillespie Gap was the place where the Patriot commanding officers had to make a difficult decision. They thought that Ferguson might be marching to meet them, and there were two roads down the mountain. If Ferguson took the opposite road up as they were taking their road down, they could be trapped from behind. However to split the group meant there would be a possibility of meeting Ferguson with diminished forces. They chose to split the militia, with Campbell’s Virginians taking the south route to Turkey Cove, and Shelby and Sevier’s men taking the north route to North Cove.
The museum has a display dedicated to the Overmountain Victory Trail in addition to their exhibits on the history of North Carolina minerals. There are two certified sections of OVNHT available to walk: a 1.8 mile section can be accessed up the hill behind the museum, and a 1.2 mile section of trail can be accessed across the road from the museum. There are restrooms and a drinking fountain available inside. The museum is open to the public year round, from 9am-5pm daily. |
Last updated: February 22, 2024