Trail of Tears State Park is a memorial to the members of the Cherokee tribe that lost their lives during their forced relocation in the winter of 1838-39. The peaceful, serene setting and the abundance of recreational opportunities of the 3,415-acre park are in sharp contrast to the tragic history that gives the park its name. As a result of a 1791 treaty with the U.S. Government the Cherokee Nation was allocated land in Georgia. Because of the desire of European settlers for land the state legislature passed a series of laws abolishing the authority of the Cherokee in 1828. The pressure for the removal of the Cherokee and other Native Americans from the eastern United States increased with the discovery of gold in Georgia in 1829. After bitter debate the U.S. Congress passed and President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Georgia’s anti-Cherokee laws in 1832 both Georgia and President Jackson ignored the ruling. In 1838 Jackson called in federal troops to “escort” approximately 16,000 Cherokee to their new home in the Indian Territory located in present day Oklahoma.

In the winter 1838-39, an endless procession of wagons, horsemen, and people on foot traveled 800 miles west to Indian Territory. Others traveled by boat along river routes. Most of the Cherokee detachments made their way through Cape Girardeau County, home of Trail of Tears State Park. While here, the Cherokee endured brutal conditions where they dealt with rain, snow, freezing cold, hunger, and disease. Floating ice impeded the Mississippi River crossing, so the detachments had to set up camps on both sides of the river. It is estimated that over 4,000 Cherokees lost their lives on the march, nearly a fifth of the population. This event, known to the Cherokee as “The Trail Where They Cried”, is better known as the Trail of Tears in U.S. history textbooks. Legend says that Nancy Bushyhead Walker Hildebrand died and was buried within the park’s boundaries. She was the sister of Reverend Jesse Bushyhead, who led one of the detachments, and the wife of Lewis Hildebrand, who led another. Her two children traveled on and made it to Indian Territory. The Bushyhead Memorial in the park is a tribute to her and all the other Cherokee who died on the trail. Trail of Tears State Park is a certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The park’s visitor center features exhibits that interpret the forced relocation, as well as the park’s many natural features.

The park preserves the native woodlands much as they appeared to the Cherokee. Mature forests cover much of the park, which is characterized by sharp ridges and steep ravines. Located directly on the Mississippi River, visitors can view the plentiful wildlife, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, hawks and foxes. The Indian Creek Wild Area features hardwood forests of white oak, black oak, tulip poplar and hickory. The floodplain forests along Indian Creek contain large sweet gums and willows. The 300-acre Vancill Hollow Natural Area contains a type of forest more typical of the Appalachian Mountains than the Ozarks. This rare forest is characterized by a larger growth of trees, a greater diversity of species, and its moist ground is covered with a rich growth of luxurious ferns and wildflowers. The park’s numerous trails offer opportunities for hiking, backpacking, primitive camping and equestrian pursuits.

For visitors wishing to spend a night or more, basic campsites are located in the heavily wooded area of the park. Campsites with electrical hookups and electricity and sewer hookups are located in a campground near the river. Anglers can fish in the Mississippi River, which offers catfish, perch and carp, or try the 20-acre Lake Boutin, which is stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish. The park offers popular lake activities, such as boating (electric motors only), canoeing and swimming. Its scattered picnic sites make Trail of Tears State Park an excellent place to come for a day of relaxation. The park’s numerous trails offer opportunities for hiking, backpacking, primitive camping and equestrian pursuits.