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, important brick house in Knoxville, Tennessee. It has two stories and was built in 1818 by a man named John Craighead. This house is special because it's right across the street from the William Blount Mansion, another very old and famous building. The Craighead–Jackson House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a significant historical site.
The Craighead family lived here until 1855. Then, it was sold to William Swan. He later became a member of the Confederate Congress, a group of politicians during the American Civil War. Swan soon sold the house to George Jackson, whose family lived there until about 1885. Later, in 1957, the state of Tennessee and the City of Knoxville bought the house. They made some changes to it before giving it to the Blount Mansion Association in 1962.
From 1966 until the mid-1990s, the Craighead–Jackson House was used as a visitors center and offices for the Blount Mansion. This means people visiting the Blount Mansion would start their tour here. After a new visitors center was built, the house was used to store old documents and for special events sometimes. In 2020, money was given to fix up the house, with work expected to finish in 2021.
Contents
Discovering the Craighead–Jackson House Location
The Craighead–Jackson House is located in downtown Knoxville. You can find it at the corner of West Hill Avenue and State Street. From the back porch of the house, you can see where First Creek flows into the Tennessee River. The Volunteer Landing waterfront, a popular area by the river, is also nearby.
A Look at the Craighead–Jackson House History
In 1791, William Blount chose a place called White's Fort to be the capital of the new Southwest Territory. The owner of the fort, James White, and his son-in-law, Charles McClung, then planned out the city of Knoxville. They created a grid of 64 lots, which became the center of the city. The Craighead–Jackson House sits on what was originally called "Lot 15."
William Blount bought Lot 15 in October 1791. However, he later decided to build his famous mansion on a different lot nearby. Some historians think that the Blount family might have lived in a temporary cabin on Lot 15 while their mansion was being built.
John Craighead (1783–1826) bought Lot 15 in 1818 and built the house we see today. John Craighead was an important person in Knoxville. He served as a city alderman in 1824, which means he was a local government official. He was also an elder at the First Presbyterian Church and is buried in its cemetery.
Later, in the late 1850s, a doctor from Knoxville named George Jackson bought the house. There's a local story that says the house might have a ghost. It's said to be the ghost of one of Jackson's servants who sadly died in a fire in the kitchen.
In the 1950s, a group called the Blount Mansion Association became interested in the Craighead–Jackson House. This group had already helped restore the Blount Mansion in the 1930s. In 1957, they were offered the house for $15,000. The state of Tennessee offered to pay half the cost if people in Knoxville would pay the other half. The City of Knoxville paid their share, and in 1962, the house was given to the Blount Mansion Association. They were asked to use the house and start fixing it up within six months. The Association later used the house to show pioneer items and for their offices.
Understanding the Craighead–Jackson House Design
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The Craighead–Jackson House is made of white brick and has two stories plus a basement. On the first floor, there's a hallway that goes through the middle of the house. This hallway has the two main entrances and a staircase. On one side of the house is a sitting room, and on the other side is a parlor.
Upstairs, on the second floor, there are two bedrooms. The bedroom on the south side is a bit bigger than the one on the north side. The basement has a dining room and another large room that wasn't fully finished. The house has chimneys at both the north and south ends. There's a small porch at the front door and a larger covered porch at the back of the house.
More Historic Places to Explore
- Alexander Bishop House
- Chisholm Tavern (Knoxville)
- James Park House
- Ramsey House (Knoxville, Tennessee)
- Statesview
