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Fort Payne Cabin Historic Site: A Window to the Trail of Tears

Reflect on the Trail of Tears at the Fort Payne Cabin Historic Site, a poignant reminder of Cherokee removal in Alabama.

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The Fort Payne Cabin Historic Site marks a poignant location along the Trail of Tears. While the original cabin is gone, the remaining chimney, foundation, and well offer a tangible connection to the Cherokee removal in the 1830s and the history of Fort Payne, Alabama.

A brief summary to Fort Payne Cabin Historic Site

Local tips

  • Visit the site by appointment to ensure access and learn more about its history from local experts. Contact Landmarks of DeKalb County for arrangements.
  • Combine your visit with other nearby attractions related to the Trail of Tears, such as the Willstown Mission Cemetery.
  • Explore other historical sites in Fort Payne, including the Fort Payne Depot Museum and the Alabama Fan Club and Museum.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    The Fort Payne Cabin Historic Site is located at 106 4th St, Fort Payne, AL 35967. From downtown Fort Payne, head east on Gault Avenue, then turn right onto 4th Street SE. The site will be at the end of the street. Parking is available near the site. There are no fees for parking.

  • Walking

    From the Fort Payne Main Street Historic District, walk south on Gault Avenue to 4th Street SE. Turn right onto 4th Street SE and walk to the end of the street. The site is easily accessible on foot from downtown Fort Payne. There are no costs associated with walking.

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Discover more about Fort Payne Cabin Historic Site

The Fort Payne Cabin Historic Site stands as a somber reminder of the Cherokee removal and the Trail of Tears. Located in Fort Payne, Alabama, the site marks what was once part of a larger complex, including Fort Payne, used by the U.S. military to gather and forcibly remove Cherokee people from their ancestral lands in the late 1830s. In 1837, federal troops arrived in Wills Valley and seized local property, including a cabin believed to have belonged to Cherokee John Huss (Spirit the Preacher), for use in the removal efforts. The cabin was part of a network of over 20 removal forts established in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. Over 1,100 Cherokee were held in open encampments at this location. The majority of Cherokee people forced to leave Alabama departed from Fort Payne, with a detachment led by Cherokee leader John Benge setting out for Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in October 1838. Although the fort was active for only about a year, the cabin remained standing until it was demolished in 1946. Today, visitors can see the remnants of the cabin, including a stone chimney, the outline of the foundation, and a stacked stone well. The site serves as a certified location on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, offering a space for reflection and education about this tragic chapter in American history.

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