About the East Tennessee History Center
Geographically, historically and politically, East Tennessee is a distinct region within the rest of the state. It is a land of mountains and valleys and rolling hills, a land where the progress of TVA, atomic energy facilities, and a state university blend with cherished traditions and love of place to create a special way of life.
The East Tennessee History Center has hosted thousands of people as they explore their own heritage and the history of our region, from Mountain City to Chattanooga and all 35 East Tennessee counties in between. The History Center is home to the following historical treasures:
The East Tennessee Historical Society (ETHS) is a non-profit organization that provides public programming relating to the history and heritage of East Tennessee. Since 1834, the East Tennessee Historical Society has been helping us hold on to our unique heritage—recording the events, collecting the artifacts, and saving the stories that comprise the history we all share. The historical society pursues its educational mission through publications, lectures, conferences, school programs, exhibits, and heritage programs such as the popular First Families of Tennessee and the new Civil War Families of Tennessee. read more...
The ETHS Museum of East Tennessee History traces the area's history, from its beginnings in the 1700s to the present. Opening in 2008 is the Museum's signature exhibit, Voices of the Land, which will interpret the history and culture of East Tennessee during the past 250 years. read more...
The Knox County Archives, located on the second floor of the East Tennessee History Center, preserves and provides public access to permanent, noncurrent records created by Knox County government agencies from 1792 to the present. Knoxville was the capital of the Territory South of the River Ohio (1791-1796) and the first capital of the State of Tennessee (1796-1812). As a result, Knox County has significant historic documents among its early records. read more...
The Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, on the third floor, is the local history and genealogy department of the Knox County Public Library System. The McClung Collection is one of the foremost collections of East Tennessee history and, with more than 63,000 volumes, 12,000 rolls of microfilm, 3,000 maps, 100,000 photographs and negatives, 600 manuscripts, and a wealth of genealogical information and resources, is one of the premier research libraries in the region. read more...
Directions: The East Tennessee History Center is located on the corner of Gay and Clinch, across from the Tennessee Theater in downtown Knoxville.
The East Tennessee History Center has hosted thousands of people as they explore their own heritage and the history of our region, from Mountain City to Chattanooga and all 35 East Tennessee counties in between. The History Center is home to the following historical treasures:
The East Tennessee Historical Society (ETHS) is a non-profit organization that provides public programming relating to the history and heritage of East Tennessee. Since 1834, the East Tennessee Historical Society has been helping us hold on to our unique heritage—recording the events, collecting the artifacts, and saving the stories that comprise the history we all share. The historical society pursues its educational mission through publications, lectures, conferences, school programs, exhibits, and heritage programs such as the popular First Families of Tennessee and the new Civil War Families of Tennessee. read more...
The ETHS Museum of East Tennessee History traces the area's history, from its beginnings in the 1700s to the present. Opening in 2008 is the Museum's signature exhibit, Voices of the Land, which will interpret the history and culture of East Tennessee during the past 250 years. read more...
The Knox County Archives, located on the second floor of the East Tennessee History Center, preserves and provides public access to permanent, noncurrent records created by Knox County government agencies from 1792 to the present. Knoxville was the capital of the Territory South of the River Ohio (1791-1796) and the first capital of the State of Tennessee (1796-1812). As a result, Knox County has significant historic documents among its early records. read more...
The Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, on the third floor, is the local history and genealogy department of the Knox County Public Library System. The McClung Collection is one of the foremost collections of East Tennessee history and, with more than 63,000 volumes, 12,000 rolls of microfilm, 3,000 maps, 100,000 photographs and negatives, 600 manuscripts, and a wealth of genealogical information and resources, is one of the premier research libraries in the region. read more...
Directions: The East Tennessee History Center is located on the corner of Gay and Clinch, across from the Tennessee Theater in downtown Knoxville.
