Write Your Story in Historic Jonesborough TN – The Storytelling Capital of the World

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Write your story in Historic Jonesborough TN, the Storytelling Capital of the United States:

One of my favorite small towns to return to time and again is the storybook town of Jonesborough Tennessee.  Nestled in the northeastern corner of Tennessee, guarded by the mists and serenity of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Jonesborough holds the distinction of being Tennessee’s oldest town; founded in 1779, it predates Tennessee itself.  Jonesborough isn’t just a place where history happened years ago, lost to time and memory…in Jonesborough the foundation of the past intersects with the vibrant welcoming community of today.

When you walk the streets of downtown Jonesborough, you feel as though you have been teleported into a history and art lover’s dream, with rows of beautiful historic buildings, delicious restaurants, historic sites, live theatre and at its core the world renowned International Storytelling Center.  

In Jonesborough you can engage with stories of its dynamic past from the Native Americans who first lived in the region, to the Overmountain Men Patriots who marched from nearby Sycamore Shoals to fight for liberty in the turning of the tide victory of Kings Mountain in the American Revolution, to the Lost State of Franklin, to the Emancipator Newspaper to presidents and the arts, culture and people of the mountains who keep the story of Jonesborough going.

The best part is when you visit Historic Jonesborough you can write your own adventure story…from cozy weekend retreat, to festival fun, play history detective, wander the Blue Ridge, toast to good eats…there is something for everyone in Jonesborough. The only thing missing is you! 

Forty-Eight Hours in Jonesborough

In late April, I had the opportunity to ‘Check-Inn’ to history at the Historic Eureka Inn and Event Center.  I first discovered the Eureka, during a visit to Jonesborough in 2025 as I was traveling back through the area after recording a few songs in Nashville.  I was instantly smitten by the pull of the inn’s gorgeous architecture and rich history.  From that moment I knew I had to plan a return trip to spend a night at The Historic Eureka Inn. During the last weekend of April 2026, I had the opportunity to return to Jonesborough. While part of my purpose was to research the stories of the past, in the months since my visit, I’ve discovered the memories I made during the fantastic visit to Jonesborough and stay at the Eureka Inn are now part of my story, each part of the adventure a chapter in my travelogue I’ll never forget.

The Historic Eureka Inn – Vintage Charm and Gracious Mountain Hospitality…here you enter as a stranger, but leave as a friend for life…I’ll share the full  history of the Eureka later in this adventure, no stop in Jonesborough is fully complete without a visit to the Historic Eureka Inn.  Its foundations date to 1797 and each step you take through this grand old hotel is a time traveling adventure into Jonesborough’s story, while also providing the modern conveniences a weary traveler longs for.  The owner, Carol is a fabulous innkeeper who instantly makes you feel at home with a cup of tea and kindness. 

The minute you step into the Eureka you feel this spirit of calm and peace, as 229 years of history were waiting for you to stop by so you can hear the story of the past while writing your own adventure as you enjoy a cup of tea and relax in the beautiful and gracious inn.  Carol is a creative soul like me who has done a fabulous job melding old and new, where you experience vintage comfort.  I love the fact she has a costume closet where you can borrow an outfit and dress up as a Victorian lady for a tea party or use a vintage fan to quell the summer heat on a hot day.

Even if you can’t book a room at the Eureka, they have tons of fun events like dinners, teas, mystery nights, masquerades…the only thing missing is you!

This is my deep dive history travel post…but for a quick overview:

Highlights from my visit:

Quick Tips:

Historic Presbyterian Church – one of the many lovely churches and architectural structures in Jonesborough

Opening the Book on Jonesborough’s Story: Tennessee’s Oldest Town, Storytelling Capital and Mountain Community 

While some towns have historic roots, what’s great about Jonesborough is you can actually walk in the footsteps of where the history happened, seeing buildings still in use from the early years of what was once a frontier community on a Stage Coach spur road of the Great Wagon Road.  With each step along the downtown streets you can feel the pull of history, almost like hearing echoes from the past through historic markers, centuries old architecture, and remnants of a bygone era.  

During my visit I spent several hours on foot from ‘witness buildings’ that have played a role in Jonesborough’s story for centuries like the city’s oldest building the circa 1777, Christopher Taylor House, to the 1797 Historic Chester Inn (a State Historic Site) to the Historic Eureka Inn (where you can still check-inn to history and experience charm and hospitality for the history books) to the Historic Courthouse and of course where the story continues past to present at the International Storytelling Center.

Historic Chester Inn circa 1797

Learning about the History of Jonesborough at the Historic Chester Inn:

When it comes to discovering the story of Jonesborough’s history, there is no better place to start your journey than the Historic Chester Inn 

The Chester Inn was built in 1797 by Dr. William P. Chester, who moved to Jonesborough in 1792 from Lancaster Pennsylvania along the Great Wagon Road.  As a physician in a small town he found it necessary to supplement his income and recognizing the town’s prominent position on the Stage Coach Road spur of the Great Wagon Road, he built a boarding house and inn to accommodate travelers with comfortable lodging and a warm meal. It was also a popular spot for locals to grab a meal and catch up conversation.

