Under Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s new budget proposal, a popular site in Roane County may become an official state park.

Fort Southwest Point in Kingston was a federal frontier outpost constructed in 1797.

Federal soldiers stayed at the fort until 1811.

It served as a central point of interaction between the Cherokee and the U.S. government.

The site now features reconstructions of some of the original buildings and structures.

Fort Southwest Point is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Restoration of the site began in 1974 after archaeological crews unearthed portions of six building foundations and a collection of fort-period artifacts.

A visitor center at Fort Southwest Point currently houses a museum featuring artifacts excavated on-site.

Admission is free and they can provide scheduled tours for schools and other groups plus special weekend events for families.

The history of the Fort comes alive during the Living History Days each summer and during the Colonial Christmas Candlelight Tour in December. Staff members dress in period costumes, recreating activities from the Fort’s past, including bag-pipe serenades and firing of the cannon.