Knox County Courthouse, Knoxville

Knox County Courthouse, Knoxville

Constructed between 1884 and 1886, the Knox County Courthouse, a stunning 2.5-story brick building, is the fourth of its kind to be built. It boasts a combination of architectural styles, such as Colonial elements in its clock tower and Gothic elements in the balcony and porch, featuring qua-trefoil patterns. While much of the interior has been altered, the exterior has remained impressively intact.

Initially serving as a courthouse until the completion of the City-County Building on Hill Avenue in 1980, plans to demolish the courthouse were set in motion. However, thanks to the efforts of Knox County Executive Dwight Kessel and a preservation movement, the building was saved from destruction. Currently, it houses several county offices, including that of the county clerk. Furthermore, the courthouse lawn is home to the final resting place of John Sevier, Tennessee's first governor.

As a testament to its significant role in the country's political history and remarkable architecture, the Knox County Courthouse was eventually added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Knoxville. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Knox County Courthouse on Map

Sight Name: Knox County Courthouse
Sight Location: Knoxville, USA (See walking tours in Knoxville)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
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

University of Tennessee Walking Tour

Founded in 1794 as William Blount College, The University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville is one of the oldest public universities in the United States. Nowadays, the UT flagship institution features a mix of historic and modern sites which draw many a visitor to the city.

The campus covers nearly 600 acres in downtown’s west end, including over 200 buildings and a faculty of more than 1,700...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Downtown Knoxville Walking Tour

Downtown Knoxville Walking Tour

A small town with big-city amenities and a vibrant music scene (a mix of country, bluegrass, and rock), Knoxville, or K-Town as it's popularly shortened by locals, is also often referred to as “the Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains,” for its proximity to the national park area, whose marble quarries, in the past, gave it another moniker, The Marble City.

Knoxville was founded in...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Knoxville’s Historical Buildings

Knoxville’s Historical Buildings

Knoxville is often referred to as "The Marble City" for the abundant supply of high-quality marble used in many of its buildings. Noting the wealth of well-preserved historic homes in the city, prominent American architect John Russell Pope even coined his own moniker for it – the "City of Houses".

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

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles