Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park: Seasonal Interpreter Program

Wednesday, June 17^th

10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion. Duration: 1 hour.

12:00 p.m.      “Food Through Time” – Laura Ellis will be inside Fort Watauga’s second cabin stirring up some history- food history, that is! You are invited to join her inside the second cabin as she tells of how food was prepared and preserved in the 18^th Century, and the cultures that influenced today’s culinary favorites. Please come and fill your brain! *Guests are prohibited from consuming this program’s food, so please eat beforehand* Duration: 30 minutes.

2:00 p.m. “Useful Plants of Appalachia” – Join Taylor Moorefield on an easy hike through our walking trails along the beautiful Watauga River. On the hike we will identify and discuss 20+ plants, trees and flowers along the trail, and any edible and/or medicinal uses they offer. Traditional uses by Cherokee and settlers will also be discussed. Plant lovers, history enthusiasts, and self-sufficiency buffs alike will enjoy this program! Ages 12 and up. Rain or shine. Bring water and comfortable walking shoes, and dress for the weather. Meet at the gates of Fort Watauga, located directly behind the visitor center down the sidewalk. Duration: 1 hour.

1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.           “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk-through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.

Thursday, June 18^th

10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion. Duration: 1 hour.

12:00 p.m.      “Women on the Frontier” – Sit down and learn all about the daily lifestyle of young ladies, upper-class women, and the working housewife in 18^th Century South. Laura Ellis will hold casual discussions on what women wore, etiquette, and daily chores that were done in order to keep the home in order. This event will be held in the second cabin inside Fort Watauga right behind the visitor’s center. *Due to CDC guidelines, this program is limited to 5 people.* Duration: 30 minutes.

1:30 p.m. & 2:30 pm.            “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk-through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.

Friday, June 19^th

10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion. Duration: 1 hour.

11:00 a.m.       “Creek Crawl” – Laura Ellis will be hosting a “critter hunt” along the trail. Tennessee’s waterways are prime area for animals large and small to build their homes and hideouts. The mission is to those creatures and the benefits they bring to the region. Please meet Laura at the trail’s butterfly garden, under the field’s large poplar tree, if interested. Catching equipment will be provided and individuals should prepare to get wet. Children Welcome! Duration: 1 hour.

2:00 p.m. “18^th Century Coffee!”  –  Coffee, anyone? This amazing drink of the modern world has a long and fascinating history! Learn about the origins of coffee, how it made its way to the New World, and how the settlers of our area would have prepared and enjoyed this drink during the Revolutionary War period. All ages welcome. Meet at the gates of Fort Watauga, located directly behind the visitor center down the sidewalk. *Please note there will be no samples to taste.* Duration: 30 minutes.

1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.           “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Duration: 1 hour.

Saturday, June 20^th

10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion. Duration: 1 hour.

11:00 a.m.      “Let the Colonial Games Begin!” – In the 18^th Century, kids would invent many different games to pass their time. Laura Ellis will be bringing those games to the 21^st Century in the field by the trail’s butterfly garden, so bring your children, set up a picnic, and enjoy the day watching or participating in colonial games! Duration: 1 hour.

2:00 p.m. “Project Pine Glue”  – Before modern glue, the Cherokee and other native peoples crafted their hunting tools with an incredibly strong natural glue made from pine resin and other ingredients. Come learn how it was made and see it in action – it still works as effectively as it always has! All ages welcome. Meet at the gates of Fort Watauga, located directly behind the visitor center down the sidewalk. Duration: 30 minutes.

1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.           “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.

Sunday, June 21^st

1:00 pm.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion.  Duration: 1 hour.

3:00 p.m.        “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Duration: 1 hour.

Wednesday, June 24^th

10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion. Duration: 1 hour.

10:00 a.m.      “Frontier Fire-Starting” – Before settlers arrived, the native Cherokee had their own ways of creating fire for survival. With early European influence, other means of fire-making crossed the sea to the New World. Taylor Moorefield and Laura Ellis will be demonstrating the varieties of primitive and paleolithic fire-starting methods practiced on the frontier. Please meet inside Fort Watauga, located directly behind the visitor center down the sidewalk. Duration: 30 minutes.

Wednesday, June 24^th

1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.           “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.

Thursday, June 25^th

10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion. Duration: 1 hour.

12:00 p.m.      “It’s a Farmer’s Life for Me” – Early settlers in the Watauga Valley made their livelihoods off farming the surrounding land and utilizing it as much as possible. Laura Ellis will be inside Fort Watauga, right behind the visitor’s center, explaining a typical 18^th Century farm and the responsibility that came with it. Many of their farming traditions are still in common practice today! Duration: 30 minutes.

1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.           “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.

Friday, June 26^th

10:30 a.m.      “Colonial Letter-Writing” In today’s world of media, the traditional act of letter writing is increasingly less practiced. Laura Ellis will demonstrate the art behind the main source of communication on the frontier, including formal etiquette, wax stamping, and the varieties of message sending during the Revolutionary War. Please meet inside the visitor’s center gathering place. Duration: 30 minutes.

10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion. Duration: 1 hour.

2:00 p.m. “Music on the Frontier” – Join Taylor Moorefield and hear history come alive through song! Taylor will play songs and tunes from the 18th century and discuss the ways the settlers made music, and the important role it played in their daily lives. Duration: 30 minutes.

1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.           “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.

Saturday, June 27^th

10:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion. Duration: 1 hour.

12:00 p.m.      “Let the Colonial Games Begin!” – In the 18^th Century, kids would invent many different games to pass their time. Laura Ellis will be bringing those games to the 21^st Century in the field by the trail’s butterfly garden, so bring your children, set up a picnic, and enjoy the day watching or participating in colonial games! Duration: 1 hour.

2:00 p.m. “How To Pack For An Adventure” – Come learn basic and advanced backpacking tips, often forgotten items, things you don’t need, and how to ensure you’re ready for your adventure into the woods – whether it’s for a day or a week! Taylor Moorefield will cover minimalist approaches all the way up to your own luxurious vacation in nature. All ages welcome. Meet in the visitor center lobby. Duration: 45 minutes-1 hour.

1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.           “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.

Sunday, June 28^th

1:00 pm.        “Carter Mansion House Tour” – Join Seasonal Interpreter Taylor Moorefield and take a tour of the oldest frame house in Tennessee, home to Landon and Elizabeth Carter – two prominent settlers of the Carter Family who built their home here in the late 1770s. Learn all about the Carters and their fascinating place in the history of our area. Meet at Carter Mansion.  Duration: 1 hour.

3:00 p.m.        “Sabine Hill House Tour” – Join Laura Ellis on a walk through time as she talks about the Taylor family who built today’s Sabine Hill, and the founders of Happy Valley while exploring their restored home. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 1 hour.

If you would like to receive updated information throughout the year, please send your email address to jennifer.bauer@tn.gov

Visitors Center Hours:

  9 am–4 pm -Mon.- Sat. (Closed: Lunch &Cleaning 11:30 am -1:30 pm) 1 pm – 4:30 pm Sun.

Our Visitors Center is closed on most State holidays. Park grounds open from dawn until dusk.