Close 3 Must-See Historic Sites in the Knoxville Area
The Knoxville, Tennessee area is full of historical sites to see, from historic forts to beautiful gardens. You’ll love exploring these sites and learning more about what life was like back in the day in Knoxville.
1. James White’s Fort
Born in 1747, James White was an American soldier and pioneer who founded the city of Knoxville. He picked a fort to be the Southwest Territory’s capital in 1790, and the fort was reconstructed into a museum in 1970. Now, more than 10,000 visitors each year see what life was like in the 18th century. You can also attend hands-on events, such as blacksmithing, open-hearth cooking, and spinning. It costs $7 for adults and $3 for children or students. James White’s Fort is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday from April to November and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday from December to March.
Many events take place here throughout the year, including Christmas Open House, Junior Docent Day, Knoxville Homecoming, The Ghost Tour of Downtown Knoxville, and HearthScares Halloween Ball. Free trolley rides are offered to the fort and the surrounding areas.
2. Crescent Bend House & Gardens
Crescent Bend House & Gardens is a 600-acre farm that used to be a working farm and is now open to the public to view. The beautiful home has a collection of English silver that dates back to 1640 in addition to 18th-century furniture and decorative arts. You can also walk through the stunning terraces, see the manicured Italian gardens, and sit by the grand fountains. They’re part of the Historic Homes of Knoxville, which is a partnership among seven historic houses in the Knoxville area.
The house and gardens are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students. Those who are 12 years old and younger can enter for free, and a $2 discount will be given to adults who are members of Knox Heritage, AARP, and AAA. Large group tours are available if you call in advance, and you can also rent out the area for events.
3. Mabry-Hazen House Museum
The Mabry-Hazen House Museum on Mabry’s Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places. This house was constructed in 1858 and home to three generations of a family that spent their days with beautiful views of the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee River, and downtown Knoxville. The house is now open to the public and has one of the biggest original family collections in the country, with thousands of authentic artifacts on exhibit.
The home is still decorated and furnished with pieces from the mid-1800s, so it provides a unique look into what Knoxville was like over 100 years ago. You’ll learn about the lives of the families who lived there was well as events, such as the 1882 Gunfight on Gay Street and the 1934 Hazen-Sherringhaus trial in which Evelyn Hazen, a resident of the house, sued her one-time fiance after he broke off their engagement.
“James White’s Fort in Knoxville, TN.” via Flickr by Paul Vo. Used with permission via CC BY-ND 2.0 / cropped from original