Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area Presents
Seasonal Interpretive Rangers Chad Bogart, Jason Davis, & Jeffrey Johnson
The Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion, located on the Broad Street Extension in Elizabethton, will be open for a daily tour at 2:00 pm, May 28th – August 15th
So come on down to the oldest frame house in Tennessee and see this elegant frontier home!
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.
Sunday, August 1st
3:30 pm The Longhunter- Join Jeff at the fort to hear about who these amazing people were.
Monday, August 2nd
3:30 pm Fort Watauga Tour- Join Jeff at the fort to get a glimpse into colonial life.
Thursday, August 5th
3:30 pm 18th Century Fashion- Head into the theater to learn about different types of clothing worn around the Revolutionary War.
Friday, August 6th
11:00 am Native American Weapons- Come down to the fort and visit with Jason to see how different weapons were used by the Native Americans. Both kids and parents will enjoy this program!
3:30 pm The Cherokee- Meet Jeff at the fort to hear about the local history of the Cherokee.
Saturday, August 7th
10:00 am-4:00 pm Carter Mansion Celebration & Militia Muster- Join us for two days of fun as we celebrate 1770s living at the oldest framework house in Tennessee!
Sunday, August 8th
10:00 am-3:00 pm Carter Mansion Celebration & Militia Muster- Join us for two days of fun as we celebrate 1770s living at the oldest framework house in Tennessee!
Monday, August 9th
3:30 pm Brown Bess- Join Jeff at the fort to see what a Revolutionary War musket looks like in action!
Tuesday, August 10th
3:30 pm Colonial Militia- Learn about these frontier defenders by meeting Jeff at the museum.
Friday, August 13th
11:00 am Creek Critter Hunt – Join Jason for a cool and refreshing walk through the waterways of the Watauga River and discover the different creatures that call it home! Please wear old clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet or muddy.
6:00 pm–8:00 pm The Tomahawk- Join Jeff at the fort to hear about what tomahawks were used for then try throwing one yourself!
Saturday, August 14th
6:00 pm 18th Century Fire making- Meet Jeff at the fort to see how campfires were made in colonial times.
7:00 pm Cherokee Legends- Join Jeff at the fort to hear stories from Cherokee culture.
Sunday, August 15th
5:45-7:30 pm Fix Bayonets! Meet Jeff at the fort and hear about one tactic that soldiers used during the Revolutionary war.
8:00 pm White-Nose Syndrome: Death for Bats and Us- Meet Jeff at the Overmountain Men Statue in front of the Visitor Center to learn what WNS is and what it means for people.
Other Events in August at Sycamore Shoals Include:
Saturdays 10 am – 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.
Watauga Valley Art League August Show
Month of August
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 7 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Each year, the August show features a new and intriguing theme. Please call the
park for information on this year’s theme. Exhibit can be viewed during regular park hours.
8th Annual Elizabethton Butterfly Count
Sunday, August 1 9:00 am & 1:00 pm
Meet naturalist Don Holt at Sycamore Shoals for this day-long winged adventure across town. Come for all or part of the day. Sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association & Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. (Rain Date: Saturday, August 7.)
Homespun Storytelling Guild
Tuesday, Aug. 3 6-8 pm
Dedicated to preserving stories, tales, and folklore in a relaxed and informal setting. Come and hone your skills in the age-old art of storytelling. The guild will meet at the Carter Mansion on Broad Street Extension. Come join us as we “continue the front porch tradition, one story at a time.”
Carter Mansion Celebration & Militia Muster
Saturday, August 7 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, August 8 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Join us for two days of history, music, and fun at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee. Travel back to the 1770s…the American colonies struggle against Britain, and the Patriot frontiersmen gather together to celebrate Independence. See local craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills such as natural dyeing and colonial cooking.
Tuesday, Aug. 10 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.
Workshop: Step-By-Step Oil Paint Instructor: Kay Braswell
Saturday, August 14 9 am – 4 pm
Cost: $50 (includes supplies) Limit: 15 Minimum: 6
Discover oil on canvas through wet-on-wet painting techniques. Beginners are welcome—learn Bob Ross techniques for painting—or come to improve the skills you already possess.
Shape Note Singing with Don Wiley
Sunday, Aug. 15 2 pm – 4 pm
Shape note singing is an early musical tradition in which various shapes represented each note of the do-re-mi scale. We invite you to join The Old Fields Singers—listen or sing along—and make this rich tradition your own.
Park offices will be closed all state holidays.
For more information or to register for workshops, contact:
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area
1651 West Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
(423) 543-5808
www.tnstateparks.com/SycamoreShoals/