Ceremonial axe forged and hafted by staff and volunteers at Wilderness Road State Park 

This spring, history enthusiasts have a unique opportunity to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Daniel Boone's journey through the Appalachian frontier.  

The 250th Boone Trace Commemoration features a series of events and a symbolic relay hike tracing Boone's original path. Starting from Kingsport, Tennessee, teams of explorers will hike roughly 10 miles daily, symbolically passing an axe along the way to Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky, a little southeast of Lexington.  

Along the 250-mile route, state parks, historical sites and other partners are hosting special events honoring the pioneers of westward expansion and those who helped shape our nation. 

At Virginia State Parks, you can take a journey into the past at Natural Tunnel and Wilderness Road. 

Into the Wilderness at Natural Tunnel State Park 

The Wilderness Road Blockhouse at Natural Tunnel State Park  

On April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Natural Tunnel State Park invites visitors to Into the Wilderness, a reenactment of the preparations required for frontier travel.  

Hosted in conjunction with the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association and Scott County 250, this event offers demonstrations including soap making, spinning linen, making lead shots, garden preparation, making salt, and more.  

The event will be held at the park’s Wilderness Road Blockhouse, which is a replica of the blockhouse built by John Anderson in Carter’s Valley in 1775. While you’re at the park, look back across Bishoptown Road, and you’ll notice the gray barn on the hill. The original site of the blockhouse lies about 15 miles in that direction.  

Whether Anderson knew it or not, his choice of location would play a pivotal role in the future of the Wilderness Road and all who traveled it. The blockhouse provided a waystation for the pioneers seeking to cross through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky. Travelers would camp on Anderson’s land and trade their goods with him. 

Blacksmithing demonstrations at the blockhouse 

Into the Wilderness attendees will even have the chance to meet historical figures such as Daniel Boone and Captain John and Rebecca Anderson, owners of the blockhouse. This immersive experience is free and open to the public. ​To learn more, please go to virginiastateparks.gov/events. 

The 250th Boone Trace Commemoration relay team will hand off the ceremonial axe during Into the Wilderness, and it will be available for viewing during the event. 

Before you leave Duffield, check out the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center, located 15 minutes from the park. It’s open Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features hands-on exhibits, a museum and a small library and gift shop.  

America's First Frontier: A 250th Celebration at Wilderness Road State Park 

Martin’s Station at Wilderness Road State Park 

From May 9 to 11, Wilderness Road State Park is hosting America's First Frontier: A 250th Celebration. This multi-day event will be held at the park’s reconstructed Martin’s Station which serves as an outdoor living history museum depicting life on Virginia's 1775 frontier. 

Martin Station was built by Captain Joseph Martin, a soldier, explorer and frontiersman, in 1775. It became one of the last outposts before settlers crossed into Kentucky and offered a place for travelers to rest, resupply and prepare for the final leg of their journey through the Cumberland Gap. 

Martin abandoned the station soon after its founding after an attack by Native American warriors; however, Martin returned in later years and re-established his presence in the area. 

Living history reenactors will be at Martin’s Station from May 9 to May 11 for America’s First Frontier 

During America’s First Frontier, visitors can meet the famed individuals who traversed the trace and the indigenous peoples they encountered and immerse themselves in a story 250 years in the making.  

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. A parking fee of $10 per vehicle applies on Friday and Saturday and $5 on Sunday. ​​To learn more, please go to virginiastateparks.gov/events. 

The 250th Boone Trace Commemoration relay team will hand off the ceremonial axe during America’s First Frontier on Friday, May 9. 

Bonus event

On May 3, the 11th day of the relay hike, the ceremonial axe will be carried from the Jonesville Courthouse to the Lee County Natural Bridge in Southwest Virginia, documented in the 1770s as a stop for travelers and their horses. The Lee County Natural Bridge is located within The Cedars Natural Area Preserve, which is managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. 

Participants can view impressive geological features and learn about ongoing landscape restoration work to bring back the plant communities in this area that were recorded along the trail in the 1700s. Preregistration is required for the event, which is free to the public and includes lunch. To learn more about this event, visit this DCR Insights story.

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If you’d like to experience Boone’s journey for yourself, consider joining the relay team for a portion of the 250-mile route. You can find more information about daily hikes at BooneTrace250.com.