Historic Jonesborough

When you come into Jonesborough’s downtown historic district, you feel like you have stepped back in time. History pours out of the buildings that date back to the 1780’s. The well-preserved buildings provide a wonderful stage to tell the fascinating stories of the people and events of Jonesborough and Northeast Tennessee that not only created the State of Tennessee, but also shaped the future of our country.

Visit the Jonesborough History Museum or take one of the guided walking or carriage tours and visit the 1788 Christopher Taylor house, the log house that was Andrew Jackson’s home when he came to Tennessee. Or see the 1797 Chester Inn, the oldest still standing inn in Tennessee, which housed presidents traveling through the Appalachian Mountains on the Great Stage Road, including Jackson, Andrew Johnson and James K. Polk. Just a short distance away is the birthplace of Davy Crockett, and where Daniel Boone negotiated the purchase of a large tract of land from the Cherokee Indians that became a portion of Kentucky and Tennessee.

Whether you are interested in genealogy, historic architecture, or wonderful stories about courageous people, Historic Jonesborough has something for any visitor. It’s always great to sit back, relax, and soak in the Jonesborough Experience.

History Introduction
Historic Chronology

Thank you to the Jonesborough-Washington County History Museum and Heritage Alliance for extensive use of their historic photos.