History at Home
Ranger Programs for July 6 - July 24
Seasonal Interpretive Rangers Chad Bogart and Sarah Redding with Jason Davis our very own Park Interpretive Specialist
The Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion, located on the Broad Street Extension in Elizabethton,
will be open Wednesday through Sunday for a tour at 2:00 pm,
May 28th– August 14th
ATTENTION!! The Carter Mansion will NOT be open for tours on the weekend of July 2nd and 3rd.
Tours will resume on Wednesday, July 6th.
Ranger Programs and Park Admission are both FREE!
Traditional Arts Workshops are by registration only and must be pre-paid.
For more information on park programs or events, please call (423) 543-5808.
Saturday, June 11th
9:00 am–10:30 am Watauga River Wanderings – Meet me at the Visitor’s Center to embark on a journey through the woods to the Watauga River. The walk will focus on the frontier survival of the first explorers of our area… the Long Hunters! Trail is a packed dirt path, please wear appropriate footwear.
11:00 am–12:00pm The Sewing Circle: Techniques and Traditions – Meet at the Tavern in Fort Watauga for a close up look at an essential part of any 18th century woman’s life …sewing! We will demonstrate basic sewing techniques and tell the story of the stitches. You are more than welcome to bring your own project and join in the sewing circle!
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
4:00pm – 5:00pm Worst, Weft and Warp: 18th century Textiles – Meet in the Museum for a hands on look at how fabric was made in the 18th century. The making of fabric takes a long journey between field and family.
Sunday, June 12th
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
4:00 pm–5:00pm How to Build a Log Cabin – Meet at the flagpole in Fort Watauga to learn how to build your own log cabin 18th century style! We will discuss tips and techniques for completing the home with as few hands as possible.
6:00 pm Storytelling at the Fort – Join us at the fire pit in Fort Watauga for some tall tales and homespun yarns about the Tennessee Frontier.
Wednesday, June 15th
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
4:00pm Tour of Fort Caswell – Join Sarah in the Tavern at Fort Watauga to learn more about the history and making of the fort.
Thursday, June 16th
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
4:00 pm Flint Lock: A Revolutionary Musket – “Shoulder your Fire Locks” with Sarah at Fort
Watauga. This will be a live flint lock musket demonstration. Come prepared for
history with a bang!
Friday, June 17th
10:00 am Tunes Thru Time ~ Join Chad in the Visitors Center Theater for a glimpse into our musical heritage. Hear old time tunes on old time instruments.
12:00 noon Homespun: How to make yarn of your own- Join Sarah at the Tavern in Fort Watauga to learn how to make yarn the 18th century way
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
Saturday, June 18th
9:00 am – 10:00pm Watauga River Wildflower Walk – Join Sarah in the Visitor’s Center lobby for a leisurely walk along the Mountain River Walking Path. This walk is only a 1 mile loop and will be focused on discovering the wildflowers all around us. It is highly encouraged tat you bring a field guide if you have one.
11:00 am–1:00 pm Soup’s On: Hearth Cooking on the Frontier- Feeding a frontier family can be a difficult task. Meet Sarah in Fort Watauga to see how women on the frontier pulled it off.
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
4:00 pm – 5:00pm A Woman’s Work is Never Done: survival of the 18th century woman on the frontier – Join Sarah at the Tavern in Fort Watauga for a close up look at the life and labor of an 18th century woman.
Sunday, June 19th
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join Chad at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
Wednesday, June 22nd
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
Thursday, June 23rd
11:00 am Quill Pen Writing ~ Join Chad at the Visitors Center to cut and write with your very own feather writing pen. Learn about the instrument that wrote the pages of history.
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
Friday, June 24th
11:00 am Tour of Fort Watauga- Meet Sarah at the Tavern of Fort Watauga for look at an 18th century homestead and defensive fort
12:30 pm Tunes Thru Time ~ Join Chad in the Visitors Center Theater for a glimpse into our musical heritage. Hear old time tunes on old time instruments.
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
Saturday, June 25th
9:00 am – 10:00 am Siege Scavenger Hunt – During the siege of Fort Watauga, life was hard! Meet Sarah at the
Fort ready to search for your survival on this scavenger hunt! Winner will be awarded a special
prize!!
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Leaf Print Journals – Out on the frontier it is important to know which plants are good and which ones are bad. Join
Sarah in the Visitor’s Center to make your very own journal of good trees! Please where old clothes that you don’t mind getting messy!
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the
frontier.
4:00 pm Old Timey Games – All ages are welcome to experience 18th century playtime. Frontier families worked hard and played hard. Join Sarah at fort Watauga to let the games begin!
Sunday, June 26th
11:00 am – 12:00pm Basket Weaving 1776- Meet Sarah at the fort to learn the basic techniques of basketry as well as many of their common
uses in the18th century.
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
4:00 pm Tour of Fort Caswell – Join Sarah in the Tavern at Fort Watauga to learn more about the history and making of the fort.
Wednesday, June 29th
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
Thursday, June 30th
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
Friday, July 1st
11:00 am Fitting and Proper: An 18th century woman’s wardrobe- Meet Sarah in the Visitor’s Center for a close up look at how women dressed in the 18th century frontier.
2:00 pm Carter Mansion Tour- Join us at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee, for a rare taste of elegance on the frontier.
Saturday, July 2nd
10:00am – 4:00pm Militia Muster – Join members of the Washington Co. Militia for a glimpse of life on the 18th century frontier.
Sunday, July 3rd
10:00am – 4:00pm Independence Celebration and Muster – Experience the Fourth of July 18th century style! What did colonists think about the new nation? Be a guest in Fort Watauga as news of independence arrives on the frontier!
Other Events in June at Sycamore Shoals Include:
Traditional Arts Workshops -
January - December Dates and times vary.
Catch this unique opportunity to learn traditional art forms from expert instructors. Pre-registration is required in addition to an instructor and materials fee. Ask for our separate listing!
Saturdays 11am – noon
The Fife & Drum Corps performs at historical events, dedications, and parades. This group is open to anyone ages 12 & up. Musical experience is welcome but not necessary. Just come with a willingness to learn! Meet our volunteer coordinator John Large at the Sycamore Shoals Visitors Center for Saturday practices.
Fine Arts Show with the Watauga Valley Art League
Month of July
Opening Reception: Sunday, June 26 1:30 – 4:00 pm
Stop by the museum at Sycamore Shoals to view the beautiful artwork of the Watauga Valley Art League. Local artists display their talents during the entire month of July. Museum hours: 8:00 – 4:30 Monday through Saturday, 1:00 – 4:30 Sunday.
Tuesday, June 14 9:30 am – 1 pm
This gathering of spinners and fiber artists is open to anyone interested in the art of spinning. Join us at 9:30 am on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
Park offices will be closed all state holidays.
For more information or to register for workshops, contact:
1651 West Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
(423) 543-5808
www.tnstateparks.com/SycamoreShoals/