Today the Chester Inn is a State Historic Site and Museum with excellent exhibits about the history Jonesborough from its origins as ‘frontier’ town to the Revolutionary War to the Lost State of Franklin to the Chester Inn’s founding as a hub for weary travelers to local shoppers…the museum brings to life the story of Jonesborough in a building that has witnessed much of its history.  Upon entering the historic building, I instantly felt drawn into the legacy of the past. 

“Welcome to the Chester Inn,” Katie, a site director, and another volunteer greeted me as I entered the museum.  I shared with Katie how I’m a history nut who is especially drawn to historic taverns and inns because they are layered with stories of the people who lived, worked and visited these sites. “We’re so glad you came to visit us and ‘check-inn to’ our history. Since 1797, the street level basement has been everything from an apothecary (pharmacy) to barber shop, cobbler shop, jewelry shop, confectionery, restaurant and also the Jonesborough Public Library.” 

As I stood, listening to Katie, I could feel the echoes of the past in the creaking of the floorboards and noticing the small detail work in the architecture.  

“On this level, the basement, I recommend you start with the exhibition about the historic timeline of Jonesborough and then check out the exhibits telling the story of the Chester Inn. We also have some special exhibits about Appalachian musical instruments and the legacy of storytelling in Jonesborough.  Once you travel through the layers of the inn’s place in Jonesborough’s history, we can take you upstairs to experience life as a guest in post 1860…” 

I was instantly impressed with the fabulous exhibitions that provided a detailed timeline of Jonesborough and the Chester Inn’s history without being overwhelming.  You were drawn into the story with each exhibit panel, from the drama of Jonesborough’s founding to the inn’s bustling traffic as a major stop as a Stage Coach spur of the Great Road.

“Jonesborough has enough drama to pack a Starz series. When you think about Tennessee it’s often Knoxville or Nashville, but Jonesborough was really the beating heart of the state of Tennessee,” I mused as Katie and I discussed the history.

“Jonesborough was founded in 1779 and has the distinction of being Tennessee’s oldest town…Although when it was established it was technically in North Carolina,” a volunteer with an expertise in local history filled me in. “It wasn’t technically the oldest settlement.  For centuries Native American tribes like the Cherokee called this land home.  The first white settlers to come across the Blue Ridge Mountains into this region between the Watauga and Nolichucky Rivers William Bean and his wife Lydia, who built a permanent cabin near modern day Elizabethton and Johnson City, not too far from here.”

“I remember learning about the Bean family when I visited Elizabethton and Sycamore Shoals last year…The Watauga Settlement…” 

“Technically the earliest European settlers in this area were trespassing.  After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, the British issued a proclamation preventing settlers from crossing into Indian Territory past the Appalachian Mountains. This angered a lot of Americans who felt they’d fought the war for the right to expand their land rights for their families and to seek a place to homestead on what was then the frontier. The population was growing and the chance to settle in this region provided hope for a better life.  The problem was that they were squatting and it would lead to conflicts with tribes like Cherokee who used the region for hunting grounds.”

Sign from Sycamore Shoals State Historic Site

“I was recently in South Carolina’s Upcountry. They had similar issues, where you had settlers beyond the boundary line.”

“In this region, many early settlers believed they were technically in Virginia under the 1770 Treaty of Lochaber.  However a later survey by Colonel John Donelson confirmed they were past the boundary line and on Cherokee land. British officials ordered the settlers to destroy their homes and move back east. then  told the settlers to destroy their homes and move east.”

“Wow.” I could understand the frustration on both sides.

  “You can imagine that this did not sit well with the settlers.  They instead worked to negotiate with the Cherokee to lease land. Settlers kept moving into the region, essentially squatting and while this area was not sanctioned land or part of a government district with courts, laying outside of the boundaries of the British government. This became a problem for those now living in the area of the Watauga River region who needed basic courts and also government protections.”

“I remember Royal Governments in Virginia and North Carolina weren’t going to help with the courts because these settlers were past the boundary line and technically going against British law.  North Carolina Royal Governor Josiah Martin was frustrated with them for sure.”

“With no direct governmental support from North Carolina or Virginia, the settlers decided to blaze their own path in 1772 and form their own government called the Watauga Association.  The settlers met at present-day Sycamore Shoals Historic Site in Elizabethton in May 1772.  They worked together to organize their own constitution called the Articles of the Watauga Association. This was rebellious at the time, four years before the Declaration of Independence, and these Over the Mountain settlers disregarded British boundary lines and essentially declared their own government.  They did lease land from the Cherokee.”

“That’s history not many people hear about outside of the region, but it’s fascinating and important history from a legal and government standpoint…especially leading up to the Revolutionary War years.”

