Pass through the Gap to a land of an “unbridled spirit”‘ and beauty. As the host city for the State of Kentucky, join Middlesboro, in the 250th Celebration of Daniel Boone and 30 frontiersmen marking a trail and establishing the settlement of Boonesborough for the newly formed Transylvania Land Company.

Follow the Boone Trace Commemorative Axe Relay hikers at 8:00 a.m.from Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, guided by our own Mayor Boone Bowling and the Middlesboro High School Band, to the Bell County Historical Society Museum for a ceremony to be held at the 1st Presbyterian Church next door at 9:00 a.m.

Besides the ceremonial passing of the axe, and an assortment of guest speakers, the Middlesboro High School Choir will perform, and the 5th and 8th Grade Social Studies students will showcase projects related to this historic event.

After the ceremony, tour the Bell County Historical Society Museum at 10:00 and enjoy a light brunch. At 11:00 the axe relay hikers will continue toward the historic Cumberland Ford and Narrows Gap at Pineville, Kentucky.