We’re continuing our backroads adventures as we meander through Tennessee’s hill country. In our last adventure we explored charming Greeneville TN, home to Andrew Johnson National Historic Site. Read about our visit to Greeneville here.
Today we’re traveling east thirty-three miles to Tennessee’s oldest city, Jonesborough.
Jonesborough is worth the detour – hands down it is one of the favorite small towns that I’ve visited because it has history, lots of culture, cool local shops and restaurants and is surrounded by mountain scenery.
As you drive into downtown Jonesborough you instantly feel as though you are traveling back in time. Perfectly preserved historic buildings from the frontier days to federal architecture to Victorian all dot the streets. Main Street is vibrant and alive with dozens of eclectic homegrown shops where you can purchase outdoor gear, cool fashions, peruse candy shops and enjoy a delicious meal.
Jonesborough has always been a center of culture and arts. Today it is the International Capital of Storytelling and since 1973 has been home to the National Storytelling Festival. This festival brings people from all backgrounds to tell stories of the fabric of their lives, creative fairy tales, spooky stories, anything the mind and heart can imagine. The festival takes place every October, but you can hear great stories all year with special programs at the International Storytelling Center. The most important story you will write in Jonesborough is your own adventure – I encourage you to journal your travel experiences and don’t be afraid to use those adventures to ignite a fictional short story or poem too. Check out the International Storytelling Center website here.
As a history buff I was in heaven taking in the city’s multiple historical spots. Jonesborough was once considered a ‘frontier town’ in North Carolina (We learned about the State of Franklin and formation of Tennessee in our last post). While Tennessee has a lot of history from the early 1800s and beyond it is rare to find a spot with such deep 18th century roots.
Officially founded in 1779, Jonesborough is packed with history. Many of the residents of Jonesborough volunteered to fight as patriots in the American Revolution, helping to win the pivotal Battle at King’s Mountain near the NC/SC border. These Overmountain Men from the ‘frontier’ were vital to providing the boost the Continental Army needed. If you are interested in The American Revolution stay posted for my upcoming America 250 – Liberty Trails series, which will dive into the history and travel sites as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence.
Jonesborough was a political center for the region and with Greeneville TN played an important role in setting the foundation for Tennessee becoming a separate state from North Carolina with the creation of ‘The State of Franklin.’
As we learned during our visit to Greeneville, during the 1780s, east Tennessee was part of North Carolina and it was a mess. North Carolina’s government was focused more on the piedmont and eastern regions and did not provide support to western communities like Jonesborough. During my time at Belmont University, I attended a lecture about this period of history and one of the major issues was that they did not have enough judges for simple court disputes and also there were threats of incursions from Native Americans (who rightfully were in the area, but conflict over land always comes up in history).
The western communities continued to petition North Carolina for help and work out of a solution, but their cries were ignored. They knew they were citizens with rights, many who had fought bravely for Independence and refused to be ignored.
The reality of this neglect became undeniable in 1784 when North Carolina, seeking to resolve its financial issues, ceded its western territories, including Greene County, to Congress. This action effectively left the settlers to the mercy of the nascent federal government under the Articles of Confederation, which struggled with limited resources due to its inability to directly levy taxes.
Feeling abandoned and believing they deserved self-governance, citizens in the surrounding area met in Jonesborough and declared their independence from North Carolina. They formed the “State of Franklin,” a testament to their aspirations, electing Revolutionary War hero John Sevier as their governor and establishing their own executive and legislative branches. Their first state legislature convened in a simple log courthouse in Greeneville in December 1785, a replica of which can be visited today.
Despite their petition for statehood failing in Congress, the spirit of the State of Franklin persisted, ultimately contributing to the establishment of the State of Tennessee in 1796. The name of Franklin near Nashville honors these early independent-minded individuals. Jonesborough also offers historical insights into the State of Franklin.
This article provides wonderful insights into the Lost State of Franklin.
A must stop for history buffs in Jonesborough is The Chester Inn. This state Historic Site and Museum chronicles the history of Jonesborough from 1779 to the present.
Located in the heart of downtown Jonesborough, this inn was built in 1797 by Dr. Chester, who was originally from Lancaster Pennsylvania. The Inn’s location on a prominent stage road, made it a popular spot where travelers and local business people would frequent.