“The constitution incorporated the Virginia code of laws and outlined the organization of government.   Five elected magistrates formed a court and conducted the business of government, including executive, legislative and judicial matters. A clerk recorded deliberations of the court and a sheriff executed judgements.  While we don’t know all of the early commissioners of the Watauga Association, evidence points to later founder of Nashville James Robertson, hero of Kings Mountain and Tennessee’s first governor John Sevier and John Carter…

Portrait of John Sevier

Being from Raleigh area, not far from Hillsborough NC, I remembered learning about the Transylvania Purchase during a history talk discussing how Judge Richard Henderson of Hillsborough (he’s an interesting character in his own right to study – post for another day), had recruited men to move into the area and worked with Daniel Boone on opening up settlement into Kentucky.  When I was at Sycamore Shoals in2025 (about thirty minutes from Jonesborough), I learned that in 1775 Judge Henderson met with leaders of the Cherokee Nation to negotiate additional settlement claims of all the Cumberland River Valley and most of Kentucky in exchange for 10,000 pounds of trade goods.  While some Cherokee elders were in favor of the deal, men like Dragging Canoe vehemently opposed it and would become an ally of the British, attacking settlers at Fort Watauga and the area around Jonesborough in 1776.  This was an attack approached between British and Cherokee on the frontier and ended up being devastating for the Cherokee.

From Sycamore Shoals museum in Elizabethton

Jonesborough – A New Town on The Frontier

“When Jonesborough was established in 1779, it technically was in North Carolina…” Katie reminded me as we paused near an exhibit detailing the history of Washington County and Jonesborough. 

“1779, talk about a crossroads of history,” My revolutionary war brain was thinking about how this was on the cusp of the British launching the Southern Campaign in the Carolinas and the game changing victory at Kings Mountain that the citizens of Jonesborough and the area would play such an important role in on October 7th, 1780. “Right in the middle of the Revolutionary War, but the calm before the storm in the Southern Theater…”

“The roots of Washington County and Jonesborough actually date back to July 1776.  Obviously our first thought is the Declaration of Independence on the Frontier, but here in the Watauga and Nolichucky River Valleys they were facing a formidable foe in the British ally of Dragging Canoe, who attacked Fort Watauga and other settlements that summer.”

“South Carolina faced a similar issue,” I nodded, piecing together the history. (For more info click here for my SC250 piece)

“So in July 1776, the people of this region petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly to “annex us to your Province (whether as county, district or other division) in such a manner as to enable us to share in the glorious cause of liberty.” 

North Carolina had been running as an independent state free from British rule since 1775 when Royal Governor Josiah Martin was kicked out (the British were unable to retake North Carolina after losing the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776).  This meant that the proclamation line was not a concern, although the distance of Jonesborough to other western counties even like Wilkes or Rowan made it potentially hard to manage.  However that’s in part to efforts by Willie Jones, a prominent planter (and horse racer) from Halifax North Carolina, North Carolina agreed to establish what would be nine counties in present day East Tennessee, including Washington County in 1778.  On May 3, 1779, the North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation that a new town be established to “affix the courthouse for Washington County.” Jonesborough was named for Willie Jones (pronounced Wylie) who helped advocate for the creation of Washington County.

“I recently visited Historic Halifax where Jones lived and had a plantation.  Legend has it that John Paul Jones who later became the father of the U.S. Navy hid out with Willie for several years and adopted Jones’ last name in his honor.  Willie Jones is buried in Raleigh in an unmarked grave at St. Augustine’s campus. He didn’t want a marker.  I love intersecting history from my travels.”

Reenactor playing Willie Jones and Austin Curtis at Historic Halifax…Austin Curtis was one of the best jockeys of the era.

Jonesborough and the Legacy of the Overmountain Men:

Knowing my interest in the Revolutionary War, Katie took time to share how important the region was to the fight for liberty, when many of the settlers from Jonesborough and the surrounding areas came together at Sycamore Shoals on the Watauga River (Elizabethton) on September 25th, 1780 to march over the mountains to hunt down the Bulldog Patrick Ferguson.

“Major Patrick Ferguson had issued a threatening proclamation that “If you do not desist your opposition to the British Arms, I shall march this army over the mountains, hang your leaders, and lay waste your country with fire and sword.” The independent minded people of this region were not going to fall over in fear at Ferguson’s threats and Overmountain Men as they were dubbed from Abingdon and Southwestern Virginia to what is not Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina to South Carolina and even Georgia took on Maj. Ferguson and his loyalist army on October 7, 1780.”

“I’ve been following the Overmountain Trail from Abingdon to Sycamore Shoals, Wilkes and Surry County NC to Kings Mountain, SC the past year.  It’s amazing that these militia men took on Maj. Ferguson and his loyalist troops turned the tide of the war.  One of the goals of the British was to raise a strong loyalist militia in the Carolinas and after this, the loyalist rising never happened. Jefferson later remarked that Kings Mountain turned the tide towards a series of events leading towards final victory on October 19, 1781 at Yorktown.”

Sycamore Shoals militia man

“While there are many famous Overmountain Patriots from this area, John Sevier became a leader in Jonesborough and the region after the war, from Governor of the Lost State of Franklin to the First Governor of Tennessee.” 

