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Monday 11am - 6pm Wednesday 11am - 6pm Thursday 11am - 6pm Friday 11am - 6pm Saturday 11am - 6pm Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum

Name: Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum
Address: 116 W Main Street, Jonesborough, TN, 37659, US
Telephone: (423) 753-4580
Price range: $

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Jonesborough, TN
Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum

A Tennessee Historical Commission State-Owned Historic Site with a museum about the building and the history of Jonesborough.

Located in the heart of downtown Jonesborough, the Chester Inn Museum chronicles the history of Jonesborough from its inception in 1779 to the present. The museum is located on the street level of the oldest commercial building in town. Exhibits include information on the State of Franklin, a diorama of Jonesborough in the 1850s, the history of the Chester Inn, the 1873 cholera epidemic, and much

more. Many of the exhibits feature Jonesborough’s extensive collection of photographs. The upstairs parlor and dining room of the Chester Inn, restored to the Victorian era style of the late 1800s, are also open for viewing. Kids’ activities include a museum scavenger hunt, a coloring book that features some of Jonesborough’s historic buildings, and a primary source activity with the cholera epidemic of 1873. The operation of the Chester Inn is partially funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation – Tennessee Historical Commission.

04/13/2026

HISTORY HAPPY HOUR ANNOUNCEMENT!
April 23rd, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Our next History Happy Hour will feature The Old House Agent - Daniel Shew

Now for a few words from The Old House Agent:
"I am a proud native of Southwest Virginia, born and raised in a holler in Washington County. My mother’s family has called this region home for over 200 years, while my father’s roots here stretch back to the mid 1800s. From the time I was 13, I have been studying and working on old houses, drawn to their stories and craftsmanship. Surrounded by antiques and heirlooms throughout my life, I was taught by my parents to respect and preserve the past—a lesson that has shaped my lifelong passion for historic homes."
"I believe the best cities in America are those that preserve and protect their history through preservation and restoration, while also caring for its residents and downtown neighborhoods. My wife, Monica, and I put these beliefs into action by personally investing in Bristol, Virginia's historic buildings and providing homes where families can live comfortably, as well as short-term vacation properties to welcome people visiting the growing city. This effort has made an impact in the city by increasing property values for neighboring property owners, making streets safer, and eliminating derelict houses."
"I am a board member of The Bristol VA Planning Commission, Bristol VA Zoning Appeals, Bristol Historical Association, Bristol Train Station, and Bristol VA Historic Preservation Awards Committee and a member of Bristol Area Rotary Club."
"Our family lives in the Solar Hill Historic District, where we own three significant properties including Pleasant Hill- Former home of noted historian V.N. (Bud) Phillips and their home- the historic King-Mitchell House which was built in 1816 as the main house overlooking the plantation in the valley that would later become downtown Bristol. I have gained national recognition for notable transactions like the 2023 sale of the famous W.A. Stuart house to Michelle Bowers, creator of the The Old House Life website and the 2025 sale of Hayslope, the 1785 home of Tennessee Constitution signer James Roddye."

Daniel Shew, The Old House Agent ®
Licensed in Virginia and Tennessee
Prestige Homes of the Tri Cities, Inc."

Reminder: History Happy Hours are now on the fourth Thursday of every month from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. through October at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center located at 117 Boone Street Jonesborough, TN 37659

04/02/2026

It’s a new month, which means a new History Book Club selection! Join us on Wednesday, April 29, as we discuss Force in the Mountains by local author David Sherrill Oaks. We’ll meet at 12:30 PM in the Chester Inn Board Room (located behind the museum), and members are welcome to bring lunch or snacks!

