Fred Daniels, age 13, of Des Moines,, Iowa, for his question:

How did the Cumberland Gap get its name?

The Cumberland River, the Cumberland Mountains and the Cumberland Gap form some of the most beautiful scenery of the Appalachian chain. The famous Gap is a pass through the mountains at the point border of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. It is 1,648 feet above sea level and has played an important role in the history of the United States.

The river, the gap and the mountain range were all discovered by a party of scouting Virginians in the year 1748. This was two years after William August, Duke of Cumberland and son of George II of England, had fought and won the cruel battle of Cu1loden in Scotland. Prince Charles Edward, pretender to the British throne, was defeated and his Scottish supporters were routed. The Cumberland Pap, the river and the mountains were named in honor of the victor.