The Lost State of Franklin:

“When I was a student at Belmont University in Nashville, I’ll never forget a fabulous lecture by a historian about ‘The Lost State of Franklin’ and how early settlers tried to ‘secede’ from North Carolina. It was only last year, when I was driving through Jonesborough and nearby Greeneville, that I revisited the history. It’s one of those hidden histories that should be in every history book…” I mentioned it to Katie as we discussed Jonesborough’s role in the years after the Revolutionary War, including a period from 1784 to 1788 known as the ‘Lost State of Franklin.’

“Tennessee was not formally recognized as a state until 1796,” Katie explained. “Initially, the region was part of the Western District of North Carolina but the North Carolina Legislature didn’t have the money or means to support counties like Washington and Greene. Citizens in Jonesborough felt they were not represented by the NC government. After the Revolutionary War, states owed the federal government money, and North Carolina tried to cede the area of Washington County to the Federal Government. The problem was that the Federal Government couldn’t provide things like legislative representation and, under the Articles of Confederation, could not raise taxes directly (it relied on the states), so this was a lose-lose for the people in Jonesborough and the region.”

In 1783, North Carolina, under the guidance of William Blount, who later became Governor of the Southwest Territory and eventually Tennessee (at Rocky Mount Historic Site near Jonesborough) led a group of land speculators in the NC General Assembly to help pass the ‘Land Grab Act.’ This opened NC’s western lands (now TN) for sale.

Photo from Rocky Mount State Historic Site not far from Jonesborough. Historic Chester Inn has excellent exhibits on State of Franklin as well.

On April 23, 1784, the United States Congress enacted the Ordinance of 1784. This law meant that western lands were to be ceded by the thirteen states to the national government, which would then divide them into ten districts from which new states would be formed. Initially, in the spring of 1784, the NC General Assembly ceded its western lands to the United States Congress to help relieve the nation’s financial burden from the Revolutionary War. However, that fall, the NC Legislature decided that they didn’t want to give up the land. The entire situation became a mess. Meanwhile, people in the region of present-day East Tennessee wanted good government and protections, and they weren’t going to wait around for North Carolina to figure things out in the Legislature.

“I don’t blame them,” I laughed.

“On August 23–24, 1784, delegates from Greene, Sullivan, and Washington Counties met right here in Jonesborough to begin what would eventually become the short-lived State of Franklin. On December 14, 1784, delegates from these areas convened in Jonesborough to approve the formation of a new state, originally named ‘Frankland’ before being renamed the State of Franklin after Benjamin Franklin. Jonesborough served as the capital of Franklin until a new capital was established in nearby Greeneville. John Sevier, hero of King’s Mountain, was elected its first governor in March 1785. Franklin tried to work through Congress to be declared a state, but was never formally recognized and remained technically an ‘illegal’ state, though it operated as a legitimate one in hopes of joining the United States. They even petitioned Benjamin Franklin for his help, and although he wrote them a letter, he didn’t raise the banner for their cause directly.”

NC Governor Alexander Martin was irate with the Franklanders and issued a Manifesto to the ‘revolting’ State of Franklin. Governor John Sevier countered with a State of Franklin Proclamation, which denounced Governor Martin’s Manifesto as a plot to disrupt peace and asserted that the citizens wished to be separate from North Carolina. Governor Sevier and the newly elected North Carolina Governor, Richard Caswell, corresponded with each other about the Manifesto. Sevier wrote to Caswell on May 14, and Caswell responded on June 17. Sevier expressed his frustration with Martin’s Manifesto, and Governor Caswell responded in a conciliatory manner, informing Sevier that the Manifesto and all actions of North Carolina against the State of Franklin would be suspended until the next state assembly.

Jonesborough served as the capital of Franklin until a new capital was established in nearby Greeneville. John Sevier, one of the most influential leaders in the development of Franklin, served as its governor. Franklin functioned as an unrecognized state until 1788, but was never admitted by Congress. After many negotiations and skirmishes, which climaxed in the Battle of Franklin (1788), North Carolina once again reasserted its authority over the region.

Fun Fact: Tennessee finally became a state in 1796 with John Sevier as its first governor. You can visit Tennessee’s Territorial Capital at Piney Flats TN at Rocky Mount State Historic Site

Photo from Rocky Mount State Historic Site

Crossroads of History: Checking Inn to History at the Chester Inn

“We’ve laid the groundwork of the early years of Jonesborough’s story, which brings us to the history of the Chester Inn and its active role in the town’s rich history,” Katie then shared the 229 years of life and legacy the Chester Inn has been a part of. “This is the oldest building in it’s original location in downtown Jonesborough, dating to 1797.  The Christopher Taylor House next door, was built in 1777, but was originally a few miles outside of town.  This part of the ground floor basement has been the epicenter of activity throughout its 299 years.”

“You can read about history online, but there is something about actually standing on the ground where the history happened.  The past meets the present and forges the future all at once.”

“As I mentioned earlier, the Chester Inn was built by Dr. William P. Chester from Lancaster Pennsylvania in 1797.  A Stage Coach spur road of the Great Wagon Road passed through downtown, constantly bringing in travelers as they made their way west into other regions of Tennessee.  The population of Jonesborough was relatively small to support a doctor full time, and it made logical sense to combine his practice with lodging for travelers. At the time, the town had no inn and it was desperately needed to accommodate travelers.”

