Ramsey House

Ramsey House is a two-story stone structure with tall chimneys and detailed woodwork throughout its rooms. The limestone walls and interior details reflect the construction methods that builders employed in early Tennessee.

Thomas Hope designed this building in 1797 as one of the first permanent structures in Knox County's frontier settlement. Its construction marked the beginning of more lasting European settlement in that part of Tennessee.

The house displays furnishings and objects from its period that reveal how wealthy families arranged their daily lives in early Tennessee settlements. Visitors can observe the spaces where people cooked, slept, and gathered together.

Visitors can explore the house and grounds best on weekday and Saturday visits during the warmer months of the year. It is helpful to arrive early, as guided tours operate in smaller groups with limited capacity.

The building combines construction techniques from Pennsylvania and Tennessee through its limestone walls and pink marble window details. This unusual blend shows how different regional building styles met in this early frontier area.