July 15, 2009---Morning was grand as the sun created reflections on the water. We were anchored near Fort Loudoun which is on the north end of an island about 2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. Tellico River runs along the west side of the island and enters the Little Tennessee River near the reconstructed fort. The original fort was built in 1756 and helped the British during the French & Indian war.
We all loaded in the dinghy and traveled to the south end of the island thru a small boat pass under highway 360. Tied up at a dock and walked up hill to the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. This museum, which opened in 1986, is located across the Tellico River from the town of Vonore, TN.
Sequoyah was born circa 1776 in a log cabin about 1/2 mile from this site. The Eastern Band of Cherokees opened the Museum as a memorial to his great accomplishments.
Sequoyah never learned the English alphabet. During the war of 1812 he fought under General Jackson and saw there was a need for the Cherokee to be able to better communicate. Over a 12 year period he developed a syllabary of 85 sounds that could be expressed in writing. In 1821 he taught his daughter Ayoka how to read. With this new language he was able to convince the Cherokee people the system worked. Within a few months thousands of the Cherokee people became literate.
By 1825 much of the bible, many documents and news papers had been translated into the new language
He then served as a statesman and diplomat for his people uintil his death in 1843.
Sequoyah never learned the English alphabet. During the war of 1812 he fought under General Jackson and saw there was a need for the Cherokee to be able to better communicate. Over a 12 year period he developed a syllabary of 85 sounds that could be expressed in writing. In 1821 he taught his daughter Ayoka how to read. With this new language he was able to convince the Cherokee people the system worked. Within a few months thousands of the Cherokee people became literate.
By 1825 much of the bible, many documents and news papers had been translated into the new languageHe then served as a statesman and diplomat for his people uintil his death in 1843.
The burial mound near the museum is the resting place for the remains of 191 Cherokees that were recovered in archaeological digs before the area was flooded by creation of the dams.
After time well spent at the museum we went back to the Dream Manor, loaded the dinghy, pulled anchor and traveled downstream back to the Fort Loudon Marina at mile 602.5 on the Tennessee River. Susan & Loles needed to start driving to continue with other vacation plans. We were all glad they chose to include us in their plans. Goodbyes were said as I caught a picture of them with Keith & Maryann.
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