James White's Fort facts for kids
James White's Fort was an important settlement in the 1700s. It eventually grew into the city we know today as Knoxville, Tennessee, in the United States. This fort was a safe place for early settlers.
The fort was started in 1786 by a man named James White. He was a military officer during the American Revolutionary War. Later, in 1791, William Blount, who was the governor of the Southwest Territory, moved the capital to White's Fort. He then renamed the settlement Knoxville. This new name honored Henry Knox, another general from the Revolutionary War and a close advisor to President George Washington.
Building the Fort
The fort began as a simple cabin. This cabin was located near where State Street and Clinch Avenue are today. Soon, more fortified log buildings were added around it. This group of buildings became known as White's Fort.
From Cabin to Kitchen
The original cabin later became the kitchen for a house built in the 1830s. This house was called the Kennedy house. In 1906, the Kennedy house was taken down to make way for new buildings. A person named Isaiah Ford bought the old log structure. He moved it to a different location.
Rebuilding History
In 1960, a group called the City Association of Women's Clubs bought the log structure. By 1968, the old timbers were carefully put back together. They became part of the reconstructed fort. Today, the fort still stands on a hill near its first location. You can see seven log cabins and a strong wooden fence, called a stockade. These cabins are filled with items and furniture from the pioneer days. They show what life was like long ago.
See also
External links
- Official website: http://www.JamesWhitesFort.org
