Monteagle's settlement history began with a 5,000-acre land grant to John Bostick in 1792. In 1855, construction began on the Mountain Goat Railroad, extending first from Cowan to Sewanee, then through what would become Monteagle, and on to Tracy City. In May 1870, John Moffat, a Scottish born temperance leader, came to the mountain on this railroad. His train stop hamlet officially became known as Moffat Station in 1871, later becoming Mont Eagle, and finally Monteagle when the town was officially incorporated in 1962, as construction began on the first section of Interstate 24 in this area. Monteagle is home to many historic sites, stories, and people, including Al Capone, Andrew Lytle, the DuBose Conference Center, the Great Eagle Caper, Hamper McBee, the Highlander Folk School, Historic Highway 41, the Dixie Highway, Madame Chiang Kai-shek, Martin Luther King Jr., the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, Rosa Parks, and the Trail of Tears. The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly was created during the Chautauqea Movement in the late 1800s and continues to offer assemblies each year. The multimodal hiking and biking Mountain Goat Trail traces the path of the former Mountain Goat Railroad, which stretched from Cowan to Palmer, connecting the South Cumberland region. The RyeMabee Mansion, known today as High Point Restaurant, was once home to Al Capone's girlfriend, and he frequently came there to avoid the law. The DuBose Conference Center began as Fairmount College for Women in 1878. The South Cumberland State Park Welcome and Information Center, on Highway 41, offers park maps, information, and family-friendly activities.