historic homes

Christmas Dinner with the Ramseys

Francis and Peggy Ramsey invite you to tour their beautifully decorated (1797) home by candlelight and be seated at their dining room table for a warm and relaxing evening complete with complimentary wine. This is a very special annual event where we invite guests to enjoy a specially prepared dinner as would have been enjoyed during the holidays in 1800.

Each of the two rooms accommodates up to 10 people. This is a great way of celebrating with family, friends, co-workers or as an individual that wants to enjoy the ambiance of a holiday dinner in a historic home. This is a very unique opportunity for those that would like a look back in time to holidays past. Event starts at 6pm.

Cost of this benefit is $125 per person. All proceeds from your generous tax deductible donation go towards the development of classes and workshops at the Historic Ramsey House.

Fall Stargazing

Join us at Marble Springs on Saturday, November 18th for our Fall nighttime viewing session. This session will be facilitated by Gary Noland, adjunct instructor of Astronomy at the University of Tennessee. Guests will meet at the cottage at 5:30 pm where they will begin with a discussion about the origin of the Pleiades and its impact on early civilization. The stargazing will begin at about 6:15 pm and go until 8:15 pm where guests will search the night sky for the Pleiades star cluster as well planets that are visible during the fall months. Participation in our nighttime viewing sessions is a $1 donation per person.  Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. Participants may bring their own telescopes or binoculars, but there will be some telescopes available for public use. In the event of overcast skies, the discussion portion will still take place. Details are subject to change.

All nighttime viewing sessions will take place at Marble Springs State Historic Site at 1220 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920.  For more information email info@marblesprings.net or call (865)573-5508.

Lost & Found Luncheon: Jack Neely

Join us at Historic Westwood for our November edition of the Lost & Found Luncheon – “The Paradox of the Victorian Christmas” with Jack Neely Executive Director of The Knoxville History Project.

Lunch is available on a first-come, first-served basis at 11:30 a.m. The talk will begin at noon.  Please RSVP to Hollie Cook at hcook@knoxheritage.org. Free and open to the public.

Trick or Treat at Westwood!

Come with your little ghouls and goblins to Historic Westwood and pick up a treat! Free and open to the public.

Trunk or Treat!

Join us at Marble Springs for some Halloween fun! Families can enjoy a bonfire and trick-or-treating at the 35 acre scenic historic property and five historic structures that will be eerily lit by candlelight. Families will also have the opportunity to have their pictures taken with Halloween decorations and beautiful fall scenery. Trunk-or-treat at Marble Springs State Historic Site is a fun and safe event for families to enjoy Halloween festivities.

For those wishing to bring your vehicle to participate in the trunk-or-treat portion of the event, please call and register.  Simply bring your candy and participate in bringing Halloween fun to this community event. Decoration of your vehicle is encouraged, but not required. Set up for the event will take place from 4:00 till 5:00.

This event is free. Donations are appreciated and all proceeds will go towards educational programming and the continued maintenance of Marble Springs State Historic Site.

For more information call (865)573-5508 or email info@marblesprings.net  or visit our website at www.marblesprings.net.

Founders Day Luncheon

The Historic Homes of Knoxville are pleased to invite the public to a luncheon on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at 11:30 AM at The Foundry to celebrate the founding of the City of Knoxville 226 years ago. Joan Cronan, Women’s Athletics Director Emeritus at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and Dr. Bruce Wheeler, University of Tennessee Department of History Professor Emeritus, will discuss “Women Who Make a Difference”.

Knoxville’s key leaders will come together to celebrate and promote the city and its most precious properties, including Blount Mansion, Crescent Bend House & Gardens, Historic Ramsey House, James White’s Fort, Mabry-Hazen House, Marble Springs State Historic Site, and Historic Westwood. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the joint promotional activities of the Historic Homes.

