William Blount Mansion facts for kids
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William Blount Mansion
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Blount Mansion with kitchen in foreground
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| Location | 200 W. Hill Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1792 |
| Architect | William Blount |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000726 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 12, 1965 |
The Blount Mansion, also known as William Blount Mansion, is a historic home in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. It was the home of William Blount (1749–1800), who was the only governor of the Southwest Territory. Blount was a Founding Father of the United States, meaning he helped create the country. He also signed the United States Constitution and served as a U.S. Senator for Tennessee.
Blount lived here with his family. The mansion acted like the capital building for the Southwest Territory. In 1796, a big part of the Tennessee Constitution was written in Governor Blount's office at the mansion. Because of its importance, one historian called Blount Mansion "the most important historical spot in Tennessee." Today, the house is a museum, showing what life was like in the late 1700s.
The house is made of wood, which was special at a time when most homes in Tennessee were log cabins. The materials for the house were brought all the way from North Carolina. The middle part of the house, which has two stories, is the oldest section. The one-story west wing was likely built next. The one-story east wing was the last part added, possibly around 1820. Blount's office, where he worked, is a separate building next to the main house.
By 1925, the house was in bad shape. A local developer planned to tear it down for a parking lot. But a group called the Blount Mansion Association was formed. With help from others, they raised money to buy the house in 1930. The Association has kept the house as a museum ever since. They have worked hard to restore it to look like it did in the late 1700s. In the 1960s, the mansion was named a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its national importance.
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Exploring the Mansion's Location
The Blount Mansion is located in downtown Knoxville. It sits on Hill Avenue, between Gay Street and State Street. The area is on a hill, looking down over the Volunteer Landing riverfront. This riverfront is along the Tennessee River to the south. The Craighead-Jackson House, another historic building, is also nearby. It is managed by the Blount Mansion Association.
A Look at the Mansion's History
The United States created the Territory South of the Ohio River in 1790. This area was often called the "Southwest Territory." President George Washington chose William Blount to be its first governor. Blount first governed from Rocky Mount. But he soon started looking for a permanent capital city for the territory.
Blount chose White's Fort as the site for the capital. James White, who owned the fort, and his son-in-law Charles McClung planned out the new city. They created 64 lots that would become Knoxville. In 1791, they held a lottery for people to buy these lots. Blount bought Lot 18, where the mansion now stands, in 1794. However, it is thought that construction on Blount Mansion began around March 1792. This was when Blount moved to Knoxville.
While the mansion was being built, the Blount family might have lived in a cabin nearby. Blount had two main reasons for building such a fancy house on the frontier. First, the house would serve as the capital of the Southwest Territory. It needed to look impressive for important visitors. Second, Blount wanted to keep a promise to his wife, Mary Grainger Blount. He had promised to build a home as grand as their old one in North Carolina. The first part of the house was finished between 1795 and 1796. Work on other parts continued into the 1800s. The separate kitchen was likely built later. Famous visitors to the mansion included Andrew Jackson and John Sevier.
Blount gave ownership of the mansion to his younger half-brother Willie Blount in 1797. Willie Blount then gave it to Blount's son William Grainger Blount in 1818. The Blount family sold the mansion in 1825. Later, in 1845, Knoxville mayor Samuel B. Boyd owned the property. The Boyd family kept the mansion until the early 1900s. They rented it out to different people and businesses. The Boyds also added some parts to the mansion, like a large Victorian-style porch.
Saving and Restoring the Mansion
By 1925, the Blount Mansion was in very poor condition. A local developer, B.H. Sprankle, planned to tear it down. He wanted to build a parking lot for a new hotel. To save the mansion, Mary Boyce Temple bought an option on the property. The Blount Mansion Association was then formed in 1926. By 1930, with help from groups like the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Association raised over $31,000. This was enough money to buy the mansion.
The Association immediately started restoring the house. They removed the newer Victorian additions. They also added furniture from the 1700s to make it look authentic. In 1935, the Knoxville Garden Club began taking care of the mansion's gardens.
In 1955, the Association received money to restore Blount's office. The kitchen was rebuilt in 1960 after its original foundation was found. That same year, a "vault" was discovered behind the house. Some thought it was a secret escape tunnel. But an investigation showed it was a "cooling room." This room was used to store wine and food that spoiled easily. Later, experts studied the paint on the walls. They found the original colors and repainted the house to match. Digs in 1973 and 1984 found old foundations and items from the late 1700s.
Understanding the Mansion's Design
Blount Mansion is a wood-frame house covered with clapboard. It has a two-story main part in the middle. There are also one-story wings on both the east and west sides. On the first floor of the main house, you'll find a parlor, a dining room, and a hallway with a staircase. The second floor has two bedrooms. The west wing has one bedroom. The east wing contains a drawing room and has a basement.
Chimneys are located at the ends of the main house and both wings. The wood for the house frame was probably cut nearby. But the finished wood, paneling, flooring, and outside siding were shipped from North Carolina.
Blount's office, also called the Governor's Office, is a separate building. It stands behind the west wing of the mansion. It is a one-story building with a brick chimney. It has windows with louvered blinds on the east and west walls. Inside, the office has wide wood panels and a carved mantel above the fireplace.
The mansion's kitchen was originally a separate building behind the east wing. At some point, this kitchen was taken apart. Its materials were used to build a kitchen attached to the back of the main house. In 1958, archaeologists found the foundation of the original kitchen. The attached kitchen was then removed. Its materials were used to rebuild the separate kitchen on its original foundation. The design of the rebuilt kitchen is similar to that of the office.
See also
- Alexander Bishop House
- James Park House
- Ramsey House
- Statesview
- History of Knoxville, Tennessee
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Tennessee
- List of the oldest buildings in Tennessee
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Knox County, Tennessee
