Skip to main content

Gone But Not Forgotten: The History and Influence of Port Royal Tennessee in the Red River Region

Summary:

Along the banks of the Red River in Adams, TN sits the remnants of an influential, yet sometimes forgotten town: Port Royal. The town heritage is now stewarded by Tennessee State Parks. At only 30-acres, Port Royal State Park is the second smallest State Park in Tennessee but the area had a big and historic influence on our state. The town rose in prominence as an important commercial hub in the newly founded state of Tennessee. But you did not have to live in Port Royal to experience it. Businesses relied on Port Royal’s waterway connections to larger towns, enslaved people built the structures, and thousands of Cherokee were forcibly marched through the town as part of the Trail of Tears.

In this River Talk, we are joined by Port Royal State Park Ranger Bobby Cooley to explore the history and influence of Port Royal. Woven throughout the story of Port Royal is the influence of one waterway, the Red River, on the growth of the town.

Interested in visiting Port Royal? Check out our “Rendezvous on the Red” Basin Explorer guide to plan a day trip to Port Royal and other nearby sites.

 

Subscribe to River Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google.

About Port Royal State Park:

Port Royal State Historic Park is a 30-acre State Park located near Adams, TN. The park explores the history and influence of the town of Port Royal from its founding in 1797 to the present day. Port Royal is also part of the National Trail of Tears Historic Trail.

Bobby Cooley is a Park Ranger at Port Royal State Park and also supports programs at nearby Dunbar Cave State Park.

In this Podcast:

  • The role of Port Royal in Tennessee statehood.
  • How tobacco helped Port Royal rise to prominence.
  • The influence of silk manufacturing on Tennesseeans and Port Royal.
  • The connection between Port Royal and the Red River.
  • How the town went from commerce to collapse.
  • The Trail of Tears in Tennessee and Port Royal.
  • The impact of the enslaved and formerly enslaved on the region.

Learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode:

Picture of Catherine Price

Catherine Price

Catherine Price is the Division Manager for Education and Engagement at the Cumberland River Compact. In her role, Catherine leads her team members to work alongside communities in the Cumberland River basin to address water conservation and climate resilience issues through community engagement, education, and advocacy. Catherine has a BS in zoology from Miami University and an MS in zoology from the University of British Columbia. She also has a certificate in community impact from the Center for Nonprofit Management and is certified in environmental STEM education from Cornell University. Prior to her work at the Compact, Catherine led national citizen science mobilization efforts, coordinated public programming at a nonprofit aquarium, and conducted ecology research in South America. Catherine has called Nashville home since 2016 and enjoys exploring the city’s parks, libraries, and food scene with her young daughter and husband.