“After traveling on a muddy stage road all day, I’d definitely be ready to check into this lovely inn.”

“Dr. Chester purchased lot #26 for $74 on May 15, 1797 and immediately began construction on what is the western half of the structure.  On February 9th, 1799, he was granted permission by the court of pleas and quarter sessions to keep a public house.”

“I’m sure the public house was a hit with the locals too.”

“The original building was five ‘bays’ (rooms) and had a chimney at the end of each bay and central stairway running from front to back with one large room on either side of the middle floor.”

“From the beginning it was fairly large with nice accommodations.”

“Consistently throughout its life as an inn was known for having quality accommodations. According to Washington County records, Dr. Chester kept the inn well staffed with local employees.  He also adopted two orphans who lived with him here, Sarah Roberts and James Roberts.  Sadly, he did have three slaves as well.”

“Where was his apothecary located?” I wondered.

“Essentially where we are standing in the street level cellar…Dr. Chester used this as an apothecary, which was the local drug store. They’d sell other goods too.”

“That would have been a go to shop for locals and travelers alike,” I assumed.  “Especially since it was run by a doctor who in his day had the proper medical training.”

“While we use the cellar today as a museum with permanent and special exhibits, for the majority of its life it was used for retail space or public gathering space. Over the years the cellar has been home to a variety of businesses, from a barber shop, cobbler shop, jewelry shop, confectionery, sandwich shop and even the Jonesborough Public Library.”

“I definitely can see myself cozying up with a good book in this historic building, although the building itself and its history has more intrigue than any book.”

A Full View of Deadrick’s Hill by Rebecca Chester, 1811.  The oldest known landscape painted in Tennessee

“If you have time, I’m happy to take you upstairs to see the hotel and parlor rooms,” a volunteer offered. “They have been restored to mimic how life would have looked in various times from the inn’s history.”

“Yes, I’d love to tour the upstairs,” I enthusiastically followed the guide to the upper level.  Each step you can feel the pull of the past pulling you deeper into the inn’s story.

“You could call this the hotel of presidents. Andrew Jackson stayed at The Chester Inn multiple times, as well as James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson and possibly Martin Van Buren, when he was serving as Jackson’s Vice President.”

“That makes sense as Johnson lived in Greeneville not far from here and Jackson and Polk would have had to go through Jonesborough as they headed to and from Washington and the greater Nashville area (Polk had homes in Columbia TN and Nashville, while Jackson’s home ‘The Hermitage’ is on the outskirts of Nashville).

“The Parlor and Dining Room would have been a gathering place for the inn’s guests, and locals who came by for food and conversation.  In the parlor, the Inn’s guests sat around the fireplace and swapped stories.  Breakfast, dinner and supper were prepared in the nearby kitchen building and served to hungry travelers in the dining room.”

“I love this wall paper.”

“It’s a historical reproduction of what they would have used during the Victorian era.”

“You’ll notice on the parlor wall a picture of Abraham Lincoln.  While we often think of Tennessee as a Confederate state, it actually was deeply divided with Northeastern Tennessee being heavily Unionist and against secession.  Andrew Johnson for instance, who is from nearby Greeneville was the only Southern Senator to continue to serve in Washington during the war and of course became the Military Governor of Tennessee under Lincoln.  So it’s fascinating to see the layers here where it’s not all North versus South, but individuals and regions each with their own beliefs during this time. It would not have been uncommon to see a portrait of Lincoln in this region.”

While upstairs I also had a chance to get a glimpse of the Lodging Rooms. 

“The inn doubled in size in 1836 to accommodate the increase in business.  The Chester Inn had a wonderful reputation as a ‘luxurious frontier inn.’ It was the first inn on the Tennessee frontier to provide featherbeds. In the early days you’d have beds lined the walls of the two large rooms on the third floor of the east side of the building.  By 1836 you’d have private rooms on the second and third floor of the west side of the building.” 

While you can’t spend the night at the Chester Inn anymore, they do open up the parlor for special events including book readings and shows hosted by the Jonesborough International Storytelling Center (which is next door, and on our itinerary).

  • During the 19th century the inn changed owners and managers numerous times.  It operated under various names, including the Planters House, the Bell Tavern, and the Jonesboro Inn.  Always an inn of high quality.  A promotional booklet from 1880 says: “the rooms are large, airy and furnished with elegance and taste, and the bill of fare embraces every delicacy and substantial obtainable in this fine market in a manner calculated to please the most fastidious.  Care and scrupulous cleanliness pervades every department, and the servants are attentive and polite.
  •  1880 owners updated the inn with an elaborate Victorian-style projecting porch, adding Italianate-influenced brackets to the building’s cornice. 

