East Tennessee Historical Society

601 South Gay Street
PO Box 1629
Knoxville, TN 37901-1629

Second Floor
865-215-8824, eths@eastTNhistory.org
Hours: 
M-F: 8:30am - 5pm

 

East Tennessee Historical Society - Connecting the Region and Its History

The East Tennessee Historical Society is one of the most active private historical organizations in the state. We specialize in finding creative ways to introduce the public to the fascinating world of history. 

Lectures, tours, award-winning exhibits, family heritage programs, genealogy classes, and student and teacher education appeal to people of all ages.

Recognizing that East Tennessee’s history, heritage, and geography are distinct from the rest of the state, the East Tennessee Historical Society provides services and programs uniquely tailored to the region. ETHS partners with and promotes the history and events of organizations and sites across our 35 counties. We have 45 affiliate chapters across the region.

Mission

To preserve, promote, and interpret the history of Tennessee, with a focus on East Tennessee.

Location

The East Tennessee Historical Society and Museum, along with the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, the Knox County Archives, and the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound are headquartered in the beautiful East Tennessee History Center in downtown Knoxville.

History

The East Tennessee Historical Society was established in 1834 as the East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society.  The guiding spirit behind the founding was Dr. J.G.M. Ramsey, son of a pioneer family, the author of one of the state’s first histories, and also a founder of the Tennessee Historical Society. Since 1924, ETHS has been an adjunct to and headquartered with the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection of the Knox County Public Library. The two operate as a private/public partnership to preserve and share the history of East Tennessee.

The East Tennessee Historical Society’s Museum of East Tennessee History opened in 1993. The popularity of the museum, a growing artifact collection, and increased research audiences spurred an expansion of the East Tennessee History Center and generated a campaign for a new, first-class Museum of East Tennessee, which opened in 2008.

Museum of East Tennessee History

Natalie L. Haslam Signature Gallery

Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee

Through artifacts, images, and technology, the museum tells the story of three centuries of life in our mountain and valley land. The exhibit especially explores the region’s strong connections to important national events.

Rogers-Claussen Gallery

Changing exhibitions explore a variety of historical topics.

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