Tennessee Is Named from This Underwater Town!

Hidden underneath the Tellico River in Vonore, Tennessee lies the Cherokee Nation’s first capital city of Tanasi.

The capital was in effect from 1721 to 1730, 46 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Tanasi attained political prominence in 1721 when its civil chief was elected the first “Emperor of the Cherokee Nation”. About the same time that this had occurred, the town name was also applied to the river on which it was located.

During the mid-18th century, Tanasi became overshadowed and absorbed by the town of Chota which was located to the immediate north.

So how did Tennessee get named from the town of Tanasi?

The first recorded spelling of Tennessee as it is today occurred on Lt. Henry Timberlake’s map of 1762. In 1796, the name Tennessee was selected among several as most appropriate for the nation’s 16th state.

The flooding to create the Tellico River in this area caused the town to become underwater. The flooding was caused for the Tellico Reservoir and to complete the construction of the dam on the Little Tennessee River.

The site of the former town of Tanasi is now underwater and is located about 300 yards west of the Tanasi marker.

Folks from all around can come to the Tanasi Memorial on the Tellico River to pay tribute to this underwater but never forgotten town!

If ya’ll are interested in visiting here is the address to the marker

Follow Hwy 360 to the junction of Hwy 360/Hwy 455 for about 5miles. Then turn left onto Country Road 461 where you will then turn right to the Tanasi Memorial.