Where Tennessee Began Heritage Passport
Your self-guided passport to Sullivan County's founding story
Child: $15 · Senior: $30
Why This Tour
Not everyone wants a guided tour. Some travelers prefer to explore at their own speed, linger where they're fascinated, and skip what doesn't grab them. The Heritage Passport gives you that freedom while ensuring you hit the three cornerstone heritage sites that tell Sullivan County's founding story. The digital stamp system adds a satisfying collect-them-all element that kids and adults both enjoy, and the completion pin is a genuine keepsake.
Coming Summer 2026 · Preview availability now
Your Itinerary
Start where Tennessee government started. Rocky Mount's costumed interpreters bring 1791 to life on the Cobb family farm, and the museum gallery fills in the broader story of the Southwest Territory. Pick up your Heritage Passport at the front desk, get your first stamp, and begin your journey through Sullivan County's founding.
- • Living history tour of the Southwest Territory capitol
- • Museum gallery and gift shop
- • Collect your first Heritage Passport stamp
Head to Bluff City (8 miles, 10 minutes) for the Holston Heritage Museum.
The Holston Heritage Museum adds the river valley perspective to your heritage journey. Where Rocky Mount tells the governmental story, this museum tells the human story — the families, trades, and traditions that built a community in the Holston River valley. Collect your second stamp and chat with the volunteer docents — their knowledge is a highlight.
- • River valley settlement stories and artifacts
- • Collect your second Heritage Passport stamp
- • Volunteer docents with deep local knowledge
Drive north to Blountville (20 minutes) for the Old Deery Inn and your final stamp.
Your Heritage Passport journey ends at the Old Deery Inn in Blountville, where Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson all rested on the Great Stage Road. Collect your final stamp, earn your commemorative pin, and take a walk through Blountville's historic district. You've now visited the three cornerstones of Sullivan County's founding story.
- • The stagecoach inn where three presidents stayed
- • Historic Blountville walking district
- • Collect your final Heritage Passport stamp and earn your pin
Sites in This Tour
Logistics
Rocky Mount State Historic Site (recommended starting point) → Old Deery Inn, Blountville (or any order you prefer)
Total driving: Approximately 30 miles for the full circuit
Casual, comfortable clothing. Walking shoes for outdoor sites.
What to bring:
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Smartphone for digital passport stamps
- • Water bottle
- • Camera
The Heritage Passport puts Sullivan County's founding story in your hands — literally. Pick up your digital stamp passport and visit Rocky Mount, the Holston Heritage Museum, and the Old Deery Inn at your own pace, collecting stamps at each site. Complete the circuit and earn a commemorative pin that says you've walked where Tennessee began. It's self-guided freedom with enough structure to ensure you don't miss the essential stories.