John Mitchel

Historical marker location:

Townsend, Tennessee

( Marker is on Wears Valley Road (U.S. 321) just north of Lamar Alexander Parkway (U.S. 321), on the right when traveling north.)

The first recorded gold rush in the United States occurred in Tennessee in the early 19th century. The discovery of gold in the state's Cherokee lands sparked a rush of settlers and miners hoping to strike it rich.