Jonesborough: History, Storytelling, and Trails

Jonesborough is a destination for anyone who wants to discover history not only through dates, but also through streetscapes, stories, and distinctive buildings. The well-preserved Main Street offers a glimpse into the city’s past. Jonesborough was also the first town in Tennessee to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When looking for a vacation rental or vacation home, it is therefore helpful to first consider whether your trip should focus primarily on culture, active trails, water experiences, or regional flavors.

Historic Downtown and Museums

From March through December, the Heritage Alliance regularly offers historic walking tours through downtown Jonesborough. The tours start at the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum. The Jonesborough/Washington County History Museum and Archives offers another way to explore the town’s history. It collects artifacts, documents, and photographs about the people and history of the region. The museum also displays the clock that kept time at the Washington County Courthouse, built in 1847.

At the Chester Inn Museum, Jonesborough can be viewed through a diorama depicting the town in the 1850s. The Chester Inn’s upper parlors, dining rooms, and guest rooms have been restored in the Victorian style of the late 19th century. The Chuckey Depot Museum is also dedicated to the past: The historic Chuckey Depot was dismantled, rebuilt in Jonesborough, and opened as a museum in October 2017. Themed exhibitions explore the history of the depot in the community of Chuckey and the region’s railroad heritage, including the local Southern, Clinchfield, and East Tennessee and Western North Carolina railroads.

Storytelling as a Special Travel Experience

Jonesborough is closely connected with the art of storytelling. The Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall at the International Storytelling Center includes performance and event spaces, exhibitions, and a gift shop. Storytelling Live offers afternoon performances Tuesdays through Saturdays at 2 p.m. The StoryTown Radio Show follows the format of an old-fashioned radio program; it takes place on the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

If you are planning your trip around a specific date, the 53rd National Storytelling Festival may be of interest: It is scheduled for October 2–4, 2026, in Jonesborough, Tennessee. In addition, the receptions for the McKinney Center’s Artist Exhibition Series are open to the public and free of charge. This allows you to shape your trip around storytelling, exhibitions, and historic town views without limiting yourself to just one form of cultural experience.

Trails, Parks, and Water Experiences

For more active days, Persimmon Ridge Park in Jonesborough offers 130 acres of biking and hiking trails. The Lost State Scenic Walkway is approximately three miles long. It begins in the center of Jonesborough at Mill Spring Park and ends at Golden Oak Park.

Persimmon Ridge Park is also home to Wetlands Water Park. It features water slides, a lazy river, and a shallow bathing area with no water depth at the entrance. This provides another opportunity to add a water experience to your stay. Families can therefore choose between historic discoveries, performances, trails, and a day at the pool, while the vacation rental or vacation home serves as a self-selected base for planning a personal itinerary.

Regional Flavors

Tennessee Hills Distillery also brings the local character to life. A tour leads through the production area, tells the story of the people who built the distillery, and includes a tasting of the finished product. The distillery produces spirits in small batches and hand-bottles them at the 1840s-era Salt House. The Salt House is a Civil War-era landmark and is now operated as an active distillery, tasting room, and bar.

When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you want to get to know Jonesborough mainly through history and storytelling or spread different experiences throughout the day. The town offers specific opportunities for this: tours and museums, performances and exhibitions, trails and a water park, as well as a distillery in a historic setting. If you would like to extend your trip beyond Jonesborough, you can also add Johnson City as another destination.

For the overarching travel overview: Washington County.