Rich Local History
Tracy City - Birthplace of the New South
This sleepy little town was once the South’s industrial hub. Coal was discovered, railroads were built and steel mills were developed nearby. These assets made Tracy City an area of strategic military importance during the civil war. It was fought over and occupied by the North.
After the war, the agrarian South lay In ruins. it was rebuilt into an industrial powerhouse, beginning in Tracy City.
Today, the coal mines are played out and the historic railroad bed has been converted into a paved bicycle trail that links the mountain communities through breathtaking natural countryside. Read the story of the Mountain Goat Trail and the history it celebrates here.
Incidentally, you may have noticed The mountain goat market, our favorite local restaurant listed in my local food reviews. Named after the Mountain Goat Railroad Line that was converted into a paved bicycle trail. That explains the restaurant’s quirky exterior murals featuring mountain goats riding on bicycle.
Highlander Folk School
Birthplace of Southern Organized Labor and the 60’s Civil Rights Movement.
University of the South - Sewanee
Appalachian Ivy League.
The Appalachian League is a summer collegiate baseball league that is part of the MLB and USA Baseball Prospect Development Pipeline, a pathway for amateur baseball players in the United States, and will also be an integral part of the identification and development process for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and other future national teams.
Grundy Historical Society
This is where, right here in the center of Tracy City, you can explore the rich history of the region. Civil War battles, Cherokee Indian Heritage, the trail of tears, local genealogy, local industry and more.