History

Knoxville has been the social, commercial and cultural center of a unique region of the American South since 1791.  First it was a fortified outpost, capital of the Southwest Territory and later of the state of Tennessee.

The city furnished the political and intellectual leadership for Unionist East Tennessee when the region struggled to remain loyal to the United States at the time of the Civil War. The contending armies made this strategic railroad center a battlefield during the sectional conflict.

After the Civil War, Knoxville boomed as its entrepreneurs exploited the mineral and forest resources of the surrounding mountains and its great merchants built a large wholesale trade in Southern Appalachia.

In the twentieth century, the development of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the atomic complex at nearby Oak Ridge, together with the phenomenal growth of the University of Tennessee, have given the city a new dimension.

From "Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee" by the Knoxville History Committee of the East Tennessee Historical Society, edited by Lucile Deaderick.

Beck Cultural Exchange Center
The center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the achievements of African-Americans in Knoxville.

East Tennessee History Center
The museum located in downtown Knoxville in the Old Custom House is dedicated to preserving and promoting an interest in material related to the history of Tennessee. The museum features permanent as well as changing exhibits, workshops and programs.

Farragut Folklife Museum
This museum, located in Farragut, contains artifacts and personal belongings of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, first admiral of the U.S. Navy and a Civil War hero.

James White’s Fort
The home of James White who settled in Knoxville with a 1,000-acre land grant from the state of North Carolina. Includes White’s first home, furnished with original tools and artifacts from the period.

Mabry-Hazen House
The stately, elegant home of the Victorian and Civil War periods showcases one of the largest collections of original artifacts including china, silver, crystal, and antique furnishings.

McClung Museum
This museum is situated on the University of Tennessee campus. It features collections in anthropology, archaeology, decorative arts, medicine and local and natural history.

Ramsey House Plantation
Completed in 1797 by Knoxville’s first builder, Thomas Hope, and built of local limestone and marble, this Georgian-style house is furnished with period antiques reflecting the life of Ramsey and his family.

Arts & Culture Alliance home

Knoxville activities