Jonesborough is the county seat of Washington County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. It is the oldest town in Tennessee and has a population of around 5,860. For tourists who are visiting the city, there are a number of attractions that you should visit. These attractions include the Wetlands Water Park, Main Street Cafe, Chester Inn State Historic Site, and Andrew Jackson’s former home.
Wetlands Water Park
If you’re looking for a day of fun, you should try Wetlands Water Park, a Water recreation venue with flume slides, a lazy river, zero-depth tot wading pool, and a snack bar. It’s a family-friendly attraction that’s great for people of all ages.
Wetlands Water Park is operated by the city of Jonesborough. Admission costs $12 for adults and $9 for children. It’s located within the 130-acre Persimmon Ridge Park, which is connected to the historic district via the Lost State Scenic Walkway. Visitors will find water bubblers, wading areas, a rain tree, and an 80-foot flume slide.
Another great place to visit in Jonesborough is the Jonesborough Historic House. This home is over 200 years old, and is well preserved. Visitors will be able to see how construction was done back then. The houses were often poorly sawn wood and didn’t look as clean as they do now. One of the free things to do in Jonesborough is to study the Jonesborough Historic House. Afterwards, grab a coffee at the local Corner Cup, where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
If you’re looking for something fun to do with your kids, the Wetlands Water Park in Jonesborough is a great option. It’s open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend and is perfect for family fun. A great thing about the water park is that it is municipally operated, which means the staff is dedicated to serving all guests and upholding the highest ethical standards. The park also has restroom facilities and a picnic area for families to enjoy their time.
A full-service cafe is also available at Wetlands Water Park. There are also lounge chairs and a sand volleyball court. Whether you want to spend the day playing volleyball or just relaxing in the sun, the Wetlands Water Park is a great place to go.
Main Street Cafe
The Main Street Cafe in Jonesborough offers a variety of tasty meals including sandwiches, salads, and coffee. Located inside the old United States Post Office building, this Jonesborough dining option has both indoor and outdoor seating. The food is made with fresh ingredients and oozes flavor. A must-try is the Loaded Potato Soup, which combines bacon, cheddar, and scallion flavors. This dish makes for an excellent brunch dish.
Besides the food, the Main Street Cafe features local craft beer, and a second-floor loft where you can enjoy your favorite drink and some board games. You can also visit the Jonesborough Storytelling Festival held each year on the first Friday in October. This event draws over 10,000 visitors each year. The city has also opened an International Storytelling Center, which hosts storytelling year-round.
The Main Street Cafe was formerly the Village Cupboard. It was open for six months selling kitchenware before opening its sandwich counter in the old post office building. The cafe closed in 1987, but has reopened since. The restaurant is owned and operated by Joel Conger, who lived in Jonesborough from an early age and was a newspaper boy. While studying in France, Jenkins took a culinary course at Gastronomicom. His classmates included many Michelin-starred chefs.
You can order online from Main Street Cafe & Catering by using Uber Eats. The service has an online ordering system that allows you to add items to your cart and track them.
Chester Inn State Historic Site
If you are looking for a unique place to visit in Jonesborough, Tennessee, you should consider the Chester Inn State Historic Site. This was the town’s premier inn during the frontier era. Located at 116 West Main Street, this historic hotel was originally opened in the year 1797 by Dr. William P. Chester.
Built circa 1797, the Chester Inn was once considered one of the best hotels in the Tennessee frontier area. The inn is home to exhibits that tell fascinating stories about the town’s history. You can tour the historic grounds and view the restored tavern.
The museum at the Chester Inn details the history of the town and its people. The museum is located in the town’s oldest commercial building. You can find exhibits about the 1850s and the town’s attempts to form a state. The museum also hosts many special events for children.
The museum displays historic photos from downtown Jonesborough. These photographs portray the town’s history in vivid detail. Visitors can see dapper barbers getting ready for business, protesters on the steps of the old courthouse, and more. While there, you can learn about the establishment of the State of Franklin, see a diorama of the town in 1850, and learn about the cholera epidemic that hit the town in 1873. In addition, you can meet some of Old Townes early merchants.
The Chester Inn State Historic Site is one of Jonesborough’s oldest buildings. It was built in 1797, and it was Tennessee’s first boarding house. The inn was later converted into apartments and was home to several U.S. presidents. In addition to the Chester Inn, other historical sites in downtown Jonesborough include the Washington County Courthouse and the Christopher Taylor House, built by a Revolutionary War veteran in 1779.
Andrew Jackson’s former home
The oldest town in Tennessee, Jonesborough is home to the log cabin of Christopher Taylor. In 1778, Taylor and his family settled in Jonesborough after he was sent to the town from North Carolina to protect the local residents from Indian attack. Andrew Jackson spent five months there, practicing law and acting as a public prosecutor.
In the early 1830s, Jonesborough had a population of about 500. There were four physicians, 11 lawyers, and two clergymen living there. It also had two churches, two academies, four schools, a printing office, and four carpenters. There were also shoemakers, wagon makers, and tailors. In the 1840s, the town experienced a boom in its population, and many Federal-style brick buildings were constructed.
In 1786, Andrew Jackson was practicing law in Jonesborough. The house is located in the town’s downtown. The home is filled with historical artifacts, including photographs of Jackson’s childhood. It was built by Captain Taylor and his wife Mary, and was the home to a young Andrew Jackson. In 1788, Andrew Jackson lived in the house for five months. He was only twenty-one years old at the time.
Andrew Jackson’s former home in Jonesborough is an important part of American history. In 1788, the town was a thriving and growing settlement, with a newspaper called the Intelligencer. The paper’s editor, Elihu Embree, was a Quaker who wrote eloquent essays on behalf of the black population. Although he died in 1820, the town continued to show enlightened race relations. In fact, the town was the first in the United States to establish a constitution.
Andrew Jackson served in the South Carolina militia at the age of thirteen. His brother was killed and his uncle was wounded. After the Revolutionary War, he went to school in Salisbury, NC, where he studied law. He was later appointed attorney general of Tennessee, and while he was on his way to Nashville, he stopped by Jonesborough. This may have been his route to the west.
Storytelling Center
The Storytelling Center is a performing arts center that features oral storytelling exhibits and a retail shop. In addition to the exhibits, visitors can attend storytelling workshops and participate in community storytelling events. These are held monthly and are free to attend. The center is located in the city of Jonesborough, Tennessee.
There are also many opportunities for children to be involved in storytelling. Each Tuesday evening, the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough hosts a performance by one of the city’s best tellers. The performances begin at 7 pm. Admission is free, and there are plenty of other activities for children, including quilting and pottery classes.
Jonesborough is also home to the National Storytelling Festival, an annual three-day outdoor event that features tales with music such as banjo, poetry, and ballads. The festival is a celebration of the world of stories and the people behind them. The Storytelling Center also holds many events throughout the year.
The International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough is an educational and cultural center dedicated to the art of storytelling. The center’s facilities include a 14,000-square-foot Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall, a 200-year-old Chester Inn, a welcoming information area, and a three-acre park. The center also features two doctors-in-residence and a variety of storytelling events throughout the year.
The Storytelling Center in Jonesborough is a unique cultural destination for children and adults alike. Every year, the Center hosts the National Storytelling Festival, which is a three-day event that draws over ten thousand people each year. The event also highlights the art of youth storytelling through the National Youth Storytelling Showcase.
