Historic Martin’s Station – Ewing, Virginia
The Wilderness Road, or Trail, began centuries ago as a buffalo trace winding through the narrow gaps of the eastern mountains. To American Indians it was known as Athawominee – path of the armed ones, or Warrior’s Path. In the spring of 1775 Daniel Boone, employed by Richard Henderson’s Transylvania Land Company, hacked out a clear route from Holston Valley through Powell’s Valley west to the Kentucky River – more than 100 miles from this point. Today, a driving tour traces the Wilderness Trail in Tennessee and Virginia as closely as possible.
In January 1775 – before the trace became known as the Wilderness Road – Joseph Martin constructed a fortified supply post and refuge for travelers in this valley. Martin’s Station consisted of “5 or 6 cabins… 20 feet apart with strong stockades between,” according to John Redd, who worked with Martin. “The station contained about half an acre of ground… There were two fine springs near the station on its north side.”
The station was later reconstructed and is now part of the Wilderness Road State Park. Today it is one of the most authentic re-creations of an 18th century frontier settlement in the country.
Inside the LEED certified visitor center are various exhibits and displays. One of these has Native American artifacts from the region surrounding the Wilderness Road. They range in date from the Woodland Period (500 BC to 1500 AD) through the 18th century.
While blurry, this photograph from inside of the visitor center gives an almost impressionistic view of what Martin’s Station might have looked like in its prime.
Another, more realistic painting gives a sense of how the station once appeared.
One installation attempts to recount the contact between Native Americans and settlers. A trade of precious objects appears to be occurring.
Back outside again, a cenotaph recognizes Brigadier General Joseph Martin (1740-1808), a Revolutionary War solider from Henry County, VA; a “Cherokee Agent” for the Contintental Congress representing Virginia and North Carolina (1777-1789); a leader of Powell’s Valley Expedition with his brother Major Brice Martin; and having established Martin’s Station in 1775.
An obelisk has the following message:
“Dedicated to the memory of General Joseph Martin, Martin’s Station and the more than 200,000 settlers whose courage and fortitude helped to carve our great nation out of a vast wilderness and gave birth the the American frontier spirit.”