The Bleak House

The Victorian Bleak House was built by Robert Houston Armstrong, a Knoxville lawyer. It was named after the novel by Charles Dickens. Slave labor molded the bricks for the house on the site. During the siege of Knoxville and the Battle of Fort Sanders, late in 1863, the house was commandeered by Confederate Generals James Longstreet and Lafayette McLaws as their headquarters. Today it's owned by Chapter 89 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Rarely am I disappointed in any historical site, but the Bleak House was nothing what I expected. The house itself and its history was interesting, but the policies aren't very friendly to visitors. First, the house is locked, and if a tour is being conducted, you might have to wait outside for as long as an hour. Then, once inside, adults pay $10 to tour the house, but no one is allowed to take photos inside. And, during the Civil War, the house had red brick, but since then they've been painted white. In addition, the house is open for historic tours on a very

limited basis. The property makes its money as an event venue site, especially for weddings. Still, however, it is a beautiful house, and, if you're a history buff like me, you might want to ignore the policies and go anyway. At least you'll know what to expect now.

The Bleak House
3148 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919

865-993-3397
http://www.knoxvillecmh.org

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