The land in the Upper Little Tennessee and Hiwassee River Valley tells many stories. Stories that include Cherokee mounds dating back thousands of years, of a tribe that was revered across the south, and the tragic Cherokee removal on the Trail of Tears in 1838. Stories of American Revolution battles fought in the mid 1700s, and of American naturalist William Bartram’s observations of the area. Stories of survival, families, and community.
Mainspring’s mission includes efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of this landscape. We recognize the connection between Native Americans and European settlers and lead initiatives to support the reuse of historical buildings and preserve farmland and historic sites.
Watch these videos to see how we have restored native species to aid in Cherokee artisan basketweaving and have cleaned ancient burial sites for archaeological research.
