Three More State Parks Today & I've Seen Them All!

I have now been to all 53 state parks in Tennessee. (I've heard they are adding two more, but this was my goal and I'm stopping and doing the book!) My first one today was my favorite, Red Clay State Historic Park:

7 Delightful Carvings in front of "Sleeping Huts"
Red Clay State Historic Park

A Cherokee Farmstead at Red Clay State Park

This is one of the first stops if not the beginning of The Trail of Tears and where the last Cherokee Council was held before the Trail of Tears began. The natural landmark is the still flowing Blue Springs, while there are many reproduction buildings including a Council Meeting House, barns, the above house and sleeping huts plus an Eternal Flame for the Cherokee. There is an annual pow wow and other related events held here each year. A new and pleasant discovery for me.

Then on to Booker T. Washington State Park:

One of two fishing piers in
Booker T. Washington State Park   

Like so many Tennessee State Parks, this one is all about the lake, Chickamauga Lake in this case, with fishing, boating and other water sports plus all kinds of recreation fields, picnic grounds, and other day use plus a group camp and a group lodge for church and other groups to use. It was built when African Americans weren't welcome at white-dominated state parks like Harrison Bay just 5 miles away. Of course today all parks are well-integrated, yet this park stays predominately black as Harrison Bay appears to still be predominately white - all unofficially of course!  :-)

So then I go the 5 miles to Harrison Bay State Park: 

All parks sport the flags as
these at Harrison Bay.

Also on Chickamauga Lake and also near Chattanooga, it is another weekend hangout for people who love water with much of the same activities as Booker T. Washington. The big difference here is the Marina and Restaurant with yachts and other big boats. There is also a big family campground for both tents and campers which the other park did not have.

(It suddenly dawned on me that I have known few African Americans to go camping - or is it just my imagination?) 

This too is used for a lot of day use, especially on weekends and seems to another popular park.