Craighead–Jackson House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Craighead–Jackson House
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Craighead–Jackson House, viewed from the west
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| Location | 1000 State St. Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1818 |
| Architect | John Craighead |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001801 |
| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1973 |
The Craighead–Jackson House is an old brick house with two floors in Knoxville, Tennessee. John Craighead built it in 1818. It's right across the street from the William Blount Mansion. This house is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Craighead family lived in the house until 1855. Then, William Swan bought it. Swan later became a member of the Confederate Congress, a group of lawmakers during the American Civil War. He soon sold the house to George Jackson. The Jackson family lived there until about 1885.
In 1957, the state of Tennessee and the City of Knoxville bought the house. They made many changes to it. In 1962, they gave it to the Blount Mansion Association. From 1966 until the mid-1990s, the house was the visitor center and offices for Blount Mansion. A new visitor center was built later. After that, the Craighead–Jackson House was used to store old documents and for special events. A big restoration project was finished in the fall of 2021.
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Where is the Craighead–Jackson House?
The Craighead–Jackson House is in downtown Knoxville. It sits at the corner of West Hill Avenue and State Street. From the back porch, you can see where First Creek flows into the Tennessee River. The river's Volunteer Landing is just below the house.
History of the Craighead–Jackson House
In 1791, William Blount chose White's Fort to be the capital of the new Southwest Territory. The fort's owner, James White, and his son-in-law Charles McClung then planned out the city of Knoxville. They drew a map with 64 half-acre lots. The Craighead–Jackson House is on what was called "Lot 15."
William Blount bought Lot 15 in October 1791. However, he later built his own mansion, the Blount Mansion, on a different lot nearby. Some historians think the Blount family's first temporary cabin might have been on Lot 15. This was while their main mansion was being built.
John Craighead (1783–1826) bought Lot 15 in 1818. He then built the house we see today. Craighead was a city alderman (a local government official) in Knoxville in 1824. He was also an elder at the First Presbyterian Church. He is buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Later, in the late 1850s, Dr. George Jackson, a doctor from Knoxville, bought the house. There's a local story that the house is haunted. People say it's by the ghost of one of Jackson's servants. The legend says she died in a fire in the kitchen.
In the 1950s, the Blount Mansion Association wanted to buy the Craighead–Jackson House. This group had already restored the Blount Mansion in the 1930s. In 1957, the house was offered to them for $15,000. The state of Tennessee offered to pay half the cost. The City of Knoxville paid the other half. In 1962, the house was given to the Blount Mansion Association. They had to promise to use it and start restoring it within six months.
The Association put pioneer items on display in the house in the late 1960s. They also used the house for their offices. Later, their offices moved to a new location on Gay Street.
Design of the Craighead–Jackson House
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The Craighead–Jackson House is a white brick building. It has two main floors and a basement. On the first floor, there's a hallway that goes through the middle of the house. This hallway has two main doors and a staircase. There's a sitting room on one side and a parlor (a formal living room) on the other.
The second floor has two bedrooms. The bedroom on the south side is a bit bigger. The basement has a dining room and another large room. There are chimneys at both the north and south ends of the house. A small porch is at the front door on the west side. A larger covered porch is at the back of the house.
Other Historic Homes Nearby
- Alexander Bishop House
- Chisholm Tavern (Knoxville)
- James Park House
- Ramsey House (Knoxville, Tennessee)
- Statesview
See also
In Spanish: Casa Craighead–Jackson para niños
