If you missed Tennessee……
Did you wish you could have attended the convention in Tennessee? Think you’d like to go there someday and would like to know something about the area? Here is a little information and some interesting links for you to try.
Tennessee is such a historic venue, from the settling of the United States to its role and involvement in the Civil War to the economic development of Eastern Tennessee through the installation of dams by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Many old homes and other historic buildings have been or are being preserved or restored. I was amazed at the number of structures that are nearly or even over 200 years old. Following are a few links and a little “starter information” if you’d like to read about the area, and see what it has to offer.
Tennessee’s Antebellum Trail is a good place to start for a feel of Civil War History. Civil war buffs know that more battles were fought in Tennessee than any other state except Virginia and in 1864, the bloody battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville proved to be the final death knell for the confederacy. Every site along the Antebellum Trail was touched by the war as both Union and Confederate forces commandeered housing and provisions. Trail sites tell poignant stories of lives that were touched forever by this bloody conflict. Aside from 7 Antebellum Trail designated sites open to the public, there are 50 other historic sites marked with the Antebellum Trail symbol. Antique shops and Bed and Breakfast accommodations also will enhance the visitor’s experience. Find out more at www.antebellumtrail.com You’ll also want to go to www.visitplantations.com if you enjoy learning about antebellum home sites. Historic Maury County describes itself as the “antebellum homes capitol of Tennessee”.
In Knoxville proper, www.downtownknoxville.org it’s easy to take an inexpensive tour of several very important sites. Just hop one of the air-conditioned trolleys and take a free ride. That’s right, free of charge you can take the Knoxville Trolley Lines www.katbus.com to such historic venues as James White’s Fort, www.discoveret.org/jwf and www.tennesseehistory.com built in 1786 by General James White, Knoxville’s founder. There you can get a taste for the frontier life as it was in the original house, restored stockade, loom house, smokehouse and blacksmith shop.
Be sure you see Blount Mansion, www.blountmansion.org the “little house with big stories” was built between 1792 and (added onto) 1830 by William Blount, a signer of the U.S. Constitution. Blount was also the first and only governor of the Southwest Territory and this mansion (said to be the first frame house west of the Alleghenies) served as the territorial capital.
The University of Tennessee area, Historic Fort Sanders neighborhood, Market Square, Old City, and World’s fair park are just a few of the locales you can visit using this method. The Trolley system has three routes and buses continually drive all three. It’s amazing to think you can go all over the city, visit, shop and learn just by hopping on!
South Central Tennessee Tourism Association can be visited at www.sctta.com where it is said “Sounds of joy and discovery await you in the hills, hollows, rivers and streams of South Central Tennessee”. State Parks found in this region include David Crockett State Park at Lawrenceburg, Henry Horton State Park, Chapel Hill, Mousetail Landing State Park, Linden, Old Stone Fort State Park, Manchester, Ross Creek Landing State Park, Clifton, and Tims Ford State Park, Winchester, are all located in this region.
Tennessee is the origin of the Tennessee Walking Horse, and you will see this reflected in many ways all around the state. To find out about this interesting horse, it’s breeders, and other information, visit www.twhbea.com . You can find out that there is even a Historic Tennessee Walking Horse trail aroung Tennesse on this same site.
This is just a tiny start of what you can find out about what’s to see in Tennessee! Enjoy your browsing journey!