Originally written by Paul James and published by Inside of Knoxville. “Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus Lane, Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeers pulling on the reins, Bells are ringing, children […]
For many years, the Clarence Brown Theatre has staged a production of Charles Dickens’ classic novella, A Christmas Carol. The story, about the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his visits by four apparitions who encourage his moral reclamation, continues to be […]
Just beyond the edge of the town’s original 64 lots laid out in 1791, the intersection of Gay Street and Clinch Avenue has long been a bustling place in downtown Knoxville. Today, thousands of people walk or drive through here […]
We’re grieving the recent loss of one of our best friends and most generous early supporters, Jane Albright. A career educator, she worked for Carson Newman University, where she was a librarian and taught information science for many years in […]
Another historic downtown building whose future is in question We recently ran a piece about the 1875 Peabody School / Labor Temple building, threatened by the fact that it appears to be erased in a landowner’s proposal for the property, […]
Many people are familiar with Knoxville’s Old Gray Cemetery, located on Broadway. With its winding tree-lined lanes and old gravestones, ornate obelisks and memorial statuary, there is no other place quite like it within the city. Yet, immediately to the […]
It’s interesting how the use of a certain spot on a street basically stays the same for decades, if not more than a century. The site of a courthouse typically indicates a long tenure, but how about hotels? Hyatt Place, […]
Peabody School, Knoxville’s first public school, later known as our Labor Temple, is in peril On a broken segment of half-forgotten Morgan Street is a building not like any other downtown. It’s getting a lot more attention lately, partly just […]
Currently, the most popular episode in Knoxville History Project’s podcast series, Knoxville Chronicles, is the story, “Creature of the Cumberlands” written by Jack Neely and read by Alex Haralson. It’s not a Halloween-related story, but it’s a bizarre, autumnal, spooky […]
Jack Neely is executive director of the Knoxville History Project. He has become one of Knoxville’s most popular writers and its unofficial historian. Jack is well known for his thoughtful, well-researched, and provocative pieces of long-form journalism, not to mention his books, speeches, and other public appearances...
123 S. Gay Street Ste. C
Knoxville, TN 37902
JACK NEELY
jack@knoxhistoryproject.org
(865) 337-7723
PAUL JAMES
Development Director
paul@knoxhistoryproject.org
(865) 300-4559
NICOLE STAHL
Administrative Coordinator
nicolestahl@knoxhistoryproject.org
(865) 360-8053
©2025 Knoxville History Project
Site by: Robin Easter Design
