Where Tennessee Began Heritage Passport
Your self-guided passport to Sullivan County's founding story
Child: $15 · Senior: $30
Why This Route
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.
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Your Itinerary
Morning
- Stop 2Holston Heritage Museum1 hour Bluff City
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.
Lunch
- Stop 1Rocky Mount State Historic Site1.5-2 hours Piney Flats
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
lunch:Ridgewood Barbecue in Bluff City, legendary pit-smoked BBQ since 1948. Open Thursday-Saturday.Head to Bluff City (8 miles, 10 minutes) for the Holston Heritage Museum.
- Stop 3Old Deery Inn45 minutes-1 hour Blountville
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. 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
lunch:Blountville General Store & Deli, sandwiches and local flavor in the county seat.
Stops on This Route
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 the app's audio guides
- • Water bottle
- • Camera
The Heritage Passport is a self-guided three-stop itinerary covering Sullivan County's founding story: Rocky Mount, the Holston Heritage Museum, and the Old Deery Inn. Visit at your own pace; the app surfaces the next stop and the connecting narrative. The three sites together are the cornerstone walk of where Tennessee began.
Verified by us
Verified 2026-05-30 · next review 2026-08-28