03/17/2026

HISTORY HAPPY HOUR ANNOUNCEMENT!
March 26th

Our first History Happy Hour will feature Ken Rea. Ken serves as President of the Boones Creek Historical Trust, an organization dedicated to the preservation of Boones Creek, Tennessee, the State’s oldest community. A museum is located in a mid-1800s home. The Saturday night Boones Creek Opry features regional bluegrass, country, and gospel acts, and also has an open mic for local musicians. Ken is on the board of the Tennessee Native Plant Society, an organization that conserves and celebrates native plant communities and their habitats through education. He is also a member of the Mid-Appalachian Highlands Hiking Club. Ken and his wife, Jan, live in Johnson City and have seven grandchildren.

Reminder: History Happy Hours are now on the fourth Thursday of every month from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. through October at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center located at 117 Boone Street Jonesborough, TN 37659

03/17/2026

History Happy Hour Series - 2026

Occurring on the fourth Thursday of every month from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. through October, our History Happy Hour series is an exciting opportunity to bring in talented speakers for free to the public. This event is held at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at 117 Boone Street, Jonesborough, TN 37659. Check our Facebook for more news and information about Heritage Alliance events.

March 26: Ken Rea, President of the Boones Creek Museum and Opry
April 23: The Old House Agent - Daniel Shew
May 28: Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site
June 25: Carson Sailor, Johnson City Railroad Experience
July 23: Robert Jones, Mind Your Business exhibit discussion
August 27: Timothy D. Holder, "The Faith of Abraham Lincoln"
September 24: OPEN
October 22: Alison Vick, Program Coordinator and Curator for the Tennessee Holocaust Commission

Important Info:
When: Fourth Thursdays, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Where: Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone Street, Jonesborough, TN 37659.

02/16/2026

Happy Presidents’ Day to the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum's three presidential guests!

Andrew Jackson, 7th U.S. President (March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837)
James K. Polk, 11th U.S. President (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849)
Andrew Johnson, 17th U.S. President (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)

For more information on the U.S. Presidents who called Tennessee home, visit: https://tennesseehistory.org/presidents/

12/22/2025

Today is the last day of the 2025 season at the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum! Feel free to drop on by before 6:00 p.m. and see the temporary exhibit "Washington County at War" before it closes. We will reopen in the spring! Stay tuned for more information on our next temporary exhibit!

However, the Heritage Alliance will still conduct programming throughout the winter. Feel free to reach out to [email protected] for upstairs tours or [email protected] for town tours on a by appointment basis. We also conduct educational programming for groups of all ages. Email [email protected] for more information about our Oak Hill School program and the Jonesborough History Experience. Our architectural salvage warehouse is also open by appointment throughout the winter. Email [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

January - February:
By appointment only

March - April:
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Monday, Friday, Saturday
1p.m. to 5 p.m. - Sunday

Happy Holidays! Stay warm! And, keep in touch!

12/11/2025

Visit the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum this Saturday, December 13th during Santa's Christmas Village to make a paperchain, a popular Victorian Christmas decoration!

11/21/2025

The Heritage Alliance invites you to gather 'round this holiday season for a special reading of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" inside the historic Chester Inn Museum. Join us on Saturday, November 29th, as this classic tale comes to life in the cozy parlor of one of Jonesborough's most beloved landmarks.

Visitors van enjoy readings at 1:15 pm, 2:00 pm, and 2:45 pm, along with a festive treat while siupplies last. This family-friendly event is FREE, but donations to support Heritage Alliance and the preservation of local history are always appreciated. Seating inside the parlor is limited will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are per person and available for pickup inside the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum. The Chester Inn Museum is open Monday, Friday-Saturday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 pm.

Step inside the beautifully decorated Chester Inn and experience the warmth of community and storytelling that has been a holiday tradition for generations!

11/20/2025

Reminder: Our Last History Happy Hour of the 2025 season is tonight from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum board room annex, behind the main building.

Thursday, November 20 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. the Heritage Alliance will be holding our last History Happy Hour of the 2025 season. The program will be held in the annex of the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum behind the main building. This is a site operated by the Heritage Alliance on behalf of the Tennessee Historical Commission. Located at 116 W. Main Street, Jonesborough, TN the event is free and open to the public.

For this program titled “European History through Appalachian Eyes,” we invite to the podium Dr. Brian Maxson, professor of history at East Tennessee State University. Dr. Maxson is an internationally recognized scholar of the Italian Renaissance. He is the author or editor of eight books, including his “Short History of Florence and the Florentine Republic” published in 2023. He has received grants from the American Philosophical Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society, Harvard University, and others, and, from 2022-2024, he served as editor of Renaissance Quarterly, which is the leading academic journal in the world for Renaissance studies. This talk on the Renaissance in Appalachia derives from a new book-length study of how the history of the United States has shaped our ideas about the Italian Renaissance.

Now for a few words from Dr. Brian Maxson:
What does Renaissance history have to do with Appalachia? After all, the story of our region before the 1700s centers on the experiences of Native Americans, not Europe. Nevertheless, the Renaissance has been a part of our Appalachian culture since the 1800s at the latest. People imported texts from the Renaissance into our region and by the mid 1900s ETSU was teaching students about a period that ended long before Europeans settled in places like Jonesborough. This talk will look at the history of how people in the Appalachian Highlands have thought about, connected, and rejected ties between Appalachia and the Renaissance from the 1800s until the present. It will focus especially on printed book from the 1400s now at Tusculum University and lecture notes by professors at ETSU from the 1900s.

Thank you all for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you tonight for another excellent History Happy Hour.

11/11/2025

Today we observe Veterans Day honoring all servicemembers of the United States Armed Forces. Thank you to these veterans for their service and sacrifice. We encourage everyone to visit the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum and our exhibit "Washington County at War." The Heritage Alliance operates and curates the Chester Inn on behalf of the Tennessee Historical Commission. This exhibit provides a biography of a U.S. military servicemember from each major American conflict who called Washington County home. This temporary exhibit will remain available for viewing until Monday December 22nd. We appreciate the public's continued support for our veterans.

11/05/2025

Thursday, November 20 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. the Heritage Alliance will be holding our last History Happy Hour of the 2025 season. The program will be held in the annex of the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum behind the main building. This is a site operated by the Heritage Alliance on behalf of the Tennessee Historical Commission. Located at 116 W. Main Street, Jonesborough, TN the event is free and open to the public.

For this program titled “European History through Appalachian Eyes,” we invite to the podium Dr. Brian Maxson, professor of history at East Tennessee State University. Dr. Maxson is an internationally recognized scholar of the Italian Renaissance. He is the author or editor of eight books, including his “Short History of Florence and the Florentine Republic” published in 2023. He has received grants from the American Philosophical Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society, Harvard University, and others, and, from 2022-2024, he served as editor of Renaissance Quarterly, which is the leading academic journal in the world for Renaissance studies. This talk on the Renaissance in Appalachia derives from a new book-length study of how the history of the United States has shaped our ideas about the Italian Renaissance.

Now for a few words from Dr. Brian Maxson:

What does Renaissance history have to do with Appalachia? After all, the story of our region before the 1700s centers on the experiences of Native Americans, not Europe. Nevertheless, the Renaissance has been a part of our Appalachian culture since the 1800s at the latest. People imported texts from the Renaissance into our region and by the mid 1900s ETSU was teaching students about a period that ended long before Europeans settled in places like Jonesborough. This talk will look at the history of how people in the Appalachian Highlands have thought about, connected, and rejected ties between Appalachia and the Renaissance from the 1800s until the present. It will focus especially on printed book from the 1400s now at Tusculum University and lecture notes by professors at ETSU from the 1900s.

Thank you all for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you November 20th for another excellent History Happy Hour.

Address

116 W Main Street
Jonesborough, TN
37659

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 6pm
Wednesday	11am - 6pm
Thursday	11am - 6pm
Friday	11am - 6pm
Saturday	11am - 6pm
Sunday	1pm - 5pm

Telephone

(423) 753-4580

Website

http://www.heritageall.org/

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