National Register of Historic Places

Rattlesnake Springs

Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee

Listed

September 4, 1975

Type

Site

Period

Listed

Ref No.

75001734

About this property

Rattlesnake Springs is a historic site in Bradley County, Tennessee listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1975. Rattlesnake Springs is located northeast of Cleveland and southeast of Charleston on a privately owned dairy farm in rural Bradley County. The site was a significant location for the eastern Cherokee Nation and during the Cherokee Removal. The final Council of the eastern Cherokees was held at Rattlesnake Springs, and in 1838 federal troops held and assembled 13,000 Cherokees on the site to begin the migration to Oklahoma known as the Trail of Tears. Federal troops along with militias from Tennessee and Georgia established two military camps near the site, Camp Foster and Camp Worth, which were used to oversee the Cherokees prior to removal. These camps were two of several camps used for this purpose in the area, including Fort Cass in Charleston. More than 200 Cherokees reportedly died at the springs prior to removal due to unsanitary conditions. The historical significance of Rattlesnake Springs was chronicled by local historian and Cleveland mayor James F. Corn in his 1959 book "Red Clay and Rattlesnake Springs: A History of the Cherokee Indians of Bradley County, Tennessee." The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1975. A historical marker once stood near the site. National Register of Historic Places listings in Bradley County, Tennessee

Location

Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee

35.24502, -84.77232

Everything a full report reveals about Rattlesnake Springs

This page lists Rattlesnake Springs. 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:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

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Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

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Nearby Historic Sites

Cleveland to Charleston Concrete Highway

Industrial

2.5 mi

Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Civil War

5 mi

McClatchey-Gettys Farm

Industrial

6.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Rattlesnake Springs listed on the National Register?

Rattlesnake Springs was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 4, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Rattlesnake Springs?

Rattlesnake Springs is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Rattlesnake Springs?

The period of significance for Rattlesnake Springs is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Rattlesnake Springs?

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 Rattlesnake Springs will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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