Knoxville history and landmarks

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. History comes from the Tennessee Historical Society’s Tennessee Encyclopedia entry on Knoxville; the city’s charter date from the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service city profile; National Register listings from the National Park Service’s list of listed properties (file dated May 22, 2026); and visiting hours from each site’s own website, linked below.

Knoxville began in 1786 as White’s Fort, built by Revolutionary War veteran James White overlooking what was then called the Holston River, now the Tennessee. In 1791 territorial Gov. William Blount made it the capital of the Southwest Territory and renamed it Knoxville for Secretary of War Henry Knox; that year White laid out 64 half-acre lots with street names borrowed from Philadelphia and Baltimore. The town later served as an early capital of the state of Tennessee. Today more than 100 Knoxville buildings, districts and sites are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visit the history

• Blount Mansion: 200 W. Hill Ave., 865-525-2375
• James White’s Fort: 205 E. Hill Ave.
• Mabry-Hazen House: 1711 Dandridge Ave., 865-522-8661
• Marble Springs State Historic Site: 1220 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway
• Historic Ramsey House: Thorngrove Pike, 865-546-0745
• Beck Cultural Exchange Center: 1927 Dandridge Ave., 865-524-8461

A short timeline

Knoxville had 730 people in 1810, 2,076 in 1850 and 32,637 in 1900, the Tennessee Encyclopedia says. For today’s figures, see our population guide.

Downtown and the historic districts

Downtown’s history is listed in several National Register districts: the Gay Street Commercial Historic District (1986), the Market Square Commercial Historic District (1984), the Jackson Avenue Warehouse District (1973) and the Southern Terminal and Warehouse Historic District (1985) in the Old City, where the 19th-century wholesale houses stood. The neighborhoods around downtown have their own districts, among them Fort Sanders (1980), Fourth and Gill (1985), Old North Knoxville (1992), Emory Place and North Hills (2008).

Museums, homes and cemeteries to visit

Admission prices are set by each site and listed on its website. Blount Mansion, Ramsey House and Marble Springs are on the National Register; Blount Mansion is also a National Historic Landmark.

Every National Register listing with a Knoxville address

The National Park Service lists these 120 entries with Knoxville as the city, with the year each was listed. Some, such as Marble Springs, Ramsey House and Statesview, are outside the city limits but carry a Knoxville address. Where the Park Service names an entry “Additional Documentation” or “Boundary Increase,” the year is the year of that later action, not the original listing.

What this means for you

• Many of these places are homes and churches still in use; look from the street and respect private property.
• Owners in a local historic overlay need a certificate from the Historic Zoning Commission for exterior changes; see our permits and zoning guide.

Related: parks and trails, things to do this month and getting around Knoxville.

Frequently asked questions

When was Knoxville founded?

James White built a fort on the site in 1786. In 1791 territorial Gov. William Blount made White’s Fort the capital of the Southwest Territory and renamed it Knoxville for Secretary of War Henry Knox, and White laid out 64 town lots that year.

Who was Knoxville named after?

Henry Knox, the U.S. secretary of war, in 1791.

Was Knoxville the capital of Tennessee?

Yes. It was the capital of the Southwest Territory and an early capital of Tennessee; the state capital moved permanently to Middle Tennessee in 1818, according to the Tennessee Encyclopedia.

How many National Register of Historic Places listings are in Knoxville?

The National Park Service lists 120 entries with a Knoxville address, including historic districts such as Fourth and Gill, Fort Sanders and Old North Knoxville, and Blount Mansion, a National Historic Landmark.

What are the hours at Blount Mansion?

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, with the last tour at 3 p.m. It is at 200 W. Hill Ave.; call 865-525-2375.