Returning to the ‘cellar,’ I spent another thirty minutes exploring exhibits about Jonesborough’s history.  Here are a few ‘footsteps of history’ from Jonesborough’s story worth knowing…

The Emancipator: 

Did you know that Jonesborough is where the first newspaper in the United States solely devoted to the abolition of slavery was printed?  Published by a Quaker, Elihu Embree, from April to October 1820, The Emancipator became the first newspaper in the United States that was dedicated solely to abolition of slavery.  According to Embree, the purpose of the Emancipator was “to advocate the abolition of slavery and to be a repository of tracts on that interesting and important subject.” Prior to The Emancipator, Embree had published a weekly newspaper called the Manumission Intelligencer in 1819.  The Emancipator had a circulation reach of 2000, with an annual subscription costing $1.  The paper had subscribers as far away as Boston and Philadelphia.  Embree made a point to mail copies to governors of all Southern States, although he didn’t get much traction when they were sent.  Sadly, Embree fell ill and the last issue was published on October 31st, 1820.  The Tennessee State Museum in Nashville has an exhibit on Embree.

Embree, though against slavery did own slaves but had worked to free them, which he included in his writing. His will manumitted his enslaved woman Nancy and her five children. In stark contrast to his beliefs, Embree was an enslaver for most of his life. He was honest, to a degree, about his shortcomings in The Emancipator. Despite these shortcomings, his paper helped influence and champion the cause of abolitionism.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. 

*Today on Main Street near the Jonesborough Presbyterian Church, you can see a Historic Marker dedicated to The Emancipator. 

Alfred Martin Ray – Hero of Spanish-American War and Buffalo Solider

Jonesborough is packed with amazing stories of African American history, including the life of hometown hero Alfred Martin Ray.  You can still walk by his home and view a marker about his life a few blocks from the Chester Inn. The museum has some information about Ray’s extraordinary life as a Buffalo Soldier.

  • Alfred Martin Ray was born in 1849 as an enslaved man near Jonesborough, but didn’t let that define his story.  He joined the United States Army in 1872 as a Buffalo Soldier fighting in the Indian Wars out west (10th U.S. Cavalry).  Perhaps his most daring act was on July 1st, 1898, when Lt. Ray planted the U.S. Flag on San Juan Hill in Cuba with the Rough Riders amid a hail of enemy bullets during the Spanish American War.  For his heroic courage in action he received a battlefield promotion.  He served in the Army from 1872 to 1903.  He purchased his home on Woodrow Avenue in Jonesborough in 1904. Ray is buried in Jonesborough’s College Hill Cemetery.
Christopher Taylor House circa 1777

“Don’t miss the Christopher Taylor House next door,” the Chester Inn staff recommended before I headed out to explore more of Jonesborough’s story. “It’s the oldest structure in Jonesborough, dating to 1777. It was moved to its current location for preservation in 1974. Andrew Jackson, twenty years old at the time, lived with the Taylors in 1788 for five months.  He passed the bar exam in Washington County and practiced law in the region until he eventually could make his way west to Nashville on a caravan (traveling alone was dangerous on the frontier).  He had been recruited from his legal position in Salisbury NC to help open a court on the Cumberland, present day Nashville.”

  • Hidden History:  Jackson was a respected attorney during his brief time in Jonesborough, but his fiery temper steamed up when he and Waightstill Avery were in a duel at the Jonesborough Courthouse on August 12th,1788.  Neither were injured, but talk about drama.”
  • Read more about the Jackson and Avery showdown here.
Andrew Jackson ‘Boy from the Waxhaws’ Sculpture by Anna Huntingdon at Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster County SC

“One of my favorite regions to visit is the Waxhaws area of NC and SC near Charlotte. That is the area Jackson grew up in. During the American Revolution he was held prisoner in Camden South Carolina, where he and his brother were attacked by a British soldier at the prison.  It caused severe brain swelling for his brother, who later died after being released.  By the end of the war, Jackson was an orphan.  I am sure he was eager for a fresh start in Tennessee, but he definitely had a temper.  I don’t condone his actions with the Trail of Tears, but you see how trauma from his youth probably haunted him even into his Tennessee years,” I mentioned, analyzing Old Hickory’s legacy, which no doubt played a major role in the fabric of Tennessee, including Jonesborough’s story.

“Jackson passed through Jonesborough many times.  One story has that while he was staying at the Chester Inn he helped put out a fire on the roof, becoming a hero for saving the town from fire.” 

Christopher Taylor House: Jonesborough’s Oldest House (Next to the Chester Inn)

Visit to the Christopher Taylor House:

Located right in the heart of downtown Jonesborough, The Christopher Taylor House is a true witness building to the region’s history from the Revolutionary War and Overmountain Men legacy to the State of Franklin years to Andrew Jackson to serving as a museum site today.

Unfortunately, the interior of the building was closed during my visit, but I was able to explore the exterior of the home and learn about its history.

Christopher Taylor was born in Bedford County Virginia in 1746.  He married Mary Edwards in 1768 and they had eight children.  Taylor was a veteran of the French and Indian War.  By 1776, he made his way to present-day Washington County.  He did fight in the 1778 Cherokee Campaign.  Capt. Taylor fought alongside Overmountain Patriots like William Campbell, Isaac Shelby, John Sevier, ‘Terror of the Tories’ Benjamin Cleveland and others when they won the Battle of Kings Mountain (in York County SC, near the NC border) defeating Maj. Patrick Ferguson (who died on the mountain and is buried there) and his loyalist troops.  

