Just northeast of downtown, this marker offers a compact but surprisingly rich window into the…read moreearly story of Jonesboro, a place that has worn its age and significance with quiet confidence for well over two centuries. It stands along a calm stretch of road where the modern town gives way to older rhythms, and it rewards a short stop if you enjoy seeing how the earliest threads of Tennessee history were woven. It reads, "Jonesboro, Oldest Town in Tennessee. Formally established in 1779, by the General Assembly of North Carolina, as county seat of Washington County, first county west of the mountains. In 1784, the State of Franklin was organized here, with Jonesboro as its first capital." It is marker 1A-81 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. If you're already exploring downtown or visiting the nearby courthouse, it's an easy and worthwhile detour, offering a moment to stand where some of the earliest chapters of Tennessee's civic life began. [Review 90 of 2026 - 593 in Tennessee - 25280 overall]

Set just a short walk from the Erwin Town Hall and the Unicoi County Courthouse, this marker gives…read morea clear, compact look at how both the county and the town took shape, and there is convenient parking nearby so you can step out and read it without any trouble. It feels like one of those spots where the civic heart of a place is still visible in the layout of the streets and the cluster of public buildings, and the marker ties that present-day setting back to the choices made during Reconstruction and the decades that followed The front reads, "Unicoi County. Unicoi County was formed during the Reconstruction era from parts of Washington and Carter counties on March 23, 1875. Representative Alfred A. Taylor introduced a bill in the Tennessee Legislature and insisted that the county's name come from a Cherokee word representing the fog-draped Unaka Mountains. The first meeting for the elected officials was January 3, 1876, at the Indian Creek Baptist Church. For the Centennial in 1975, the motto on the new seal of Unicoi County was "The Valley Beautiful."" And the reverse, "The Town Of Erwin. The town was laid out in March of 1876 on land donated by David J.N. Ervin, William Love, and G. Garland for the creation of a county seat. Vanderbilt was the town's first name. In 1879, the state approved a new name of Ervin, but a United States Post Office mix-up gave the town its lasting name of Erwin. Earlier postal designations of Greasy Cove, Unaka, and Longmire identified the area. In 1891, Erwin was incorporated and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen met in 1892." It is marker number 1A-130 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. It is an easy and worthwhile stop if you're exploring the center of town. [Review 104 of 2026 - 602 in Tennessee - 25294 overall]

While visiting in the area we stopped at the Fort Watauga replica at the Sycamore Shoals State Park…read morein Elizabethton, TN near Johnson City, TN. It is located along the Watauga River. Fort Watauga, more properly Fort Caswell, was an American Revolutionary War fort that once stood at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River in what is now Elizabethton, Tennessee. The fort was originally built in 1775-1776 by the area's frontier government, the Watauga Association, to help defend Watauga settlers from Native American (primarily Cherokee) attacks, which were in part instigated by the British. Fort Watauga was originally named Fort Caswell after North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Watauga Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park 1651 W. Elk Avenue Elizabethton, Tennessee FREE Park. Free to view and tour the Fort Watauga, and FREE to tour the Visitors Center. The visitors center was not open when we stopped there but we did walk around the Fort.

This marker is located in the Oak Hill Cemetery, near the grace of the flag designer…read more It reads, "In 1905 the Legislature adopted as the state flag one which was designed by Colonel Le Roy Reeves, a native and resident of Johnson City. The three stars represent the three grand divisions of Tennessee. The flag was first raised by Company F of the National Guard on October 10, 1911 during the dedication ceremonies of East Tennessee State Normal School." It is marker number 1A-86 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. The three white stars represent the state's three grand divisions - East, Middle, and West Tennessee - but their arrangement is carefully regulated: no two stars may align parallel to the flag's edges, and the highest star must sit nearest the upper corner. This layout avoids rigid symmetry and instead suggests dynamic balance. The blue circle enclosing the stars symbolizes unity, binding the divisions into an indissoluble whole. The tri-star within the blue circle has become an unofficial logo for Tennessee. It appears in branding for state agencies, sports teams like the Tennessee Titans, and even private companies. [Review 1441 of 2025 - 579 in Tennessee - 24992 overall]

Just a few blocks from the center of Jonesborough, this marker offers a welcome shift from the…read moreusual Southern rhythm of Colonial and Civil War history that defines so much of Tennessee's oldest town. Instead of recounting a battle or an early settlement, it pauses to honor an individual whose life stretched from enslavement to distinguished military service, and whose story links this quiet corner of Washington County to events that shaped the nation far beyond it. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Alfred Martin Ray, Buffalo Soldier. circa 1849-1917. On July 1, 1898, Lt. Ray planted the United States flag on San Juan Hill, Cuba, amid a hail of enemy bullets during the Spanish-American War. For his heroic courage in action, Ray received a battlefield promotion. He served in the U.S. Army from 1872 to 1903, first in the Indian Wars as a Buffalo Soldier (10th U.S. Cavalry, Colored), later in Cuba and the Philippines. Born a slave on the Ray farm near Jonesboro, he purchased Woodrow Avenue property in 1904. Alfred M. Ray is buried in College Hill Cemetery." It is marker number 1A-109 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. Standing here, the story feels more immediate than a line of text can suggest. Ray's life spanned Reconstruction, westward conflict, overseas war, and the long struggle for recognition that followed. Seeing his name in Jonesborough, not far from where he was born enslaved, underscores the distance he traveled in both geography and circumstance. Having visited the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Wilberforce and spent time with the broader history of the regiment, this marker carries an added weight. It ties the national narrative back to a single Tennessean whose service and sacrifice deserve to be remembered in the very place his journey began. [Review 92 of 2026 - 595 in Tennessee - 25282 overall]

Toured the Carter Mansion today ($7 per person) Tours are not everyday. Call Sycamore Shoals, or…read morecheck their Facebook site for tour days, and time. We got to see every room in the house, except the basement, which has wood floors. A painting over the fireplace was pretty cool. It was painted over with white paint years ago, and while the restoration group was taking paint "samples", they realized something was under the white paint, which turned out to be a painting. Only one piece of furniture was original to the house, which was a chair. We checked out the family cemetery, and walked down to the Watauga river which is actually in front of the house. This is the oldest framed house in Tennessee. Interesting piece of history.

Along this quiet rural stretch, the landscape opens into rolling fields and long sightlines, the…read morekind of place where a single roadside marker feels like a small anchor to a much older story. This one stands alone at the edge of the pavement, pointing not to something immediately visible but to a site more than a mile away, tucked deeper into the countryside. I didn't make the detour this time, but even from here you get a sense of how isolated early congregations must have been and how much intention it took to build a community around faith, language, and shared identity. The marker reads, "1 1/4 Mi. is the site of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and cemetery. Organized about 1807; reported in 1811 to the North Carolina Synod, and became charter member of Tennessee Synod in 1820. In its early years, services were held in both German and English. The church was disbanded about 1870." It is marker number 1A-79 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. It is a reminder that even the most unassuming corners of the landscape hold layers of history waiting to be noticed. [Review 101 of 2026 - 599 in Tennessee - 25291 overall]

Kingsport's 1850s Living History farm is a great place to retreat when life becomes to hectic. I…read morehave enjoyed visiting the different seasonal events here and learning from the reenactment volunteers. It reinforces the reputation of eastern Tennessee as an arts and crafts community. The structures are well maintained and the period garden is carefully managed by the Master Gardeners. It is a joy to visit.