Copper ore was discovered in Ducktown, Tennessee in 1843 by prospectors looking for gold. At that time the Copper Basin was a remote area with no developed roads connecting it to Georgia or other parts of east Tennessee. Getting the high yield copper ore to the market became a problem.
The need for a road to connect the copper mines in the Copper Basin with the railhead in Cleveland, Tennessee, gave birth to what is now known as the "Old Copper Road." Construction began in 1851 and was completed in 1853 making one of the earliest formally constructed roads in the area.
There is a 2.4 mile section that has been restored to its near-original condition and is designated a historic property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can find the Old Copper Road Trail at the Ocoee Whitewater Center
The 33 mile long, "Old Copper Road" became part of US 64, Tennessee.
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for more information
Ocoee Whitewater
Center
4400 Hwy. 64
Copperhill TN 37317
423-496-5197