Defending the homeplace

Built between 1775 and 1780, the Carter Mansion is the oldest frame house in Tennessee. John Carter and his son, Landon, built the home on land purchased from the Cherokee Indians in what is today the town of Elizabethton. 

Carter was elected to serve as Chairman of the Court under the terms of the Articles of the Watauga Association—a semi-autonomous government sometimes referred to as the Republic of Watauga, which early settlers along the Watagua River created in 1772. The entity was deemed a threat to British rule and became the basis for several frontier governments. When Tennessee became a state in 1796, Carter County was named for Landon Carter, and the town for his wife, Elizabeth Maclin Carter. 

Carter Mansion, managed via the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, typically is only open to the public by appointment; however, the Carter Mansion Celebration and Militia Muster brought colonists’ struggles to life this April. Local craftsmen demonstrated skills such as natural dyeing and colonial cooking, and period re-enactors performed their interpretation of a raid on Carter’s home during which he escaped with important land records. 

Other upcoming historical events include the Sycamore Shoals Native American Festival held June 1-2; 19th Century Independence Day and Muster June 29-30; and Tennessee’s official outdoor drama, Liberty: The Saga of Sycamore Shoals, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, July 11-13, 18-20, and 25. 

Sycamore Shoals is open on a regular basis from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. There is a two-mile walking trail and picnic facilities. 

For more information, visit tn.gov/environment/parks/SycamoreShoals or call 423.543.5808.