Front Porch to the Region's History

Geography defines East Tennessee as a land of mountains and valleys and with a history and heritage apart from the rest of the state. The East Tennessee Historical Society recognizes this distinctiveness with programs and exhibitions uniquely tailored to the region. Our educational mission is to engage the public with the message that history is important. 

This Day In East Tennessee History

  • July 2, 1791

    On this day in 1791, William Blount, governor of the Southwest Territory, concluded the Treaty of Holston, extinguishing the territorial claims of the Cherokee to a large area of East Tennessee including the future site of Knoxville.