First Presbyterian Church and Its Cemetery, Knoxville

First Presbyterian Church and Its Cemetery, Knoxville

The First Presbyterian Church Graveyard is the oldest in Knoxville. It was established in the 1790s and holds the remains of some of the city's most notable early residents, including Governor William Blount and Knoxville's founder James White. The graveyard was officially recognized as a historic site in 1996 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

James White reserved a lot for the cemetery when he was planning Knoxville in 1791, and the earliest burial marker, belonging to Blount, dates back to 1800.

The First Presbyterian Church was built near the cemetery in 1816. The graveyard was used for burials for almost 60 years and was most active during the Epidemic of 1838 when hundreds of people died from an unknown disease. The last burial took place in 1879, and the graveyard was used by Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War.

The present First Presbyterian Church was built in 1903 and is a Neoclassical building. The graveyard has a typical Anglo-American design with closely placed headstones and simple inscriptions. A low iron fence surrounds the perimeter, and crude stone walkways provide access.

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First Presbyterian Church and Its Cemetery on Map

Sight Name: First Presbyterian Church and Its Cemetery
Sight Location: Knoxville, USA (See walking tours in Knoxville)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Knoxville, Tennessee

Create Your Own Walk in Knoxville

Create Your Own Walk in Knoxville

Creating your own self-guided walk in Knoxville is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
University of Tennessee Walking Tour

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Indeed, Knoxville's eventful and sometimes turbulent past, dating from...  view more

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Knoxville was founded in...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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