Dec 29 2008
James White’s Fort
James White was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and the founder of Knoxville. The North Carolina native was granted 1,000 acres for his military service. White built his two story log cabin and outbuildings in 1786. He had a very good relationship with the local Cherokee that including frequent trading. It was White himself that divided part of his land into 16 blocks of half acre parcels that were auctioned off and eventually became Knoxville itself. During his lifetime, White also donated land for First Presbyterian Church and Blount College. White died in 1821 and is buried beside his wife in at First Presbyterian.
His home was meticulously restored to its original state in 1970 by a joint effort of the City Association of Women’s Clubs. Today more than 10,000 visitors tour the home and grounds each year. The restoration allows visitors to feel as if they have stepped back in time a couple hundred years. This is definitely a unique nugget of Knoxville history that should not be missed.
Click HERE to visit the official website.
