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Located in the historic Paramount Theater, the Paramount Center for the Arts is the region's premiere center for the performing arts. The theater was built in 1931 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Like many other historic theaters, the Paramount fell into disrepair and might have been lost had it not been for the efforts of historic preservationists who restored the Art Deco theater to its former splendor in 1991.

Paramount Center for the Arts

This driving tour includes a dozen of the leading museums and historic sites in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol. The museum concludes at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. 

Museums of the Tri-Cities

The city of Bristol traces its origins back to about 1852 when a young merchant by the name of Joseph R. Anderson purchased a plot of land along the Virginia-Tennessee border from his father-in-law, Reverend James A. King. Because of the location of the land he had purchased, Anderson believed it had potential for serious growth into a major town in the region. Anderson named the town Bristol after the city in England in hopes to use its exceptional industrial developments as inspiration for growing his own Bristol in America. Around the same time, Colonel Samuel Goodson, a cousin of Rev. King's, planned a town immediately north of Anderson's Bristol, calling it Goodsonville. Goodsonville was combined with Goodson, Virginia in 1856, and sometime around 1890, Goodson also changed its name to Bristol, leading to the still-extant twin cities dynamic. This tour offers a short walk through the heart of Bristol and includes the Birthplace of County Music Museum and several historically significant buildings and landmarks adjacent to State Street which divides Virginia and Tennessee.

Historic Bristol Walking Tour

Before settlers moved into the area west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the land was home to large buffalo and elk herds that the native American tribes hunted for food and clothing. The land was also fertile gardening grounds, which provided corn and other vegetables for them as well. In the mid to late 1700’s, explorers came to this wilderness finding it to be very suitable for colonial expansion; soon the Indians would be pushed off of their land. Early explorers in the area took advantage of the cave and spring on the Tipton site, using it for shelter while they explored the nearby territory. Eventually the buffalo trail that stretched through the region was used to build a wagon road into this newly settled territory. 

Tipton was born in Maryland in 1730 and would later settle in Virginia. He fought in Lord Dunmore’s War, was a recruiter for the Continental Army, a member of the Virginia Continental Congress and the North Carolina Continental Congress during the ratification of the Constitution, and was a statesman for both Virginia and North Carolina. In 1784, Col. John Tipton bought the parcel of land and moved from Virginia into the western part of North Carolina, Washington County: Here he would build a large, for the day, log cabin for his family. During this time there was a movement to form the new state of Franklin. The new state was to formed from lands bordering western North Carolina, westward to Knoxville. The chosen Governor and chief supporter of the state was John Sevier, who owned a plantation in to the west of Tipton’s home. Tipton had become an outspoken opponent of the formation of the new state and had a personal dislike for his counterpart, Sevier. In February 1788, authorities from North Carolina, seized slaves and livestock belonging to Sevier and took them to Tipton’s house to pay off a court ordered debt owed to Tipton. On the 27th Sevier and 135 supporters attacked the Tipton home site in an effort to regain his property. The skirmish lasted two days ending on the 29th with the defeat of Sevier’s men. This became known as the Battle of the State of Franklin, and would decide the fate of the new state. The state of Franklin was not to be and all land became part of Tennessee, which was what Tipton and his supporters wanted. In 1796, Tennessee became the 16th state in the Union, and Tipton would served in the first two General Assemblies of the state. 

John Tipton died in 1813 and the property went to his son John Tipton Jr., who was a Tennessee State Senator, residing in Blountville. Tipton Jr. moved to the property and built onto the cabin his father had constructed; He lived at this house until his death in 1831. In 1837 the heirs of Tipton Jr. sold the property to David Haynes, who in turn gave it to his son Landon Carter Haynes for a wedding gift in 1839. Landon was a Methodist minister, newspaper editor, lawyer, and State Senator. In 1850, Haynes added onto the house bringing it to the point as it stands today. Haynes would become a Confederate Senator of the State of Tennessee, and would be forced to move off of his land after the Civil War. Haynes would move to Memphis, where he died in 1875. In 1878, Landon’s niece, Sarah Simerly would regain ownership of the property and it would remain in the family until 1944 when the family gave the land to the State of Tennessee. The Tipton-Haynes Site was opened to the public in 1970.(1)

Just outside of Johnston City, Tennessee lies the 45 acre former home of John Tipton.  This area of Tennessee was once occupied by Woodland Period Indians, who hunted the Buffalo that grazed freely beside the natural springs that flow from the property.  The site is now owned and operated by the State of Tennessee as a historical site and museum dedicated to the memory of one of the states earliest settlers and supporters for statehood.  There are eleven buildings, a limestone cave, and a visitor center to explore and learn about life in frontier Appalachia.  Throughout the year, the site offers seasonal activities that also depict life as it would have been for the Tipton family.  As you explore the property you will also find natural springs, gardens growing with plants of the period, buffalo traces, and many more things that make for an enjoyable and educational day.

