“Port Royal by Lantern” tour this week

By Beth Britton | October 26, 2009 |

Port Royal State Historic area will be holding their historical lantern tours this week. The tour last year was so successful, they are adding a second night! Tours start this Thursday, October 29th  6pm-9pm. If you cant make it on Thursday, then come by on Friday night October 30th 6-9pm. Port Royal by Lantern is a guided lantern tour through the historic Port Royal State Park.

Visitors will be taken back to the earliest days of Port Royal by hearing a first hand account by long hunter and settler John Montgomery. They will then continue on their journey through time by meeting various residents from the 1830’s through the 1920’s, all have their unique stories to tell. Afterwards there will be hot apple cider, and other refreshments, as well as a bonfire to huddle around and swap stories with present day locals! The event is free and open to the public. This is the perfect fall evening outing for the whole family.

A tour listens to one of the re-enactors tell his tale

Located in Adams, Port Royal was the site of one of the earliest colonial communities and trading posts in Middle Tennessee.  It was first settled in the early 1780s, and also served as a Longhunter camp as early as 1775. The town of Port Royal was founded in 1797 and rose to great prominence in the early part of the 19th century because of its strategic location at the head of navigation on the Red River, serving all of northern Middle Tennessee and South Central Kentucky. Port Royal became the only stop in Tennessee on the “Great Western Road” stagecoach line between Nashville, Tennessee, and Golconda, Illinois, and served as such until the 20th century. In 1977, the state of Tennessee received the deed to 26 acres of land at Port Royal and designated it a State Historic Park in 1978.

Port Royal State Park is the second Tennessee State Park to be named an official site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, joining Red Clay State Historic Park in Bradley County.   This park is a satellite of Dunbar Cave State Park.  For more information about the park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/PortRoyal.

For more information or questions about this event and the park please contact Port Royal State Historic Area at 931-358-9696

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