Local Guides World
Top Historical place museums in Knoxville, United States
Top Rated Historical place museums in Knoxville
Top Reviewed Historical place museums in Knoxville
Blount Mansion
Marble Springs State Historic Site
Blount Mansion
Historic Ramsey House
Historic Westwood
Reviews
Very nice historic home of a much previous era.
Small but interesting historical museum in downtown Knoxville. Great tour from the volunteer docent.
Historically significant house, nice garden
I'm a few weeks late on this review. My brother and I were able to be a part of the first blacksmithing class that Ramsey House offered. We had an absolute blast being able to get hands on with history and learn about the art of blacksmithing. Chase is an excellent instructor! We are looking forward to what all Ramsey House will be offering in the future. Thanks so much for offering this!
Nice 12:00 tour today. Guide was knowledgeable on the family and the items on display. $10 admission, well worth witnessing a small piece to a large historical puzzle!
This is part of the pastport book we had so we didnt pay admission. They have parking and a nice VC plus the house tour. Which was really nice we watched the video first then walked over and saw the house plus the outside kitchen and office area. They also have the original desk that the constitution of TN was signed on. Which was cool to see. They have a garden too which you can walk though. And you can see the river from both the house and the visitors center.
We had just missed the tour to go up to the house when we arrived, so we had to wait for a little bit they have a small local museum that we read through and spent the time waiting in that looking around. It was pretty interesting. They had us watch a video on the house before we went up to look around. Its a really interesting house and is the oldest stone house in the area. They have bathrooms at the visitors center and parking in the field in front of the visitors center they are paving a path at the back of the house so right know you are entering in the front of the house. We also had the pastport book for all the historic homes so we didnt have to pay admission as you already do by buying the book.
My daughter went on a field trip and the students loved it. I'm planning on returning and spend more time learning about Blount Mansion.
The visit tour was amazing. The guide was very knowlegable providing both insightful explanations and extended answers to our many questions.
Great tour. Very friendly staff. Affordable and interesting. We were shown the first floor and detached kitchen and Constitution room as well as the grounds.
We four were the only ones in our tour.
We four were the only ones in our tour.
Great historic home. Especially good for those who like art. The studio is a special room. Staff was very knowledgeable. Highly recommended. Says tours start every hour but if there is no tour in progress they can start anytime.
Went for a quick walk today and stopped here to take some photos of the homes with the foliage. When we came in they were in the middle of a halloween festival and lots of local vendors displaying their goods. Spent an hour walking around and planning on returning to hike some of the trails.
An excellent house museum detailing the life of William Blount, a signer of The US Constitution. This house was built in the 1790s by Blount as he was the appointed governor of the Southwest Territory by George Washington. The house and visitor center details settler history, along with personal and family history of the Blounts.
There is free parking behind the visitor center. Admission is reasonable and the staff is very friendly and helpful in answering any questions.
I also recommend the Halloween ghost story tour at night. Its a very entertaining experience with a spooky atmosphere within the dark old William Blount Mansion.
There is free parking behind the visitor center. Admission is reasonable and the staff is very friendly and helpful in answering any questions.
I also recommend the Halloween ghost story tour at night. Its a very entertaining experience with a spooky atmosphere within the dark old William Blount Mansion.
The hour long oral guided tour and eight minute video made this a worthwhile educational stop.
Marble Springs State Park is the homestead of Tennessee's first governor John Sevier. It has several historical structures you can go in and view. Depending on the day there can be things going on in any or all of the buildings. Today we saw a loom in operation and the lady was friendly and very knowledgeable. Super sweet to answer all my four year olds questions. The buildings are well maintained and furnished. The tavern and inn was my favorite. You can view them on your own so please be respectful and mindful of the age of these beutiful structures. I can't stress this point enough. We also walked the hiking trail at the edge of the property. It has a few bridges and gives you the opportunity to get out of the hot sun. The spring house is back on the trail. There is also a very nice covered picnic area here as well. It has restroom facilities and a small gift shop. It's got loads of free parking and free admission. I highly recommend a visit to Marble Springs. It's history brought to life.
