March will bring spring events to Sycamore Shoals Park

ELIZABETHTON — Spring is in the air at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park and many more outdoor activities are planned for the warmer weather of early spring. There are also a variety of indoor activities planned, including more guided tours of two historic houses: the Carter Mansion and Sabine Hill. The tours are led by park staff. All the historic home tours begin at 1:30 p.m. The tours of the Carter Mansion will take place on March 1, 6, 12, 14, 15, 20, 26, 28, and 29. The tours of Sabine Hill will take place on March 5, 7, 8, 13, 19, 22, and 27. Pre-registration is required for both tours. Registration and admission may be paid online at www.tnstateparks.com/parks/events/sycamore-shoals. The cost of admission for adults is $10; the cost for seniors, 65 and over, is $8; the cost for veterans and active duty military is $8; the cost for children 17 and under is $5. The tours last 45 minutes and includes staircases. The Carter Mansion tour, 1031 Broad Street, will highlight Tennessee's oldest wood frame house. It was built early community leader John Carter between 1775-1780. The Sabine Hill tour, 2328 W. G Street, will take the visitor on a visit to the house built by Mary Patton Taylor, the widow of Brigadier General Nathaniel Taylor. It was built right after the War of 1812 and became the early seat of the Taylor family, who would include two governors of Tennessee and a governor of Georgia, as will as a founder of Georgia Tech. The events scheduled for Sycamore Shoals include a lot of springtime events, including a chance to learn Irish folk dances in time for St. Patrick's Day. Beginning dancers and seasoned experts are all welcome to come and participate in the free lessons on traditional Irish dances from the 1800's. The dance is open to anyone, with or without experience or partner. The dance will take place on March 1 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Everyone will meet in the Gathering Room at the visitor center. The dance is sponsored by the Sabine Hill Social Society. There will also be several interpretive programs offered in March. The first one will be "Clothing and Culture on the Frontier" offered on March 6 at 3:30 p.m. in the lobby of the visitor center. The class is free and will be taught by Ranger Jason Davis. He will discuss the types of clothing worn on the frontier by men and women settlers and the Cherokee. Saturday, March 7 will be a chance to give back to the park, with the Sycamore Shoals Weed Wrangle from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration is required and may be done online at the above address. This is a chance to join the park staff and help them in the fight against invasive species and beautifying the park grounds. The statewide Weed Wrangle is now in its 12th year. It is a volunteer effort dedicated to rescuing public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive species. Through hands-on removal of particularly harmful trees, vines and flowering plants, Weed Wrangle volunteers learn, practice and develop a habit of maintaining areas free of non-native invasive plants. They also encourage replanting with native species in removal areas. The group will meet in the picnic area near the trailhead. On Wednesday, March 11, Ranger Jason Davis will provide his evening interpretive walk through Sycamore Shoals, known as "Lanterns of Liberty, a Night Hike Tour of Sycamore Shoals". Admission for this tour is $10. Preregistration is required. The registration and advance payment may be done online at the above address. Those on the tour will learn about the historical events that took place at Sycamore Shoals and their significance in the formation of Tennessee and the nation. The group will meet in the picnic area near the visitor center. Another tour of the park will be offered on Friday, March 13 by Ranger Taylor Moorefield. This free tour will take place at 2 p.m. and will focus on the recreated Fort Watauga. It will tell the story of why the fort was built and discuss the siege of the fort by the Cherokee in the summer of 1776. Tours will be ongoing from 2 to 3 p.m. and each will last about 15 minutes. A flintlock demonstration is included in the tour. Saturday, March 14 will include a class on 18th-century tomahawk throwing at 10 a.m. The cost is $10 and participants must preregister. Registration and prepayment may be done online at the above address. Participants must be 12 and up. Ranger Taylor Moorefield will lead this hands-on tutorial. Topics will include the versatile applications of the tomahawk on the early American frontier as well as proper technique and release for throwing with safety and accuracy. Parents who wish to be present but not participate do not need to register. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather and bring their own water. All other supplies will be provided. Participants should not bring their own tomahawk. The group will meet at the Fort Watauga amphitheater. On Sunday, March 15, at 11 p.m. there will be a class on "Fire by Friction". Registration is required. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children 7 to 17. Preregistration and prepayment may be done online at the above address. The students will learn the ancient technique of starting a fire by rubbing sticks together. They will learn the types of wood the Cherokee and other local tribes used, proper technique, and the history of this method of staring a fire. The class is open to anyone 7 and older. The program is 40 minutes long. The class will meet at the longhunter camp near the Fort Watauga amphitheater. Games from a non-electrified century will be taught on Friday, March 20 at 3:30 p.m. at Fort Watauga. Ranger Jason Davis will show the games played by the children of the 18th century. These included the Hoop and Stick; and the Game and Graces. Cords and batteries won't be supplied and are not needed. The class is free. An appropriate start to the first weekend of spring is Master Gardener's Ben Hunter's gardening seminar on Saturday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. This is the second session in the seminar series and is on "Vegetable Gardening and Maximum Yield". The cost of the course is free. The group will meet in the Gathering Place of the Visitors Center. There will also be a spring hike taking placer on March 21 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This hike requires preregistration and may be done at the above address. The ranger-led hike will be on the park trails and grounds. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water. The group will meet at the picnic at the visitors center. A special book-signing session will be held on Saturday from 1-3 p.m., when former park manager Jennifer Bauer will be at the park to sign her latest book, Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga. This comprehensive volume explores the full history of the park and the remarkable stories that shaped this landscape. Guests are invited to purchase a copy of the book on-site or bring their own copy to have it signed by the author. The afternoon will also feature traditional music performed by park staff and a demonstration of period social dance by the Sabine Hill Social Society. This event will celebrate Bauer's latest accomplishment and celebrate her return to the park she served for so many years. On Sunday, March 22 there will be another Old Time Music Jam at the Visitor Center from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Enjoy a mix of old time and traditional folk, Celtic and gospel music. Acoustic instruments such as fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass, mandolin, dulcimer (both kinds), autoharp, feet (no taps) are welcome. Ranger Taylor Moorefield will lead a crash course on useful knots on Tuesday, March 24 at 11 a.m. This class requires preregistration and the cost is $5 for students who are 8 years and older. Online registration and payment may be done at the above address. The group will meet behind the visitor center in the pines near the ramp. Ranger Davis will repeat his "Lanterns of Liberty Night Hike" on Wednesday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. The group will meet at the picnic area near the visitor center.