Standing in front of the Christopher Taylor House, I imagined myself there in 1780 as Christopher Taylor prepared for the muster and march to Kings Mountain.  What emotions did he feel?  What did his family think?  Standing where history happened you can for a second imagine yourself as a witness to the story.

Jonesborough – Storytelling Capital of the World

A few minutes strolling through charming Jonesborough it feels as though you’ve entered a storybook town, but what if I told you that Jonesborough’s moniker as ‘storybook town,’ runs deeper…Jonesborough is a hub for the art of storytelling and a gathering place for storytellers from around the world to create and share their craft and bring people together.  

No visit to Jonesborough is complete without a stop at the International Storytelling Center where you can attend storytelling events, learn about the history of storytelling, peruse their amazing bookstore and gift shop and attend other workshops and events throughout the year.  Can’t make it to Jonesborough for an event – you don’t have to miss out on the story, many of their performances on site are recorded and you can stream via their website.  They have tons of different types of performances from renowned storytellers across genres, to children’s events, workshops, author nights and more.  As a storyteller, I felt instant inspiration as I meandered the hallway exhibitions of the center and spoke to employees in the bookshop about the amazing work the ISC does to create “a better world through the power of storytelling.”

How did Jonesborough become the Storytelling Capital of the World?  

Take heart and inspiration that Jonesborough’s origins as a ‘Storybook Town’ didn’t begin with big budgets, but rather a spark of an idea, impassioned community and the power of a good story.

In October 1973, the first ever National Storytelling Festival began as local journalism teacher Jimmy Neil Smith, decided to start a storytelling event right in Jonesborough.  The first year featured Jerry Clower, a Mississippi storyteller, Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Band and Appalachian storyteller Ray Hicks sharing their stories on Washington County Square with a makeshift stage surrounded by hay bales for seating.  What started as a humble event has grown into a world renowned weekend of Storytelling during the first full weekend of October.  

During those three days of storytelling, over 15,000 visit town to listen and share.  

In addition to the festival and line-up of performances (over 300 hours each year), the International Storytelling Center also focuses on preservation efforts to celebrate and protect oral traditions from around the world at the levels of individuals and families, communities, and regions, as well as shared cultural heritage. In a world of digital everything, now more than ever we need to preserve the stories of the past as a bridge of memory and connection.  Once those oral traditions are lost to time it can be hard to rediscover them. 

Performing Arts in Jonesborough:

Every part of Jonesborough is layered in its storytelling roots.  Outside of the International Storytelling Center and National Storytelling Festival, visitors to Jonesborough can experience storytelling through music, art and live theater across town including:

Live Music and Arts: 

  • Jackson Theatre: I’m a music addict (and when I’m not blogging a singer-songwriter, check out my music here: Adele Lassiter Music), and I was wonderstruck by the amazing mix of top quality musicians, comedians and performers that frequent the Jackson Stage like Rodney Crowell to local rambling bands.  It’s next door to the Eureka Inn, so catch a show while you are in town.
  • Jonesborough Repertory Theatre: For fifty years, JRT has been providing top quality theatre in the heart of Jonesborough.  Their founder is Jimmy Neil Smith who also helped start the National Storytelling Festival 
  • PS. The Historic Eureka Inn is a theater and story lover’s dream.  The inn’s location is steps away from the International Storytelling Center, Historic Chester Inn, Jackson Theater and Jonesborough Repertory Theatre. Why not stay for a long weekend and catch a show at the Storytelling Center, Jackson Theatre and JRT? 

During my adventures in Jonesborough, I loved meandering the quaint historic streets and just taking in the mix of architecture and history.  One of the most photographed sites in Jonesborough is the Historic County Courthouse which you can learn about here. The current building was built from 1913-14 on the site of five earlier courthouses.

History lovers will enjoy stopping by the Washington County (TN) Archives downtown (check out their facebook page here)

Downtown Jonesborough has tons of cool shops and you will even see Yoda! Throughout the year, downtown hosts fun festivals and events from farmer’s markets, concerts, storytelling events and festivals like May the Fourth and Harry Potter Weekend!

One hidden gem I discovered tucked away along the greenway, along the Little Limestone Creek in Jonesborough was a restored railroad depot, Chuckey Railroad Depot.

On the Daniel Boone Trail:

Wherever Daniel Boone went legends and lore are left along with real history. Jonesborough is one of the areas that Daniel Boone explored in his travels. A tree nearby Jonesborough stood until around 1916 with the carved inscription that Daniel Boone Killed a Bear...You can see a Daniel Boone Trail Marker near the Washington County Courthouse. Fun Fact: Did you know that Boone spent many years in Wilkes County NC – check out my America 250 feature for Wilkes County here.

Jonesborough is filled with beautiful architecture

Check-INN to History at the Historic Eureka Inn

After my jam-packed day exploring Jonesborough history, cool downtown shops and creek side trail, I was ready to relax at the Historic Eureka Inn.  

As you enter the front porch via the main guest entrance, you’ll see a sign that says ‘Enter as Strangers and Leave as Friends…’ That quote has stuck with me as Carol and the staff’s hospitality at the Historic Eureka instantly makes you feel at home, not just as a customer, but as a guest who is going to become a friend.

