Family wants to "see something historical"

[Erik88]

My brother is bringing the family up from Florida in July and they "want to see something historical." The first thing that came to mind was the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. I've been wanting to take the train ride for a while now but haven't had the chance. It looks like a lot of fun but I'm not sure how "historical" it would be. Has anyone ridden the train before?

I'm open to other ideas as well. It would need to be something in East TN within 2 hours or less of La Follette.

[bajabuc]

Take him up in the mountains and tell him, "Daniel Boone walked here."

Or Cade's Cove. Fort Dickerson in South Knox. You could show him Oh Shoot!

[ttocswob]

Rode the BSFSR several years ago. Train was nothing special, just a diesel pusher and tram cars. The scenery is worth the trip, and includes historical info on the Blue Heron mine and coal tipple.

[Erik88]

Rode the BSFSR several years ago. Train was nothing special, just a diesel pusher and tram cars. The scenery is worth the trip, and includes historical info on the Blue Heron mine and coal tipple.

excellent, thanks for the info.

[MacGyver]

The whole Mine 81/Blue Heron area of the park is a real gem! I guess people just don't use the Stearns, KY entrance that much, but it's one of my favorite areas.

[MacGyver]

American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge?

[Erik88]

The whole Mine 81/Blue Heron area of the park is a real gem! I guess people just don't use the Stearns, KY entrance that much, but it's one of my favorite areas.

is that considered to be part of Big South Fork or Daniel Boone?

My GF and I are doing the honey creek loop on Sunday in BSF. We love it up there.

[MacGyver]

I think it's still Big South Fork.

edit: Yep, though it's pretty narrow up there. You could easily end up in either.

http://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/upload/BISO%20Brochure%202009%20map%20Reduced.pdf

[Guest texas308]

Show em a picture of the constitution and tell em America used to follow this documents doctrine but now its just history.

[Garufa]

Museum of Appalachia

[Erik88]

Museum of Appalachia

I forgot about that. They kids would probably enjoy that.

[Mike.357]

why not the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? That is a no brainer if they have never been before.

[peejman]

Lots of historical stuff around Chattanooga (Chickamauga Battlefield, Point Park, Missionary Ridge, The Incline, Choo-Choo)... but that's a little beyond your 2 hr range.

Ft. Loudon, John Sevier Home, Cades Cove, http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/events-gatherings/22777-very-nice-gun-display-tellico-plains-museum.html

[Guest BenderBendingRodriguez]

I'll second/third/whatever the GSMNP and Cades Cove. Beautiful area, plus the Cove has plenty of historical houses/churches to look at. Plus a good chance of seeing some deer or bear or beaver. Really tough to beat a drive through the mountains.

[ted]

Nashville music row

[Guest Bronker]

...You could show him Oh Shoot!

He said 'historical', not 'histrionic'.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

[bajabuc]

I was wondering how long it would take

[Oh Shoot]

He said 'historical', not 'histrionic'.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

I was wondering how long it would take

Erik is already immune to my history AND histrionics

Roses are red,

Violets are blue;

I'm schizophrenic

And so am I.

- OS

[Guest mikedwood]

My uncle says that Delta Queen in Chattanooga is really neat and very historical. It's almost like it was in yester year.

The Delta Queen and her identical twin the Delta King - called the million dollar boats - were fabricated from 1924 to 1927 on the River Clyde at the William Denny & Brothers Ltd., in California Dumbarton, Scotland and assembled that same year at Banner Island Shipyard in Stockton. The machinery was built by William Denny & Brothers Ltd., Dumbarton, Scotland. The paddlewheel shaft and the cranks were forged at Krupp Stahlwerke AG, Germany. The boats were completed on May 20, 1927.

Served in WWII

Delta Queen Hotel

It's a hotel right now and isn't allowed by the Coast Guard to move cause it has a wooden hull or something like that.

In 1966 the Safety of Life at Sea Law nearly ended the Delta Queen´s career. Because of her wooden structure the legislation would end her passenger cruise.

It got exemptions from 1966 till 2008 when they wouldn't exempt it anymore. The president has to exempt it I think.

[eapking]

The Civil War re-enactment at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. No, Graceland on this side of TN.

[Erik88]

Nashville music row

maybe you missed the distance constraints? Thanks for the idea though, i'm sure music row would be fun.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Why don't you look here? Knoxville Landmarks, Monuments, Historic Sites: Landmarks in Knoxville Area, Tennessee TN, USA

Knoxville is full of things to see, Erik.

[bajabuc]

MClung museum on campus is good.

[Erik88]

Why don't you look here? Knoxville Landmarks, Monuments, Historic Sites: Landmarks in Knoxville Area, Tennessee TN, USA

Knoxville is full of things to see, Erik.

good call, thank you.

[Mechanic_X]

You could show him Oh Shoot!

Now that's funny.