The Andrew Johnson Homes, Greeneville, TN

Any historic trail through north-eastern Tennessee should include Greeneville.  This could easily be an all day adventure with the first stop being the Museum and Visitor's Center for the National Historic Site memorializing our seventeenth President of the United States, Andrew Johnson.

The Visitor's Center was built around the Johnson Tailor Shop (below) which was the focal point for local politics in it's day.

After touring the museum, visit this accurate reproduction of the house in which the man who served as Military Governor of Occupied Tennessee was born.

Note the bounty on their table.  Greene County's rolling hills provide some of the best farmland in the area.

Just across College Street from the Visitor's Center is Johnson's early home, purchased in the 1830's.

Three blocks away, on Main Street is "The Homestead", where he and his family moved in 1851 while he served as U.S. Representative of Tennessee's First Congressional District.  This home is open for tours on the half-hour, so some advanced planning is advised.  I arrived shortly after the 2:30 tour was to start only to be greeted by the departing Park Ranger.  He apparently does not hang around if there is no one waiting at the appointed time.

I did, however, enjoy a stroll around the property and caught this lovely East Tennessee fall scene from his back porch, looking across Main Street.

To get a glimpse into the interior of this stately homestead and plan your own visit, go to http://www.nps.gov/anjo/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm.  Don't let your stay in historic downtown Greeneville end here!  I had to return the following day for my personal favorite,  the Dickson-Williams Mansion, but there are a few more stops between here and there, so you'll have to be patient.

Fort Dickerson, Knoxville, TN

After finally seizing Knoxville, the Federal Army under General Ambrose Burnside began building a number of defensive positions on the hills across the river to the southeast of the city, the Confederate Army having concentrated on Chattanooga.  Burnside was thus guarding the back door of Knoxville from attack.  His plan worked and the Confederates failed in their attempt led by General Longstreet to recapture the city in mid-November of 1863.

Little more than an earthen fortification for gun emplacements, Fort Dickerson alone among these embattlements survives to this day, providing a great overlook towards the city and the University of Tennessee campus.  It's a great place to stop and appreciate our history.  Plan your picnic for two or group outing at http://www.cityofknoxville.org/parks/fortdickerson.asp.