New Exhibits at Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum

The Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum has new exhibits out for spring! “Communications” examines the transition of communication technology from the 19th to 20th centuries by focusing on 4 methods: letters, postcards, telegrams, and telephones. The exhibit features several artifacts including a particularly large object that has not been on display in some time. It also features an interactive component where visitors can practice dialing local phone numbers from the 1956 Johnson City phone book using a rotary dial telephone.

 

 

 

The other new exhibit is in the Spotlight Section of the museum. The last two years the Spotlight exhibits have focused on restored buildings in Jonesborough. This year the spotlight is photographs to coincide with the Heritage Alliance’s ongoing digitization project. Not only is the Heritage Alliance digitizing their archival photographic collection, but we are also looking to the community for assistance in expanding our collection. The first spotlight features photographs of women, which coincides with Women’s History Month.

 

 

 

The Museum is open from 11-6 on Monday, Friday, and Saturday and from 1-6 on Sunday. Town Strolling Tours are available on Saturdays at 1:00pm. Tours depart from the Chester Inn and costumed guides lead guests on an hour long journey through Jonesborough’s storied past. The ever popular Jonesborough Mythbusting Tour is available the second Saturday of the month at 1:00pm. Thursday evening tours and the Old Jonesborough Cemetery Tour both return in May.

 

 

The Chester Inn is a Tennessee Historical Commission State-Owned Historic Site. This project is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Historical Commission. The museum is an integral part of programming and interpretation for the Heritage Alliance.

 

 

For more information on the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum or the Heritage Alliance please call our office at 423.753.9580 or the Chester Inn Museum at 423.753.4580.  You can also contact the organization via email at info@heritageall.org.  Additional information about the Heritage Alliance and its mission can be found online at http://www.heritageall.org/. Be sure to follow the Chester Inn and Heritage Alliance Facebook pages for updates about events at the Chester Inn and other Heritage Alliance programs.