Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery
About this property
Kelly's Ferry Cemetery is a historical cemetery located in Marion County, Tennessee, off U.S. Highway 41. It and its associated road are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are the only remnants of the extinct settlement of Kelly's Ferry. Kelly's Ferry Cemetery dates to the 1830s when a ferry was established across the Tennessee River by John Kelly. Shortly thereafter, a small community developed at the location. The ferry served as an important route across the river, and allowed goods to be off-loaded and transported by land to Chattanooga, thereby avoiding a treacherous stretch of the river upstream called "The Suck." The road leaving Kelly's Ferry led to Wauhatchie Junction, which became an important railroad junction on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. Kelly's Ferry played an important role in the Cherokee removal from eastern Tennessee. During this event, Chattanooga served as a collection and holding point, from which groups of Cherokee were marched westward on the Trail of Tears. The road to Kelly's Ferry and the ferry itself were one of only a few paths suitable for transportation of large groups of people and supplies, and the historical record shows several Cherokee detachments camped or traveled through there. Kelly's Ferry and its road also served as an important transportation route in the Civil War. During the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, a garrison of soldiers was stationed there to secure the crossing. The site was later occupied by the Union army, and was an important link in the famous "Cracker Line," the supply route established by General Ulysses Grant to break the siege. At this time, the road from Kelly's ferry was widened and improved by the Union forces to facilitate the movement of supplies. Kelly's Ferry gradually declined in the early 20th century, and closed in 1952. Kelly's Ferry Cemetery contains burials of many of the early settlers of the area, including John Kelly. Its earliest known burial dates to 1838. The site remains relatively intact, with little development in the area near the property.
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery
This page lists Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery listed on the National Register?
Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 2006.
What type of historic resource is Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery?
Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery?
The period of significance for Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Marion County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Marion County.
Explore MarionCounty ›More historic places in Tennessee
Browse all historic places in Tennessee.
View Tennesseehistoric sites ›Tennessee history
Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.
Tennesseehistory ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Kelly's Ferry Road and Cemetery will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.