Tipton-Hayne Site

The Museum began in the late 1920s as a class project and grew throughout the&nbsp;1930s and 1940s, when librarians staffed the museum and provided tours to visitors. In August 1961, the family of Congressman B Carroll Reece&nbsp;donated their personal library to the museum, as well as funds to help establish a professional museum with full-time staff.&nbsp;

For more than 80 years the Reece Museum has told the many stories of Appalachia. Housing over 20,000 artifacts, the Reece collection captures the region's past as well as its contemporary art and culture. As one of the first museums in Tennessee to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Reece continues to meet AAM's high standards of excellence.  Currently, the Reece is one of only twleve museums in Tennessee to receive this accreditation. 
 

Carroll Reece Museum - East Tennessee State University

More Information&nbsp; The museum is dedicated to George L. Carter, Southern industrialist and builder of the Clinchfield Railroad. In 1909, Carter&nbsp;donated his one-hundred-twenty acre farm and $100,000 to the state of Tennessee to&nbsp;ensure the establishment of a normal school/teachers college in Johnson City. This school later developed into ETSU.&nbsp;

The George L. Carter Railroad Museum was established in November 2007 on the campus of East Tennessee State University [ETSU] in Johnson City, TN. Displays at the museum feature a variety of model railroading locomotives, rolling stock, structures, railroad memorabilia, and toy trains. The facility showcases three operating layouts--each designed using different scales--that highlight the role of the railroad industry in Southern Appalachian. Volunteers from the Mountain Empire Model Railroader club operate the museum's model railroads and share information about both model railroading and historic railroads near Johnson City. 

George L. Carter Railroad Museum 

During its early years, Mountain Home became known as a facility for patients with tuberculosis, given the prevailing belied that mountain air had a salubrious effect in lessening the symptoms of&nbsp;respiratory&nbsp;disease. In addition to many of the original buildings, the facility contains officers quarters and numerous medical buildings that were constructed prior to 1921,&nbsp;when Mountain Home opened a separate&nbsp;tuberculosis sanitarium.&nbsp; The historic buildings are&nbsp;open to the public, although visitors must first make arrangements or&nbsp;check-in with any on-duty police officer. With prior approval, visitors can schedule a time to tour&nbsp;buildings such as the chapel &nbsp;and clock tower.

Established as the Mountain Branch Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in 1901, this complex of historic and modern medical buildings is a National Historic Landmark. The chapel, theater, library, and mess hall were all built between 1901 and 1905 and may be toured by visitors who call in advance of their visit. The mess hall holds a small museum dedicated to the complex's history as well as the history of medical care. 

Mountain Home VA Medical Center and Museum

Please allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours to fully enjoy and explore all of our exhibits and activities.

Hands On! Regional Museum offers over 20,000 square feet of exhibit space for children to explore the science of different occupations and diverse natural environments. In addition to dynamic special exhibits and programs that offer a different experience each month, the museum features over 20 permanent, interactive exhibits for all ages.

Hands On! Regional Museum

The Museum of Ancient Brick was commissioned by General Shale Chairman George C. Sells after two bricks from Colonial Williamsburg were delivered to the General Shale Brick headquarters. The late Basil Saffer--former British merchant sailor, amateur archaeologist, and General Shale's marketing director--was selected as the museum's curator. Saffer logged over 100,000 miles in sixty foreign countries as he traveled the world seeking the most rare and unique bricks.&nbsp; The museum's collection includes brick from the Great Wall of China, ancient Egyptian tombs, the Roman Forum and Colosseum, and more.&nbsp;

Located in Johnson City, at the headquarters of General Shale Brick, is the Museum of Ancient Brick. This museum is the only facility in the United States dedicated to the history of brick-making and construction. 

