Our destination for Thursday was Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield, Virginia. We have been exploring the things that are around Cumberland Gap. When we work at the Visitors Center we are often asked about other things in the area, so we try to visit as many as we can. Natural Tunnel was a surprise …
From June 2023
Sonny’s BBQ in Corbin, Kentucky
On the day we went to Corbin, Kentucky, we ate at Sonny’s BBQ. It was our anniversary dinner, and Tom let me decide where to eat. We went to Corbin in order to go to the Harland Sanders Café and Museum but I didn’t want fried chicken, as delicious as KFC can be. I wanted …
Processing Flax from Plant to Linen
I have been practicing processing flax during my time here at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. My focus in doing Colonial Living History is textiles and I have a detailed talk from my time at Fort Frederica. But here at Cumberland Gap I have been able to do some hands on experimenting in processing flax. …
Harland Sanders Café and Museum
When we were looking at the map with Mom and Dad, describing how we would travel to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Mom pointed at Corbin, Kentucky and exclaimed, “Harland Sanders Café and Museum!” Mom and Dad had visited the museum on their way through Kentucky several years ago. That piqued our interest, because we …
Dulcimer Gathering at Cumberland Gap
The Dulcimer Gathering at Cumberland Gap was held the first week that Tom and I were working at the park. It was a delightful introduction to the park programs and gave us another way to meet and interact with folks. Volunteer Julie, of course, was the one who told us about the Dulcimer Gathering and …
The Pinnacle at Cumberland Gap NHP
The #1 thing that people want to see when they come to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is the Pinnacle. Who wouldn’t want to see the Pinnacle – it is the top thing! As part of our training we had to get thoroughly acquainted to the Pinnacle – able to tell how to get there …
Stay in Your Lane
Every morning when we drive to work, we pass through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Emblazoned on signs overhead are the words “Stay in Your Lane!” They don’t want you changing lanes through the tunnel for safety reasons. It is an interesting message for our lives as well. Stay in your lane. There are times when …
Thomas Walker State Historic Site
Last week Tom and I drove to the Thomas Walker State Historic Site. Dr. Thomas Walker is the most famous guy you never heard of, as Tom likes to say. He was the first non-Native American to explore, map, and name places in the Cumberland Gap. He is the one who named Cumberland Gap and …
Volunteer Julie Bahr Makes Friends
One of the first people Tom and I met when we got to Wilderness Road campground was our next door neighbor, volunteer Julie Bahr. Julie has been a volunteer at CUGA for eight seasons. Because she has been here for so long, she is a Jill of all trades: working where she feels she needs …
Dutch Treat Country Store in Rose Hill, Virginia
Tom and I had only been at Cumberland Gap for a few days when someone told us we had to go to Dutch Treat Country Store. They recommended we go on a Thursday and have the sandwich of the day, a BLT that was the best ever. We filed it away but didn’t wait long …