Finally got to see the house as part of the East Tennessee Historical Society's annual "History Hootenanny" last Saturday. Ordinarily the house is not open on the weekends so I've never been able to go.
I don't know if they always operate this way or if it was special-event staffing, but there was a different docent in every room (all very elderly, a couple of whom I worried about because they had difficulty walking) who spoke extensively about each room. While very informative, it provided no opportunity to just take the room in without someone yakking at you and pushing you from room to room. The woman at the front door, who was the great-granddaughter of the owner, was the most interesting and informative, but also seemed the most eager to move people on into the next room. If they have that many people staffing the house, it's no wonder they're never open on weekends.
I don't know if they always operate this way or if it was special-event staffing, but there was a different docent in every room (all very elderly, a couple of whom I worried about because they had difficulty walking) who spoke extensively about each room. While very informative, it provided no opportunity to just take the room in without someone yakking at you and pushing you from room to room. The woman at the front door, who was the great-granddaughter of the owner, was the most interesting and informative, but also seemed the most eager to move people on into the next room. If they have that many people staffing the house, it's no wonder they're never open on weekends.
Marble Springs is a wonderful place to visit and to learn about our first governor of Tennessee.
The houses have a rich history. The guide did an excellent job of sharing John Seviers' life with us. The gift shop is cute. The Passport book is a great purchase. It gives the bearer the opportunity to tour seven places and to continue learning the history of Tennessee.
The houses have a rich history. The guide did an excellent job of sharing John Seviers' life with us. The gift shop is cute. The Passport book is a great purchase. It gives the bearer the opportunity to tour seven places and to continue learning the history of Tennessee.
What a gem of a place! While visiting eastern Tennessee we spent a day in Knoxville before heading home. We stopped at the Knoxville Visitors Center to pick up the map for the Divided Loyalties tour of the city. The Blount Mansion is one of the sites within walking distance of downtown. Our tour guide Virginia was exceptional! Her knowledge of the buildings and the family history was fantastic. A Knoxville native and volunteer docent in training, Kathy, accompanied us on the tour and said it was the best tour she had ever had. The parallels between the Blount family conspiracy and shenanigans and contemporary politics and posturing are uncanny. This is a must see in Knoxville.
We had an excellent tour guide. Our family was the only group on the tour and our guide spent so much time asking our kids questions and making sure they got to ask all of their questions too.
Nice place to walk around off of 168. The dogs loved exploring and running around the field. Place is well kept and feels safe.
A friend and I attended the Holiday Open House last night at Blount Mansion with the opportunity to roam around the historic houses and grounds, the place was full of warm ambient holiday cheer! The docents, volunteers, and staff were knowledgable and passionate about history. Everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming, we will be coming back to explore and learn some more! Could not recommend this historic site enough. If you're interested in East Tennessee, Knoxville history, and William Blount, this place is the best!
Kudos to our tour guide Jan! We thoroughly enjoyed the visit and her expertise in the knowledge of this estate and of the Ramsey family. There's a seniors discount and with it, I can promise you that you won't find a better way to spend $8 anywhere!
Ramsey House is a beautiful and interesting place to visit. They have a functioning blacksmith shop, visitors center, and spacious property. The home was where the historian JG M Ramsey lived and is a well maintained historic building that shows how people lived during the pioneer years of Tennessee.
Had a wonderful tour with anthropologist, Danielle, who is trying to do great things there. Lots of interesting objects and good stories of the Sevier family, with a working weaving demonstration.
I was struck by the hard pressed block of tea, and other evidence of daily life.
I hope they will work to restore the names and stories of the people Sevier enslaved there, too, as they are equally a part of the land's history and likeky produced most of Sevier's wealth, while freeing him up to become the first governor. Many TN sites are moving in this direction and it is great.
Make sure to say hi to Cinnamon, the sweet resident kitty who accompanied us around the grounds until it was time for his nap. He is super sweet and cute.