Museum of Ancient Brick 

Pauline DeFriece, a member of the family that owned the land in the 1950s,&nbsp;believed that the building should be preserved by the state and operated as a museum. Her efforts and the support of preservationists inspired the state to&nbsp;purchase of Rocky Mount. The site opened to the public in&nbsp;1962. With continued support, the museum and site&nbsp;has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum. The site also has grown to include a local history and genealogy library.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rocky Mount is a living history museum located at the homestead of William Cobb, an early settler who arrived in the region in 1770. During the Revolutionary War, Cobb helped to supply the local patriots with gunpowder, horses, and food on their way to the Battle of King's Mountain. After the establishment of the United States, the region became known as the Southwest Territory. Settlers in the area attempted to create the state of Franklin, but this action was never recognized by the US government and the area became part of Tennessee. Today, Cobb's claim is a state historic site administered cooperatively by the Rocky Mount Historical Association and the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Rocky Mount Living History Museum 

Visitors to the museum can see exhibits of fossil remains ad even tour an active research lab. Children will enjoy the “Dig Pit” which allows them to explore for their own discoveries as well as interactive touch screens and simulators. The museum is best-known for its collection of fossils that were uncovered from the nearby Gray Fossil site which discovered in May 2000. These date back to the Miocene era )4 million years ago) and include a wide variety of prehistoric animals such as the shovel-tusked elephant, pot-bellied rhino,  saber-tooth cat, and various species of alligator. 

Natural History Museum - East Tennessee State University

In 1802, the lot on which the inn stands was sold to William King, for whom Kingsport is named after, by Colonel Gilbert Christian. After this, William King established a shipping business on the lot in 1808, which he later sold to Richard Netherland. In 1818, Netherland purchased the small Inn at an auction&nbsp;and contracted with the stage coach line to provide accommodations for travelers. The Inn is thought to have been constructed sometime between the years 1810 and 1818, likely by King or Netherland and their workers.&nbsp;During its prime years, the Inn served as a prominent resting location for locals and travelers to socialize, share news stories, and relax while visiting the boatyard on&nbsp;their journeys. Much traffic and many visitors were attracted to the Inn while they traveled along the Holston River and/or along the Great Stage Road. Farmers and locals and merchants aiming to trade goods and/or turn a profit utilized the area and the building to meet up and discuss deals when they (or their workers)&nbsp;were not constructing boats in the boatyard. According to the Netherland Inn's official website, the facility, in its prime, often saw as many as fourteen scheduled visitors each week, including several United States' presidents. Until roughly 1904, the Inn was still owned by the Netherland family, and in 1906, it began to function as a boarding house. It remained&nbsp;as a boarding house until roughly 1965, and in 1967, the Inn was purchased by the Netherland Inn Association which promptly restored it, leading to its eventual inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. Today, the Inn and museum include both modern and historic furniture and decorations associated with American frontier settlements. Some of the original furniture still remains despite much of it being destroyed during the Civil War.&nbsp;A log cabin&nbsp;moved from Daniel Boone's Wilderness Trail, which Boone supposedly lived in from 1773 to 1775, is now located behind the Inn and is referred to as the Netherland Inn Log Cabin Children's Museum and Schoolhouse.<div>The Inn's structure has remained consistent as a three-story building sat on the side of a hill sloping down into the Holston River. The massive first floor is constructed of limestone from a local quarry and was initially used for storage. The second and third floors are constructed of timber and brick, covered with white poplar siding. The building visibly features a stone and brick chimney on either side.</div>

Visited by several United States' presidents including Presidents Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson and James K. Polk, The Netherland Inn and Museum is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The structure dates back to the early 19th century, although the exact date of its construction remains unclear. The restored hotel is part of the Boatyard Historic District of Kingsport, Tennessee, located along the Holston River. The inn is the only National Historic Site which functioned as both a boatyard and a stagecoach stop and has been rebuilt and restored with antique furnishings.