The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 12:00 PM at The Foundry, 747 World’s Fair Park Drive in downtown Knoxville. Guests may enjoy a meet & greet with Joan Cronan and Dr. Bruce Wheeler at 11:30 AM, with the program and luncheon beginning at 12:00 PM. WBIR’s Robin Wilhoit will perform the duties of Master of Ceremonies.  Advance single tickets are $50; a table of ten is $500. Purchase tickets through www.knoxalliance.store or by calling 865-523-7543. Advance reservations are requested by September 26.

Hearthscares Tour

The Walking Tour of Ghostly Knoxville

Come and join the spirits for a tour of Downtown Knoxville’s scariest landmarks. The tours which last approximately one and a half hours each, will visit the sites of some of Knoxville’s best kept secrets. Stories for this year include; the legend of Knoxville’s own Frankenstein, Knoxville’s first mass murderer, John Roberts, and the Spirit of the Tennessee Theatre. This year’s tour will also include the story of “Hank’s Last Ride” and will be about one and a half miles in length.

All tours began and end at James White’s Fort located at the intersection of Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive. Ample free parking is available for tour participants at the Fort.  Tours will depart at 7:00 p.m. each evening. Each tour will end with a marshmallow roast around the fires at the Fort.

Admission for Adults 16 and over will be $10.00 and $6.00 for children ages 6–15. Reservations are requested for large groups of 12 or more and may be made by calling the Fort at 525–6514.

Hearthscares Tour

The Walking Tour of Ghostly Knoxville

Come and join the spirits for a tour of Downtown Knoxville’s scariest landmarks. The tours which last approximately one and a half hours each, will visit the sites of some of Knoxville’s best kept secrets. Stories for this year include; the legend of Knoxville’s own Frankenstein, Knoxville’s first mass murderer, John Roberts, and the Spirit of the Tennessee Theatre. This year’s tour will also include the story of “Hank’s Last Ride” and will be about one and a half miles in length.

All tours began and end at James White’s Fort located at the intersection of Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive. Ample free parking is available for tour participants at the Fort.  Tours will depart at 7:00 p.m. each evening. Each tour will end with a marshmallow roast around the fires at the Fort.

Admission for Adults 16 and over will be $10.00 and $6.00 for children ages 6–15. Reservations are requested for large groups of 12 or more and may be made by calling the Fort at 525–6514.

Hearthscares Tour

The Walking Tour of Ghostly Knoxville

Come and join the spirits for a tour of Downtown Knoxville’s scariest landmarks. The tours which last approximately one and a half hours each, will visit the sites of some of Knoxville’s best kept secrets. Stories for this year include; the legend of Knoxville’s own Frankenstein, Knoxville’s first mass murderer, John Roberts, and the Spirit of the Tennessee Theatre. This year’s tour will also include the story of “Hank’s Last Ride” and will be about one and a half miles in length.

All tours began and end at James White’s Fort located at the intersection of Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive. Ample free parking is available for tour participants at the Fort.  Tours will depart at 7:00 p.m. each evening. Each tour will end with a marshmallow roast around the fires at the Fort.

Admission for Adults 16 and over will be $10.00 and $6.00 for children ages 6–15. Reservations are requested for large groups of 12 or more and may be made by calling the Fort at 525–6514.

Hearthscares Tour

The Walking Tour of Ghostly Knoxville

Come and join the spirits for a tour of Downtown Knoxville’s scariest landmarks. The tours which last approximately one and a half hours each, will visit the sites of some of Knoxville’s best kept secrets. Stories for this year include; the legend of Knoxville’s own Frankenstein, Knoxville’s first mass murderer, John Roberts, and the Spirit of the Tennessee Theatre. This year’s tour will also include the story of “Hank’s Last Ride” and will be about one and a half miles in length.

All tours began and end at James White’s Fort located at the intersection of Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive. Ample free parking is available for tour participants at the Fort.  Tours will depart at 7:00 p.m. each evening. Each tour will end with a marshmallow roast around the fires at the Fort.

Admission for Adults 16 and over will be $10.00 and $6.00 for children ages 6–15. Reservations are requested for large groups of 12 or more and may be made by calling the Fort at 525–6514.