Annual Heritage Fair
Washington County, TN Heritage Fair
Friday, September 3rd and Saturday, September 4th, 2021
Use the links below to electronically sign up for the event.

Note: The event schedule is listed further down this page.
The Jonesborough Genealogical Society, in partnership with many heritage organizations, and the Jonesborough Visitors Center and Emporium, will host the 2nd Annual Heritage Fair on Friday and Saturday, September 3rd and 4th, 2021.
- First, heritage organizations and individuals with specific heritage topic interests will display exhibits on their area’s of local interest in the Auditorium at the Jonesborough Visitors Center. As COVID-19 cases rise, we request those entering the Jonesborough Visitors Center to wear a mask. Masks will be available at the registration table.
- Second, (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)! presenters will present heritage topics of interest via orated presentations at the International Storytelling Center Plaza (outside).
- Finally, a Living History Timeline will be display throughout the town of Jonesborough’s greenspaces and parks.

2021 Event Schedule:
Theme | Location | Time | Subject | |
Presentation – Living History Camp | Jimmy Neil Smith Storytelling Park | Friday & Saturday, 9:00-9:45 | Gordon Sisk, Rev. Samuel Doak | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Friday, 10:00-10:45 | Dr. Megan Cullen Tewell, History of Ashe Street Courthouse | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Friday, 11:00-11:45 | Sam Hyde, “Washington County and the Great War” | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Friday, 12:00-12:45 | Allen D. Jackson, “D-Day: Story of Homer L. Pease, James B. McKamey and a Surprise” | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Friday, 1:00-1:45 | Joy Branham, The Perfect 36: Tennessee’s Crucial Part in Securing Women’s Right to Vote | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Friday, 2:00-2:45 | Dr. Ron Roach, Tweetsie Trail and the Historic and Cultural Events Commemorated Along the Trail | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | Christopher Taylor House Lawn | Friday, 3:00-3:45 | Sabine Hill Social Society, Dance | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Saturday, 9:00- 9:45 | Dr. Brenda G’Fellers, Cholera Epidemic of 1873 | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza |
Saturday, 10:00-10:45
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Dr. Brenda G’Fellers, Children’s Author Rhea Wells | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | Christopher Taylor House Lawn | Saturday, 11:00- 11:45 | Sabine Hill Social Society, Dance | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Saturday, 12:00- 12:45 | Reagan Cornett, Geographical and Archaeological Investigation at David Crockett Birthplace State Park | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Saturday, 2:00 – 2:45 | Dr. Patrick Stern, Embree House Farm | |
Presentation and Talks – Registration Required | International Storytelling Center Plaza | Saturday, 3:00 – 3:45 |
William J. Frazier, Scottish Influences on the New World and East Tennessee |
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Living History Timeline | Mill Springs Park & Other Locations in Jonesborough | Friday and Saturday 9:00-4:00 | Living History Timeline | |
Town Tours |
Chester Inn Museum Old Jonesborough Cemetery
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Friday 1:00, Saturday 1:00 Saturday 2:30
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Main Street Town Tours provided by the Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Cost is $5.00 per person. Old Jonesborough Cemetery Tour provided by the Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Cost is $3.00 per person. |
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One-Room School Open | Oak Hill School |
Friday 9:00- 2:00 Saturday, 12:30 -4:30
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School located at 212 E. Sabin Drive, Jonesborough, Free Admission Book-Signing: Meet author Marsha Honeycutt Marcela and purchase her book Mr. Rigney, Rigney, and Me ( . . .or is it “I”) for only $10.00. All proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the George D. Rigney Memorial Scholarship Fund on Friday only.
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Museums Open | Washington County-Jonesborough History Museum | Friday 8:00-5:00, Saturday 10:00- 5:00 | Museum inside Jonesborough Visitors Center, Free Admission | |
Museums Open | Chester Inn Museum and Historic Site | Friday, 11:00-6:00, Saturday, 11:00- 6:00 | Museum located at 116 W. Main Street, Jonesborough, Free Admission | |
Presentation – Living History Camp | Jimmy Neil Smith Storytelling Park | Friday, 2:00-3:00, Saturday, 10:00 – 11:00 | Overmountain Victory Trail Association tells the story of the Overmountain Men |

Partner Organizations:
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society – East Tennessee Chapter
Archives of Appalachia
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Boones Creek Historical Trust
Coalition for Historic Preservation and Reuse (CHPR)
East Tennessee Historical Society
East Tennessee History Center
East Tennessee State University Department of Appalachian Studies
Embree House and Farm
George L. Carter Railroad Museum
Herald and Tribune
Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia
Johnson City – Women’s Suffrage Centennial Celebration
Jonesborough Visitors Center
Kings Mountain Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution
Knob Creek Museum and Pioneer Homestead
LEAD,INC.
McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington School
Mountain Home National Cemetery
Netherland Inn
Northeast Tennessee Museum Association
Overmountain Victory Trail Association
Rocky Mount State Historic Site
Sabine Hill Social Society
Scottish American Military Society
Spirit of the Wolf Native American Style Flutes
State of Franklin Chapter of the American Revolution
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
The Reece Museum
Thompson Woodcrafting
Tipton-Haynes Historic Site
Tom Roberts, Johnson City Postcards
Town of Jonesborough
Walk in their Boots
Washington College Alumni Association
Speakers:
Gordon Sisk, Rev. Samuel Doak
Dr. Megan Cullen Tewell, Project Coordinator of Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia
Allen D. Jackson, A Walk in Their Boots
Sam Hyde, A Walk in Their Boots
Joy Branham, Johnson City – Women’s Suffrage Centennial Celebration
Dr. Ron Roach, Chair, ETSU Dept. of Appalachian Studies
Dr. Brenda G’Fellers, Bristol Public Library
Reagan Cornett, Graduate Student, ETSU
Dr. H. Patrick Stern, Embree House and Farm
William J. Frazier, Scottish American Military Society
Demonstrators / Living Historians:
Mitzi Bailey- Cherokee Genealogy and Artifacts
Spirit of the Wolf Native American Style Flutes – James Hilton
Kings Mountain Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, Revolutionary War Weaponry
Gerald Mustin and Gary Love, Longhunters
Overmountain Victory Trail Association, Kings Mountain and the Overmountain Men
Gordon Sisk, Rev. Samuel Doak
Lisa Bennett, Mary Patton Story
Sabine Hill Social Society
Will Vogt, Blacksmithing
Scott Thompson, Woodcrafting
Walk in their Boots
Joy Braham, Women’s Suffrage
Cathy Broyles, Broyles Oak Rockers
Boones Creek Christian Church Quilters
Jan Turner, Weaving Loom inside Christopher Taylor House, Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia
