Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site

09/03/2026

Come vist the site and the Appalachian Highlands Celts for there celtic festival this weekend. Schedule of events attached. There are all kinds of events going on. Come and discover your heritage.

Upper East Tennessee Celtic Festival
September 5–6, 2026
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site
Johnson City, Tennessee

And don’t forget — the celebration begins Friday night with our FREE Torch Lighting Ceremony, reception, and outdoor concert, followed by two full days of festival fun.

Saturday: 8 AM–6 PM
Sunday: 8 AM–4 PM

Tickets are on sale now:
$10 One-Day Pass | $15 Weekend Pass

https://www.ahcelts.com/event-details/celtic-festival2026

09/01/2026

Today in history, Margaret P. Haynes, the sister of Landon Carter Haynes, married her first cousin William Decatur Haynes on September 1, 1859. Her brother-in-law, Reverend Nathaniel Greene Taylor officiated the wedding. They had two daughters and one son before her early death on April 20, 1867. She was buried in Blountville, Tennessee.

08/28/2026

08/24/2026

Today in history, delegates from Washington, Sullivan, and Greene Counties unanimously declared their independence from North Carolina after a two day conference in Jonesborough on August 23 and 24, 1784. This declaration led to the formation of the State of Franklin that lasted from 1784 to 1788.

08/23/2026

Today in history, North Carolina loyalist and Colonel John Tipton supporter Robert Love was born on August 23, 1760 in Augusta County, Virginia. He participated in the Revolutionary War and fought mainly in the western territories. In 1782, Love moved from his residence in Wythe County, Virginia to Washington County, North Carolina. He settled in Greasy Cove, which is now present-day Unicoi County, Tennessee. At the beginning of the State of Franklin, Love acted as a Franklin magistrate and attended one of the state's assemblies. He was promoted to major of the Washington County militia of North Carolina under the command of Colonel John Tipton. During the Battle of the State of Franklin, he aided Colonel Tipton with reinforcements. In 1789, he represented Washington County in the North Carolina General Assembly and from 1790 until he resigned in 1792, Love was the lieutenant-colonel of the Washington County militia of the Southwest Territory. He served under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Landon Carter, a former Franklinite. After his resignation, Love moved to Buncombe County, North Carolina and represented that county for several terms in the state's senate. He also went on to establish the town of Waynesville, North Carolina, which is where he died on July 17, 1845.

08/22/2026

Come experience the new forge at the McKinney Center in Jonesborough. We are setup until 5pm today.

08/20/2026

Today in history, Landon Carter Haynes traveled to Salisbury, North Carolina on August 20, 1865 to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. He also addressed a letter on the same day to former rival, now President Andrew Johnson. Haynes requested a personal interview with President Johnson and inquired of Johnson to allow him to travel to Washington, D. C. for the interview. There is unfortunately no documentation of a reply from President Johnson.

08/18/2026

Yesterday, under the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area Partnership Project Grant, Tipton-Haynes was able to send one of its staff across the state researching our very own Landon Carter Haynes. She will be looking for any records pertaining to his life through his many careers, such as a minister, election campaigner, lawyer, or politician. She is starting in Memphis today and working her way home. We look forward to seeing all that she finds.

08/15/2026

Today we celebrate the 296th birthday of Colonel John Tipton. Born on August 15, 1730 in Maryland, he established himself as a political and military leader in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia prior to moving to present-day Northeast Tennessee. Visitors can still see and touch the log cabin that he built at the base of Buffalo Mountain.