Poe’s Tavern: A Little Log House With a Big History

In this installment of ‘History Off the Beaten Path,’ Poe’s Tavern in rural Tennessee was the site of momentous 19th-century events. 

Poe's Tavern is a historical gem that stood throughout the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and technological shifts of the late 20th century. Deena Bouknight

Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, about 16 miles north of Chattanooga, is a relatively new town. It was formed in 1969 when two communities—Soddy and Daisy—merged. The interesting names reportedly derived from the Anglicized version of the Cherokee word “tsati” and the name of the daughter of a 19th-century coal company’s vice president. 

Roughly 3,000 people live in the small rural town. There is little to draw outsiders—except for a small log cabin situated in a centralized park. Known as Poe’s Tavern, it sits on the main thoroughfare of Dayton’s Pike, which was the original road running into Chattanooga. Today, the town is part of U.S. Route 27.