Jonesborough Mythbusting Tour

On April 1st, a new tour will put Jonesborough’s history to the test.  Jonesborough’s Mythbusting Tour will debut on April Fools’ Day and be offered at various other times throughout the year. This unique tour will not be available every week, so make sure you catch it when it’s here! Jonesborough is the Oldest Town in Tennessee and the Storytelling Capitol of the World, so it’s only natural that the Town has some big myths that need busting.  On the other hand, 238 years of history has produced some outrageously true stories.  Think you can separate the myths from the facts?  Put your detective skills and knowledge to the test with us.  How outrageous is Jonesborough’s history?  Come along and find out!

Jonesborough’s Mythbusting Tour will start at 1:00 p.m.  Tickets are only $5.00 per person and can be purchased directly at the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum on Main Street.  For more information, please contact the Heritage Alliance at 423.753.9580, or the Chester Inn Museum at 423.753.4580.

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The Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia is dedicated to the preservation of the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of our region and to providing educational experiences related to history and heritage for a wide range of audiences.  For more information, please call our office at 423.753.9580, or contact the organization via email at info@heritageall.org.  Additional information can also be found online at http://www.heritageall.org/.

“What Did the Women Do?”: Using Museum Theatre to Share Multiple Perspectives from the Past

We’re excited that our blog is live on the American Association of State and Local History’s website!  Check it out here!

History Happy Hour at the Chester Inn Museum

The Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia is launching History Happy Hour at the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum on Thursday, March 23!  History makes us happy, and we want to share that happiness with you.  This new, monthly program will feature a wide range of topics, including First Lady Eliza Johnson, the Alaska purchase, and much more!  The region is full of history, and people who know about history, and History Happy Hour is a chance for them to share their exciting knowledge with the wider public.  The program is a collaborative effort between local organizations, so audiences will have the chance to interact with multiple groups.

History Happy Hour will be held at the Chester Inn Museum.  Admission is free, and the program will start at 6:30 p.m.   The goal of the program is to offer insightful history to the public, foster a collaborative relationship with various individuals and organizations, and increase the role of the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum as a community meeting place.  To stay up to date on our program schedule, follow the Chester Inn Museum and the Heritage Alliance on Facebook.

The spring schedule is set and features history lovers and practitioners from the Andrew Johnson National Park in Greeneville, Tennessee.  On Thursday, March 23, Kenrda Hinkle will speak about First Lady Eliza Johnson.  On Thursday, April 20, Stephanie Steinhorst will share information on the Alaska Purchase, and on Thursday, May 25, Andrea Nott will showcase the slave narratives of Rachel Kennedy and Viney Gahagan Brown.

Kendra is the curator for the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site.  Stephanie is the Chief of Interpretation and Education for the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site and Andrea has done independent research with the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site on various topics including slavery.

The Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia is dedicated to the preservation of the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of our region and to providing educational experiences related to history and heritage for a wide range of audiences.  For more information, please call our office at 423.753.9580 or the Chester Inn Museum at 423-753-4580.  You can contact the organization via email at info@heritageall.org.  Additional information can also be found online at http://www.heritageall.org/.

New Season Kick Off for Town Tours & Chester Inn Museum

The Historic Jonesborough Town Tours and the Chester Inn Museum both kick off their 2017 on Friday, March 3.  The Chester Inn Museum will feature three new exhibits and will also be launching a program called History Happy Hour that will start later in the month.  Stay tuned for more details!  The new exhibits showcase artifacts from World War I (2017 marks the centennial of America’s entrance into the war), history on the First National Bank and its transformation into the Washington County Archives, and a special sneak peek into the new archives with some of the most interesting documents the archivists have come across!  Make sure you check out these exhibits before they’re gone!  Exhibits in the museum will rotate quarterly.

The Historic Jonesborough Town Tours will depart from the Chester Inn at 1:00 on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the months of March and April.  A full, extended schedule for the year, including summer evening tours, is pictured below.  Join our costumed guides as they tell the story of Tennessee’s Oldest Town and the people who built their lives here.  Tours are $5 per person, children under the age of 8 are free.

The Heritage Alliance will also be adding new tours this year, including a Railroad Tour and a Jonesborough Mythbusting Tour.  Stay tuned for more details on those exciting options!

Town Tour Poster 2017