Netherland Inn and Museum

During the 1830s and early 40s Exchange Place farm was an&nbsp;import place of interest and local commerce. John Gaines first developed the farm to include&nbsp;a post office, stage relay station, commercial store, and Blacksmith shop. Here, the stage road,&nbsp;running from Virginia to Tennessee, passed&nbsp;through the farm. Exchange Place was a&nbsp;stop to relay fresh horses and exchange state currency because, at the time, no national currency existed. In 1845, John Gaines traded part of his vast expanse of property,&nbsp;which included the Exchange Place&nbsp;homestead, with John Preston's and his&nbsp;estate in Abingdon, VA. In 1847, John Preston gave his land to his son, James Preston as a wedding present in his marriage to Catherine Preston. The Preston's and their descendants owned the old homestead until 1970, when they donated seven and a half acres including the main house and its out buildings to the Netherland Inn Association.&nbsp; Exchange Place is a volunteer-run living history farm that seeks to preserve, protect, interpret, and manage history, heritage, and artifacts of the Gaines and Preston families. Exchange Place is an educational facility that endeavors to demonstrate the resourcefulness of mid-19th century agrarian life. It is a viable, working farm that continues to maintain the heritage breeds of animals and heirloom plantings essential to life of this antebellum period. It is a regional attraction that offers tours, traditional period demonstrations, and other public events designed to increase community awareness and showcase heritage arts, crafts, and skills of the Appalachian region.

Exchange Place will take you back to agricultural life in the scenic Tennessee Valley of the 1830s, 40s and 50s. Exchange Place is a beautiful living history site boasting over a  dozen rustic cabin-style historic structures and buildings, and the site is complete with gardens, crops and heritage breed livestock. Come retreat into the past and join us by checking out our website to see our upcoming events and festivals!

Exchange Place

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is located around 300 miles east of Nashville in Bristol, Tennessee, considered the birthplace of country music. Right on the border of Tennessee and Virginia, this quaint town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains is where the "big bang of country music" occurred in the summer of 1927. A talent scout from New York for the Victor Talking Machine Company named Ralph Peer ventured down to Bristol in the late summer of 1927 to hold auditions and find the right Southern talent for the growing recording industry. Peer enlisted the help of musician Ernest Stoneman to help him recruit the talent. Stoneman had been recording "hillbilly music" since 1924 and knew what type of performers Peer was looking for.Peer set up a recording studio on State Street in an abandoned hat factory and placed an ad in the local paper inviting any interested performers to come and audition. Some of the more remembered artists who took part in the sessions were Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family, consisting of Sara, A.P,. and Maybelle Carter. The Carter Family recorded four songs during one evening session, and then two more the following morning. In total, 76 songs by 19 different artists were recorded. The 1927 Bristol Sessions launched the commercialization of country music and helped the genre reach a wider audience. Because of Bristol's impact, Congress officially named it the "Birthplace of Country Music" in 1998.The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, deemed an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, was officially opened in the summer of 2014 and cost a total of $11 million. The Museum, which is 24,000 square feet, is not only dedicated to the 1927 Bristol Sessions, but also the history of country music and the town of Bristol and the Appalachian region. Some of the more notable items on display are: a signed guitar that belonged to Johnny Cash, an introductory film called Bound to Bristol, a map detailing the homes of each performer who recorded in the Bristol Sessions, WBCM Bristol Radio station, and the original 1927 newspaper ad announcing the auditions.In the Museum, visitors can view permanent exhibits, as well as some that are interactive, and special temporary exhibits. A few of the former temporary exhibits include: "The Carter Family: Lives and Legacies," "American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart," "Reading Appalachia: Voices from Children's Literature," and "I Have a Voice: Tennessee's African American Musical Heritage."The nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music was established to celebrate and promote the history of Bristol's musical heritage and its lasting impact. In addition to the Museum, The Birthplace of Country Music has two other branches: Festival and Radio. They host special events year-round as well as community and educational programs. One of the key events is the Bristol Rhythm &amp; Roots Reunion held every September. The Festival brings in around 45,000 attendees and hosts around 130 bands. Radio Bristol, which airs live from the Museum, was launched in August of 2015 and has listeners in more than 140 countries. The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is a premiere museum that celebrates the musical culture of the Appalachian Region and the town that launched country music.

An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Tennessee tells the story of the importance of Bristol to the history of country music. It was in Bristol in the summer of 1927 that record producer Ralph Peer of the Victor Talking Machine Company conducted the first recording sessions with 19 performers, most notably Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family. These sessions, known as the "Bristol Sessions," launched the commercialization of country music and Johnny Cash would later say that was "the most important event in the history of country music." The Museum regularly presents educational programs, concerts, jam sessions, film screenings, lectures, and workshops.

Museums of the Tri-Cities

Paramount Center for the Arts

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