The Inn is the oldest wood frame building in the commercial historic district of Jonesborough and is built in the Federal style. The large front porch was added in the 1880s to give the building its current appearance.
As a physician in a small frontier town, Chester was in demand, but also recognized he needed to supplement his income for sustainability. The Inn was known as the finest inn on the Tennessee frontier and played host to three U.S. Presidents (all who made their political careers in Tennessee) Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson. Andrew Jackson chose to stay at The Chester Inn on multiple occasions during his travels. While the rooms may seem primitive for our modern luxury tastes, it was considered cutting edge at the time with feather beds.
Next door to the inn, you can also see the Christopher Taylor House, which was built in 1777 by Christopher Taylor who was a veteran of the French and Indian War and a major in the American Revolutionary War. Fun fact, Andrew Jackson lived in this house, while he practiced law in Jonesborough early in his career before moving to Nashville.
Abolitionist center:
Did you know that Jonesborough was the first city in the United States to publish a newspaper solely devoted to abolition? Right in the heart of the south too!
Published by Elihu Embree at Jonesborough in 1820, Embree was a former slave owner who began to see the horror of the practice and advocated for abolition.
The Emancipator advocated gradual emancipation and colonization of slaves, reprinted the proceedings and addresses of the Manumission Society of Tennessee, and published letters, articles, and poetry related to the abolition of slavery. In his newspaper, Embree celebrated slave owners who, like himself, had freed their slaves, and he recounted the “pitiful conditions” of many slaves in order to expose the institution and inhumane slave owners.
The annual subscription rate of the Emancipator was one dollar per year, and it had reached a circulation of over two thousand by October 1820, with deliveries made to Boston and Philadelphia, as well as in the South. Embree mailed copies of his paper to the governors of all the southern states, but it was not well received. Many southerners erroneously thought Embree was an agent of northern abolitionist groups, sent to Tennessee to stir up trouble with his publication. (source)
During the Civil War, northeastern Tennessee was heavily divided and considered a Unionist stronghold who even tried to break away as a separate state when Tennessee seceded.
Arts and Culture:
In addition to the National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough provides cultural opportunities with local theatre, music, visual arts and more. The local theatre has a full schedule of shows throughout the year. Jonesborough hosts multiple arts and cultural festivals to showcase local fine arts and bring people throughout the region together.
Jackson Theatre: Theatre to movies to music – there is always something to see at The Jackson Theatre. Website
Jonesborough Reparatory Theatre: Excellent theatre organization that performs a variety of shows throughout the year. Click here to plan your visit and buy tickets.
Where to Stay:
While Jonesborough has chain hotels in the Johnson City corridor, I recommend checking into one of the local hotels and bed and breakfasts. While I did not stay overnight on this visit, I stopped by a few of the hotels to check them out for my next trip through Jonesborough. A few that caught my eye:
Historic Eureka Inn: This charming hotel in the heart of downtown is perfect for your visit to Jonesborough. The inn’s building dates back to 1797 and has eight uniquely decorated rooms that pay homage to the past without compromising modern amenities. Book your stay here
Jonesborough Bed and Breakfast: Charming bed and breakfast with creekside views – Official Website
Franklin House Bed and Breakfast: Quaint and historic lodgings that transport you back through the history of Jonesborough. The innkeepers are ready to share their knowledge of the area from The Cherokee Forest to Storytelling sites – Book your adventure here.
Jonesborough is surrounded by the large and beautiful Cherokee National Forest, which offers over 700 miles of hiking trails! Plan your Cherokee National Forest Adventure here.
I look forward to visiting Jonesborough again and writing more stories about my adventures.
To write your own Jonesborough story I recommend using their tourism website for additional resources.
Next up – we’re traveling to Nashville TN, where I spend a few days recording new songs including ‘Good Man,’ ‘Heartbreak City’ and ‘How Do You Feel.’
I lived in Nashville for many years and can’t wait to share my favorite Nashville haunts with you in our upcoming posts.
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Meet Adele Lassiter, the travel enthusiast behind American Nomad Traveler. This blog is where she shares her love for history, cool museums, art, and travel tips. And when she’s not writing, Adele is also a talented singer-songwriter with a passion for Americana music. Her new album is available here: adelelassiter.bandcamp.com
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