In October 2018, the Trail of Tears Association held a conference in Decatur, Alabama. This conference is held each year at a place that sits along the Trail of Tears. Attendees learn about routes taken by Native Americans during their forced removal from lands east of the Mississippi River. Ancestors of displaced peoples share the impact on their families. And the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail is celebrated. This 5,043-mile path stretches across nine states, serving as a reminder of Native Americans’ forced removal.