James White Fort

I know I'm probably going to enjoy visiting a historic site that has more than 10,000 visitors a year. That certainly held true for James White Fort in Knoxville, where Knoxville was born. It was established in 1786, when the area was still part of the western frontier.

James White had been born in 1747 in Rowan County, North Carolina. In 1783, he led an expedition into the upper part of the Tennessee Valley, where the fort was eventually established. The fort became the capital of the Southwest Territory in 1790, which encouraged growth. White settled on a 1,000 acre land grant and donated land for the city of Knoxville in 1791. White died on August 14, 1821, and was buried beside his wife at the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Knoxville.

Today, visitors can tour the fort and White's first home. It's rare that one finds buildings and artifacts representing the 18th century this far west. It truly felt like a step back in time.

James White Fort
205 East Hill Avenue
Knoxville, NC 37915

865-525-6514

http://www.jameswhitesfort.org

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