Celebrating the pioneers who settled and transformed the southwest territory into the vibrant state of Tennessee, the Blount Mansion Association will be hosting its third annual Statehood Day on Friday, June 6, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Blount Mansion colonial revival garden, which has been maintained by the Knoxville Garden Club for 80 years.  Additionally, there will be a sneak peek of the newly renovated Blount Mansion and outbuildings.

A cocktail dinner will be served by Holly’s Eventful Catering, and there will be an open bar available. This night of entertainment and mingling to celebrate the birthday of the State of Tennessee is not to be missed.

This evening will also serve as the official grand opening of our new temporary exhibit: Becoming the Volunteer State: The War of 1812 in Tennessee from the Tennessee State Museum and made possible by a grant from Humanities Tennessee.  This exciting exhibit commemorates the many Tennesseans who contributed to our moniker of the “Volunteer” State.  The exhibit focuses on the tremendous legacy of the war, including Tennessee’s role and its impact on the state and the nation.  Important portraits, weapons and period artifacts from the era as well as a broad variety of documentary art, maps and illustrations have been selected to recreate a flavor of the times.

Knox County’s only historic landmark and oldest house museum, the Blount Mansion is considered the birthplace of Tennessee, and it was built by William Blount who came to Knoxville to be Governor of the Territory South of the River Ohio. Under Blount’s leadership efforts were made to organize the Territory into the 16th state of the United States in 1796, and the state Constitution was drafted in the Governor’s office on the historic Blount Mansion property. It is owned and operated by the Blount Mansion Association, Inc., a nonprofit, educational organization.

Reservations can be made by phone at (865) 525-2375, by emailing director@blountmanison.org , or online at www.blountmansion.org or https://squareup.com/market/blount-mansion . Proceeds will go toward supporting the mission and educational activities of the Association.