Exchange Place is a beautifully preserved 1850s farmstead on the old Great Stage Road in Kingsport, where stagecoach travelers once stopped to swap tired Virginia horses for fresh Tennessee mounts. Today it operates as a living history farm with heritage breed animals, heirloom gardens, and historic buildings that transport visitors to the agricultural rhythms of antebellum Appalachia. Seasonal craft fairs and educational programs make it one of northeast Tennessee's most beloved heritage destinations.

The Preston family operated this farm along the Great Stage Road, the major overland route through Appalachia. The name 'Exchange Place' comes from the practice of exchanging stagecoach horses — fresh Tennessee horses replaced weary Virginia horses, and vice versa. The collection of original and period buildings represents agrarian life in the decades before the Civil War.

Visitor Tips

• ›The Spring and Fall craft fairs are legendary — mark your calendar
• ›Kids love the heritage breed animals — goats, chickens, and draft horses
• ›Ask about the horse exchange story — it's the reason for the name
• ›Pair with Long Island of the Holston for a complete Kingsport heritage experience

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