HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Motorcyclists from across the Southeast will gather on Saturday, Sept. 21, for the 31st annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride, a scenic journey across northern Alabama to honor Native Americans.
The ride will start in Bridgeport and travel to Waterloo, spanning from the northeastern to the northwestern part of the state. Festivities include a kick-off rally in Bridgeport on Friday, September 20, featuring live music, street dances, and fireworks.
Expect traffic delays as the ride travels through various intersections, which will be blocked to ensure smooth and safe travel for the riders. Event organizers are expecting up to 10,000 riders to participate. Drivers should expect delays from 9 a.m. until noon on major roadways and Interstate 565.
Starting at 9 a.m., Huntsville Police will close U.S. 72 East at Shields Road and Moores Mill Road for westbound traffic to keep riders safe. As the riders head west on I-565 towards Mooresville Road, some entrance ramps to the interstate will also be closed temporarily. They will exit I-565 at Mooresville Road and stop at Redstone Harley Davidson for a two-hour lunch break. Road closures are expected to be lifted by noon.
The town of Waterloo is hosting an Indian Festival through Sunday, presented by the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission. Highlights of the festival include a "living history" exhibit of a soldier encampment, as well as demonstrations from Native American artisans and vendors.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 called for the removal of all Indians from the eastern United States to the state of Oklahoma, whether voluntary or by force. In May 1838, the deadline for voluntary native removal, prompted the Cherokee "Trail of Tears," known as one of the darkest episodes in relations between the United States and Native Americans.
It was during that year that the U.S. government hired wagon master J.C.S. Hood to transport Native Americans by foot and wagon from Ross's Landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee to what is now Waterloo. Much of the journey followed what is now Highway 72, at the cost of as many as 4,000 Native American lives.
The ride will be held rain or shine. For more information on the Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride, including a map of the route and a schedule of events, please visit the event's website.
