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 outside the center of Jonesborough, this marker adds a welcome layer of depth to a site that…read moreis easy to miss if you happen to arrive on a quiet holiday morning, as I did. The house itself was closed, which was a small disappointment, but the marker does enough heavy lifting to make the stop worthwhile and to hint at how much early Tennessee history is tucked into this one structure. It stands in a calm corner of town, the kind of place where you can picture the eighteenth century without much effort, and it rewards a moment of unhurried reading. The marker gives some history. "About one mile southwest of this location, this log house was built in 1777 by this officer who was a veteran of the French and Indian War and a major in the American Revolutionary War. He is buried in the family cemetery nearby. Andrew Jackson live here in 1788-89 while practicing law in Jonesborough. The house was moved intact to this site in 1974 to preserve it from demolition." It is marker number 1A-6 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. The marker offers a compact but evocative glimpse into Jonesborough's frontier years, and it left me looking forward to a return visit when the house is open again. [Review 94 of 2026 - 597 in Tennessee - 25284 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]

On my way through Johnson City and looking for a place to get a meal, I spotted this marker and…read morestopped to read the history of this small city. There is parking nearby and restaurants. The marker reads, "The town was formerly known as Green Meadows, Blue Plum, Johnson's Depot, Haynesville, then Johnson City. It is situated on land grants of 1782 to Robert and Joseph Young and in 1792 to Joseph Tipton. The town charter was repealed in 1879, but incorporated in 1885. The name honors Henry Johnson, prominent merchant and postmaster. As industrial and educational center, it is the home of Milligan College, East Tennessee State University, and Steed College." It is marker number 1A-93 and was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. [Review 20376 overall - 476 in Tennessee - 1354 of 2023.]

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]

Erwin feels like that in‑between place, big enough to have a bit of bustle but still small enough…read morethat its history sits right out in the open, and this marker is a good example of that rhythm. It highlights a mid‑century business that once shaped the town's identity before fading into memory. The marker reads, "Beginning operations in 1917, Southern Potteries, Inc. was fostered by the Carolina, Clinchfield, and Ohio Railroad. For many years, it was one of the nation's largest producers of hand-painted-under-the-glaze pottery, sold under the name "Blue Ridge". Located on Watauga Avenue, the factory hired hundreds of local artists to paint the pottery. Department stores had their own designs, and breakfast cereals offered starter sets. In January of 1957, the board of directors voted to close the pottery. Collectors still seek out examples of this pottery from Erwin's past." It is marker number 1A-151 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. There is room to pull over to read the marker and a large parking lot. [Review 103 of 2026 - 601 in Tennessee - 25293 overall]

This marker is along Watauga and there is a spot to stop and read the marker. It is next to Carver…read morePark. It has the same text on both sides. The marker reads, "On September 2, 1811, James Nelson deeded to trustees William Nelson, William Duzan, James King, Jacob Hoss and John R. Boring, 4 acres and 8 poles to be used by the Methodist Episcopal Church for a house of worship. For many years a campground for religious meetings was maintained here with a central permanent tent and many family tents. During the Civil War Col. Robert Love's 62nd N.C. Regiment, CSA used the ground as a camp." It is marker number 1A-89 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. It does not have a date for when it was installed but it is well faded. [Review 266 of 2025 - 570 in Tennessee - 23829 overall]

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]