Daniel Boone Trail Marker
#26
Donated to the Town of Blowing Rock in loving memory of two brothers and Blowing Rock's sons, Paul and Glenn
Coffey by the Coffey Family
This monument was erected two blocks north of this site on September 1, 1927. Mr. Thomas H. Coffey was chairman of the
Boone Trail Association with units in Blowing Rock, Boone and Linville. In 1980, Paul Coffey owner of the site of the
original marker joined with his brother Glenn Coffey to dismantle the deteriorating marker and rebuild it nearby on the
grounds of the Blue Ridge Motel.
The town accepted the gift of the monument on September 13,2005 and it was moved to this site in 2006. At the time of the
first relocation, the bear on this marker was replicated to replace the original one.
Mr. Joseph Hampton Rich (1874-1949) who concieved the idea of marking Daniel Boone's trail, wanted to celebrate the
trail-blazer's success and pay tribute to his hero. He began marking the trail in western North Carolina and eventually
several hundred markers were placed from coast to coast, Mr. Rich incorporated metal from the Battleship Maine in each
tablet and dedicated each monument with patriotic fervor, establishing his work as unique, significant and memorable.
Blowing Rock is fortunate to have one of the few remaining markers in the country.
Marker is on Main Street (Business U.S. 321) near Sunset Drive, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
