Motorcyclists from across the Nation will come together Friday, Sept. 20, for a scenic ride from Cherokee, North Carolina to Bridgeport, Alabama, in honor of Native American Indians’ sacrifice in their forced western migration in the early 1800s.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 called for the voluntary — or forcible — removal of all Indians from the eastern United States to the state of Oklahoma. In 1838, the U.S. government hired wagon master J.C.S. Hood to transport 1,070 Native Americans by foot and wagon from Ross’s Landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to what is now Waterloo.
Much of the journey followed what is now U.S. Highway 72. Many Native Americans died in Waterloo and others escaped into the hills. Area residents can trace their Native American ancestry to those who fled.
“One of our original members did some research on his family, and found that his great-great grandmother was in the Trail of Tears,” Greg Bass, board member of the Trail of Tears Corridor Association, Inc., told The News Courier. “We started the first ride to get the trail across north Alabama officially recognized. We eventually got that whole corridor recognized by the federal government and the National Parks Service.”
As many as 4,000 deaths occurred because of this forced removal of civilized Native Americans from their homes. In recognition of this removal process, the first Trail of Tears Motorcycle Ride was organized in 1994 with approximately 100 riders participating, growing to more that 15,000 riders each year.
Now, in its 31st year, the Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride prepares to travel from the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, with a stop at Ross’ Landing in Chattanooga.
Riders will be joined by other riders from all over the nation to continue from there to downtown Bridgeport. Along with the celebratory ride, there will be a kick-off rally in Bridgeport on Sept. 20 and also a three-day Indian Festival in Waterloo for the public to take part in.
“We have trail markers up, we’ve put up one statue and are currently working on the second,” Bass said.
A kick-off rally offering children’s activities, live music, street dance, fireworks show and other free family activities for the public to enjoy is scheduled in downtown Bridgeport Sept. 20.
Bikes will arrive from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Reservation at 2 p.m. The Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride will officially begin Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Alabama—Tennessee state line, off U. S. Highway 72, in Downtown Bridgeport with riders departing at 8 a.m. CST.
The ride will travel U. S. Highway 72 West to I-565 West, arriving at Redstone Harley-Davidson at approximately 10:30 a.m. for an official rest and lunch stop. The public is invited to welcome riders while enjoying lunch and special entertainment. At 12 p.m. riders will depart and head west through Florence arriving in Waterloo at approximately 2 p.m.
“About 12 o’clock is when we will be coming through Athens,” Bass said. “We are very thankful that the governor has recognized this, so we’ll have all the local emergency services blocking the roadway for us as we travel through.”
The town of Waterloo will host a free Indian Festival September 20-22 in remembrance of all those who walked the Trail of Tears. Presented by the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission, the three-day event offers live music, flute and drum music and displays from Native American artisans and vendors.
A River Walk Dedication Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. to honor those who experienced the forced journey with the grand entry slated for 1 p.m. and bikes arriving around 2 p.m.
The ride is held rain or shine. For more information on the Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride including a map of the route and a schedule of events, https://trail-of-tears.webflow.io/the-ride/this-years-ride.
A ride continuation to Seminole, Oklahoma, will leave from Spring Park in Tuscumbia at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.