More info: The town of Cowan which dates from the mid-19th century, developed mostly as a railroad town. It was the site where several branch lines met the main Nashville to Chattanooga trunk of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway which ran through the important Cowan Tunnel. As the last stop before the uphill climb onto the Cumberland Plateau, pusher engines were used to assist trains in the steep ascent. These trains based in Cowan, are still in use today.
After U.S. Route 41A was built in the 1940s, the importance of the railway and the economy of Cowan declined. The old passenger depot, built in 1904, was restored and serves today as the Cowan Railroad Museum .