Parkography

E323 - The Forgotten 14th Colony — Daniel Boone and the Cumberland Gap

Published: August 27, 2025

Duration: 18:51

Everyone knows about America’s 13 original colonies… but did you know there was almost a 14th?

In 1775, a private land deal known as The Transylvania Purchase sought to create a brand-new colony in the rugged mountains where Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee meet. Frontiersman Daniel Boone carved the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap, opening America’s first true gateway to the West. But the plan was tangled in conflict with Indigenous nations, colonial governments, and the Revolution itself.

In this episode of Parkography, Jason explores the rise and fall of the Colony of Transylvania, the battle...