“On the weekends I love how you’ll have guests from all different places eating breakfast together and at first its awkward talking to strangers but by the end of the meal, you find people becoming friends and even staying in touch after their stay.  In this digital age, it’s nice to pause and have those meals together and connect with others over tea and a good meal.”

Carol purchased the inn a few years ago and has truly put her heart and soul into its next chapter.  “Throughout its history people would gather in this living room and discuss their days, joys and sorrows and hopes and ambitions.  It was a private home and later an inn, restaurant…it has always been an anchor in the community.  I’m trying to honor the legacy and keep the tradition of community coming together through the cozy rooms to our tea parties and events.”

I stayed at the inn on a Sunday night and Carol gave me the option of which room I wanted to call my home during my stay. Each room has its own perfect personality, partially tied to the history, but also with Carol’s personal vintage touch.  I chose the railroad inspired ground floor room.  I loved vintage railroad posters and books about railroads.  

While enjoying a cup of tea, Carol shared an overview of the history of the inn.

“Where we are sitting is the oldest part of the house and it dates to 1797, when Robert Mitchell and his wife Harriet purchased ‘Lot #19’ from the Town of Jonesborough.  In the early years it was a private residence, and standing in the center of town would have played witness to so much history.”

“All the travelers that would have been passing through town on the Stage Road, including Andrew Jackson to President Polk to those names lost to time that left important marks on the fabric of Jonesborough as well,” I pondered, taking a sip of tea.

“One fascinating story is the fact that when Henry Maxwell purchased the home in 1851, the home would be used to sequester and house juries from the nearby Washington County Courthouse when trials required them to stay overnight while deliberating important cases.  Today that ‘Juror’s Room’ is popular for weddings and events.”

“Can you imagine the conversations in that room from jurors as they deliberated on cases and were sequestered. I bet there were some tense moments in that room.” 

“Today hopefully the only drama in the room is making sure hair and makeup looks perfect for the big day.”

“When did the home become an inn?”

“In 1869, Laura Gosnell purchased the property to be used as a private residence and boarding house.  So as a boarding house it would have been a place where you’d have locals and travelers staying for short or longer periods of time,” Carol shared. “In 1900, a couple, Peter and Angeline Miller opened the ‘Eureka Hotel’ to offer hospitality to travelers and business people.  They added a couple of wings.  During this period traveling salesmen would use  rent a room on the ground floor of the inn and invite their customers to see their merchandise, this was dubbed ‘the sample room.’  A separate front door to the sample room was built that you can still see today, although the layout has changed since then.”

“I bet it was quite the event in town to have a traveling salesman.  Although my thoughts instantly go to the Music Man.”

“In 1910, the Russell Family bought the inn and expanded it to its current 6,000 square feet. He renamed it the ‘Russel House,’ and added the first bathtub with hot and cold running water.”

“I can imagine that was quite the draw for guests and considered upscale at the time.”

“In the 1950s the ground floor served everything from a restaurant, grocery store and even a taxi cab business.  Thankfully in 1997, The Kennedy family purchased the hotel and began restoring it.  I’m grateful that I’m able to take on the next chapter.  The Eureka is a place where you can rest, and also connect with the past and enjoy community activities from our tea parties to costumed events to catering.  I want this to truly be a place where connection happens and each memory of a guest becomes a fabric of the inn’s story.”

Photo of ‘Ladies of the Eureka’ having Historical Fun. The Inn’s porch is the best view for the St. Paddy’s Day and Fourth of July parades!

Carol and her next door neighbor, Tami, were kind enough during my visit to invite me to attend a fun country fair at the Historic Exchange Place in nearby Kingsport (stay tuned for a future post on this cool historic site).

Cute baby sheep and mama at the Exchange Place – Thanks Carol and Tami for the fun day!

The Historic Eureka Inn is ideal because it puts you right at the center of Jonesborough’s history but is also convenient to other regional sites including Rocky Mount State Historic Site (which I visited on my way into town), Johnston City area, beautiful natural trails…the Eureka is the ideal place to write your story in Jonesborough.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to ‘check-inn’ to history for forty-eight hours in Jonesborough. And as much ground as we covered in this time-traveling adventure, Jonesborough is a place you want to return to time and again to hear more stories from its past, connect again with new friends at places like the Eureka Inn and National Storytelling Festival…From music and arts to food and community…Jonesborough is ready to welcome you.

Here are some helpful resources to plan your visit:

In the area:

Thanks for reading…I’m Adele aka The American Nomad Traveler…I started the blog to share my passion for history, travel, art, music, good coffee, national parks and scenic places…

For daily travel…history…coffee and scenery follow along on my Facebook and Instagram pages.

Every road trip needs a great soundtrack…when I’m not blogging, I am a singer-songwriter (Belmont University alum) and you can check out my music on all streaming platforms including Bandcamp.

https://adelelassiter.bandcamp.com/ (recorded at Beaird Music Group in Nashville)

Pic of me in Blue Ridge near TN/NC border not far from Jonesborough

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