CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Dunbar Cave State Park recently joined the multi-state Civil War Trails program. It is the eighth Civil War Trails site in Montgomery County and is the latest site in the program to connect visitors to over 1,350 sites across six states.
On Sept. 1, members of the Civil War Trails installed three signs at Dunbar Cave State Park that help tell the story of the site’s importance as an African American community, and an updated sign was placed at Port Royal State Historic Park.
Ranger David Britton, park manager at Dunbar Cave and Port Royal, said part of Dunbar Cave’s long-term vision and mission is to be sure that all stories of the site are equally represented.
“There are a lot of different stories here. Whether it’s indigenous history in the cave art, music history with Roy Acuff and the big band era, or in this case African American history in the case of Affricanna Town.
Britton said Affricanna Town was the name of a Freedman’s Village built near Dunbar Cave in 1864. It lasted until around 1867 and was part of the post-Emancipation Civil War era in Clarksville where freed slaves had established their own community.
“The signs at Dunbar Cave and Port Royal are a great reminder of just how diverse and oftentimes inspiring the Civil War story is,” Executive Director of Civil War Trails Drew Gruber said.
Gruber added that the goal of the program is educational, and it’s also about economic development. When people visit these sites, they’ll stay overnight, they’ll buy something, and get a meal while in the community, he said.
“This addition to the trail is especially important because, like the sign says, Affricanna Town represents the power of community making, and we’re still all working together to make this a top place to visit and live,” Michelle Dickerson, marketing director for Visit Clarksville, said.