Also enjoy the cute, little nature trails around the main cleared lands.
I was struck by the hard pressed block of tea, and other evidence of daily life.
I hope they will work to restore the names and stories of the people Sevier enslaved there, too, as they are equally a part of the land's history and likeky produced most of Sevier's wealth, while freeing him up to become the first governor. Many TN sites are moving in this direction and it is great.
Make sure to say hi to Cinnamon, the sweet resident kitty who accompanied us around the grounds until it was time for his nap. He is super sweet and cute.
Also enjoy the cute, little nature trails around the main cleared lands.
A lovely historic house visit about an important Tennessee family. The guide was lovely, teaching us many cute things about the family. The grounds are lovely as well.
I hope that as time goes on they will add more detail about the lives of the people who were enslaved in the house, such as names, because the household was only able to thrive because of the labor of the enslaved people. Also they were part of the household story and deserve as much mention as the Ramseys, perhaps more since they could not profit from their own labor or residence. I am gladdened that a lot more historic homes are engaging with this history, because it is not cute and charming but important.
I hope that as time goes on they will add more detail about the lives of the people who were enslaved in the house, such as names, because the household was only able to thrive because of the labor of the enslaved people. Also they were part of the household story and deserve as much mention as the Ramseys, perhaps more since they could not profit from their own labor or residence. I am gladdened that a lot more historic homes are engaging with this history, because it is not cute and charming but important.
Let me just say how awesome this place is. We were looking for something to do Easter weekend with the kids and came across this place. Details were vague but sounded like it could be fun. Boy was it, the kids had a blast. Over 1000 eggs hidden and maybe 50 kids. Super friendly staff, and beautiful park.
This is the building where the state of Tennessee was founded . They have a guided tour of the house where you learn about the Blounts and the people after who owned the house . It's not really a "mansion" in any sense but it's a house with a lot of history. There's also a video one can watch in the welcome center.
Beautiful and interesting historic home Ms. Adelia Lutz who was an artist and cultured idealist who was way ahead of her time. Excellent tour and guide
My best friend and I went for a tour one morning and it was GREAT! The tour guide was fantastic! She was full of knowledge and was happy to answer any questions we had. She wasn't boring at all and really kept our attention. She even told us about the ghosts. The grounds were kept beautifully. Such a great experience. Everything was furnished according to the time period and I literally felt as if I were back in time. Loved it!!
This home is amazing! We were so fortunate to have Todd as our guide through this beautiful home. His knowledge of Knoxville history and what role Westwood played in it made touring this home a memorable experience. He went out of his way to ensure all of our questions were answered and his love for history and art was apparent. This home is a must see.
This is a very small historic site with several cabins, all very well kept. It is dogfriendly but dogs are not allowed in the cabins. There was no visitors here other than us. I wish there were historic signs outside if each cabin with info on the cabin.
Wow! I had no idea a place like this existed in Knoxville. When I travel I like to seek out places connected to artists. I wasn't familiar with Adelia Lutz. It was amazing to see her art displayed in the house she lived in and in the studio where she painted. The docent was wonderful and I appreciated the personal guided tour. One of the best places I've been in Knoxville!
We had a great time visiting Marble Springs in the summer of 2020! Informative and entertaining. Our tour guide was great, and my kids loved the cat, Cinnamon, that lives there. The grounds are beautiful as well!
This place is really cool. The structure of the home is beautifully simplistic and we'll kept. The preservation committee has done well with the restoration. The history of the home is interesting. Location is off the beaten path. Good place to visit with family or solo. It was in my list of haunted places, although I saw no spirits. Still worth checking out.
Amazing venue. House is quaint and perfect for small classy settings. Brother got married here and had 14 or so guests. Perfect for that size.
Lovely bottom floor. Second story is offices now but you can still see how they must have looked.
Cool piece of history. Beautiful house, interesting story of the family. Love the studio, the dining room and stained glass. Our guide was excellent. So cool that it was a free visit - if you go too, please consider giving them a contribution so we can preserve the great old historic homes.