Long Island of the Holston is one of the most historically significant sites in the American Southeast. Sacred to the Cherokee people as a place of council and ceremony, the island became the setting for the Treaty of Long Island in 1777 — a pivotal agreement between the Overhill Cherokee and frontier settlers that shaped the boundaries of settlement in what would become Tennessee. Today the island sits within the city of Kingsport, a quiet reminder that the land beneath our feet holds stories far older than statehood.

The Cherokee held Long Island as sacred ground, using it as a gathering and council site. The 1777 Treaty of Long Island (Treaty of Avery) was negotiated here between Cherokee leaders and agents of Virginia and North Carolina, ceding land that would accelerate Euro-American settlement. The island also served as a staging point for military operations and westward expansion during the late 18th century. It is recognized as a significant cultural heritage site.

Visitor Tips

• ›Read the interpretive markers carefully — they tell an extraordinary story
• ›This is sacred Cherokee ground — please treat it with respect
• ›Combine with a visit to nearby Exchange Place for a full Kingsport heritage day
• ›Best visited during lower water levels for the most dramatic views of the island

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