The Longest Tunnel In Tennessee Has A Truly Fascinating Backstory
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Tennessee is home to all kinds of unique history from as far back as pioneer times to the modern history that is made here every day. But none of that history would be possible without the Cumberland Gap, the site where the first pioneers over the Appalachian Mountains crossed in to the beautiful state of Tennessee and decided to call it home. Today, that site is also home to the longest tunnel in the state, and the tunnel has some fascinating history of its own.
The Cumberland Gap Tunnel is nearly a mile long and stretches under the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, just outside of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.
The tunnel is actually pretty young - it was completed in 1996 after 5 years of construction.
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The tunnel was definitely needed at the time. Highway US-25 went over the mountains between Tennessee and Kentucky but had gained the nickname of "massacre mountain" because of the frequent accidents on the steep and winding roads.
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The tunnel goes under the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and marks the spot of the "first doorway to the West" where pioneers successfully crossed the Appalachian mountains.
Fun fact about this tunnel: while it's located in Tennessee and Kentucky, it actually also comes within about 1000 feet of entering Virginia as well.
If you want to drive the tunnel yourself, just head to the tiny town of Cumberland Gap and take highway US-25 out of town towards Kentucky.
Looking for more underground history? Check out these caverns in East Tennessee that have a truly interesting background.
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