Hiwassee River Heritage Center — Attraction in Charleston

This Heritage Center is dedicated to the history of the local communities of Charleston and Calhoun as well as the Hiwassee river that runs through the middle of them. There is a very dedicated and knowledgable group of people that work hard to tell the story of these communities. There's an extremely rich history here including pre-Cherokee early American inhabitants, Cherokee and the Trail of Tears, Civil War, and African American history. They strive not only to detail what happened here but also bring it to life with personal stories of the people who lived here and/or visited the area. Its It's an amazing window into not only the past, but how those stories shaped the lives of descendants living here today. They love to here details other visitors may have about the area as well. If you are someone who loves history, I strongly recommend you visit. If you have research or detail about the area, share it with the staff so they can continue building this story...

A small but large in content the Hiawassee River Heritage Center. Contains the history of Ft. Cass, the Removal Act and the horrible Trail of Tears events. The area near Charleston, Tennessee seen significant activity during the Civil War. This is a very unique museum if you're interested in the Cherokee, Trail of Tears the Trails path with it's devastating results runs through this...

Although I live in East Tennessee, I never realized that Charleston was the mustering point for the Cherokess they evicted from their homes and land in a forced march west. This museum gives a lot of insight as to how it happened and the people involved on both sides. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful as well, and the trail behind the museum is a must...