The Historic Homes of Knoxville held a luncheon on Wednesday, October 10 at The Foundry to celebrate the founding of the City of Knoxville 221 years ago.
Mayor Rogero and other key community leaders were present to celebrate Knoxville's most precious properties, including Blount Mansion, Crescent Bend House & Gardens, Historic Ramsey House, James White's Fort, Mabry-Hazen House, and Marble Springs State Historic Site.
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander was the featured speaker.
"Knoxville and the State of Tennessee owe their existence to the events that took place within these historic landmarks and the people who built them," says Arts & Culture Alliance Executive Director Liza Zenni. "We are very fortunate that they have been preserved. The funds raised through this event will help ensure that they continue to give our city its unique sense of place and history."
The Historic Homes of Knoxville are uniformly significant in Tennessee's accession as the 16th state in 1796. Apart from the paramount importance of their preservation, each house museum offers events and educational opportunities that benefit the community at large. For more information on the Historic Homes, visit
www.hhknoxville.org.
Blount Mansion
Construction on Blount Mansion began in 1792, making it the oldest museum in Knox County. As the birthplace of the state of Tennessee, the site offers educational visits from K-5, and all lesson plans follow the Tennessee State Curriculum. Blount Mansion also hosts field trips for homeschool groups.
http://www.blountmansion.org
Crescent Bend House & Gardens
Historic Crescent Bend House & Gardens is one of the Southeast's finest house museums and gardens. Built in 1834 by Drury Paine Armstrong, Crescent Bend was once a 900-acre working farm and so named for its prominent setting overlooking a majestic crescent bend in the Tennessee River just west of downtown Knoxville. Offering museum and garden tours, Crescent Bend also serves as a popular venue for special events.
http://www.crescentbend.com
James White's Fort
Built in 1786, James White's Fort was home to the founder of Knoxville. More than 10,000 visitors tour the Fort each year and experience the frontier lifestyle through hands-on interpretation of Open Hearth Cooking, Blacksmithing and Spinning.
http://www.jameswhitesfort.org
Mabry-Hazen House
Built in 1858 and housing three generations of the same family from 1858-1987, the Mabry-Hazen House served as headquarters for both Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. Mabry-Hazen offers private tours to individuals and schools, and contains the original family collection of over 5,000 family heirlooms. In addition, the museum oversees the Bethel Cemetery, the resting place for more than 1,600 Confederate Soldiers. The cemetery also contains a small museum built in the caretaker's cottage dating from 1886.
http://www.mabryhazen.com
Marble Springs
Marble Springs was the home of John Sevier (1745-1815), Tennessee's first governor and Revolutionary War hero. The site is a destination for over 2,000 school children and hosts a variety of hands-on workshops and Living History events that give visitors a glimpse into late 18th- and early 19th-century life.
http://www.marblesprings.net
Ramsey House
Historic Ramsey House was built in 1797 by Knoxville's first builder, Thomas Hope, for Francis Alexander Ramsey, one of Knoxville's first settlers. Ramsey House's educational programs all incorporate social studies, science, and math, and adhere to state education standards. The programs allow visitors to see and experience how people lived in the 1800's.
http://www.ramseyhouse.org
Each of these historic homes is a chapter of history unto itself. Together they exemplify and celebrate the continuing pioneering spirit that created Knoxville 220 years ago.