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National Register of Historic Places listings in Carter County, Tennessee facts for kids

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Map of Tennessee highlighting Carter County
Location of Carter County in Tennessee

Have you ever wondered about the oldest and most important buildings and places in your area? In Carter County, Tennessee, there's a special list of these historic spots! This list is called the National Register of Historic Places listings in Carter County, Tennessee.

The National Register of Historic Places is like a hall of fame for important places in the United States. When a place is added to this list, it means it's special because of its history, architecture, or what happened there. It helps protect these places for future generations.

In Carter County, there are 13 places on this list. One of them is even more special and is called a National Historic Landmark. This means it's super important to the history of the entire country! You can even see where these places are on a map using their special location coordinates.

If you're curious about other nearby historic places, you can also check out the list for National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Tennessee. Some parts of Johnson City are in both counties!

Contents: Counties in Tennessee
Anderson – Bedford – Benton – Bledsoe – Blount – Bradley – Campbell – Cannon – Carroll – Carter – Cheatham – Chester – Claiborne – Clay – Cocke – Coffee – Crockett – Cumberland – Davidson – Decatur – DeKalb – Dickson – Dyer – Fayette – Fentress – Franklin – Gibson – Giles – Grainger – Greene – Grundy – Hamblen – Hamilton – Hancock – Hardeman – Hardin – Hawkins – Haywood – Henderson – Henry – Hickman – Houston – Humphreys – Jackson – Jefferson – Johnson – Knox – Lake – Lauderdale – Lawrence – Lewis – Lincoln – Loudon – Macon – Madison – Marion – Marshall – Maury – McMinn – McNairy – Meigs – Monroe – Montgomery – Moore – Morgan – Obion – Overton – Perry – Pickett – Polk – Putnam – Rhea – Roane – Robertson – Rutherford – Scott – Sequatchie – Sevier – Shelby – Smith – Stewart – Sullivan – Sumner – Tipton – Trousdale – Unicoi – Union – Van Buren – Warren – Washington – Wayne – Weakley – White – Williamson – Wilson


Historic Places in Carter County

Many amazing places in Carter County have been recognized for their historical importance. Let's explore some of them!

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area

SYCAMORE SHOALS (STATE HISTORIC PARK)
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

One of the most important places in Carter County is the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. It's located about 2 miles west of Elizabethton on the Watauga River. This area is so important that it's a National Historic Landmark!

The Sycamore Shoals area has a rich history. It was a meeting place for Native Americans and later for early settlers. It played a big role in the American Revolution. The John and Landon Carter House is also part of this historic area. It was listed on the National Register in 1972. The Sycamore Shoals area itself was added in 1966.

Historic Homes and Farms

Carter County is home to several old houses and farms that tell stories of the past.

Rueben Brooks Farmstead

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The historic Rueben Brooks Farmstead

The Rueben Brooks Farmstead is a farm that was started around 1820. The main house was also built around that time. It's located at 1548 Blue Springs Road in Elizabethton and was added to the National Register in 2001. Imagine living in a house that's over 200 years old!

Sabine Hill

Taylor House 1936 - Front
Sabine Hill, a historic home

Sabine Hill is another beautiful historic home located off State Route 67 in Elizabethton. It was listed in 1973. This house shows us what homes looked like many years ago.

Simerly-Butler House

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The Simerly-Butler House, also known as Butler Mansion

In Hampton, you can find the Simerly-Butler House at 206 Main Street. It's also known as Butler Mansion. This house was built in 1867 by a local businessman and politician named Elijah Simerly. Later, it was home to Ralph Butler. It joined the National Register in 1996.

John T. Wilder House

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The John T. Wilder House in Roan Mountain

The John T. Wilder House is located at 202 Main Street in Roan Mountain. It was built in 1884 by a famous person named General John T. Wilder. This house was added to the list in 1986.

Other Farms and Houses

  • The Henson Hunt House on Brookdale Road in Johnson City was listed in 1979.
  • The Miller Farmstead is found within Roan Mountain State Park and was recognized in 2014.
  • The Renfro-Allen Farm is northeast of Elizabethton on Judge Ben Allen Road. It became a historic district in 1996.

Elizabethton Historic District

Downtown Elizabethton 02
Downtown Elizabethton, part of the historic district

The Elizabethton Historic District includes a whole area of downtown Elizabethton. It's roughly bounded by 2nd, 4th, East, and Sycamore Streets. This district was added to the National Register in 1973. It means that many buildings in this part of the city are important together, showing how the town grew and changed over time.

U.S. Post Office in Elizabethton

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The former U.S. Post Office in Elizabethton

The U.S. Post Office building at 201-203 N. Sycamore Street in Elizabethton is a special building. It was designed in the early 1930s by James Wetmore in a style called Beaux-Arts. Today, this historic building is home to the Elizabethton-Carter County Public Library. It was listed in 1983.

Shelving Rock Encampment

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The Shelving Rock Encampment site

The Shelving Rock Encampment is a very important historical site. It's located at State Route 143 and Smith Branch Road in Roan Mountain. This is where the brave Overmountain Men camped in September 1780. They were on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain, a key battle during the American Revolution. This site was added to the National Register in 2009.

Former Listings

Sometimes, places are removed from the National Register. This can happen if a building is destroyed or changes too much. Here are a couple of places that were once on the list in Carter County:

  • The Carriger-Cowan House was located east of Siam. It was listed in 1979 but removed in 2013.
  • The Henry Range House was south of Watauga on Smallings Road. It was listed in 1982 but removed in 1991.
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