Treaty of the Holston

The Treaty of the Holston was signed in 1791 by representatives of the United States and the Cherokee Nation. It ended the hostilities between the two nations, set boundaries, and allowed settlers to travel down the Tennessee River. In return for safe travel, the Cherokee nation received a one thousand dollar annuity and trade goods.

This monument by the point where First Creek empties into the Tennessee River is very close to the actual spot of the treaty signing. Here is the full view:

This speaks to the people of East Tennessee, as many native East Tennesseans today have a mixture of Scots-Irish and Cherokee ancestry.

Once a Capital

The grounds around the old county courthouse building downtown are full of monuments. This one reminds us that Knoxville was the original capital city when the state of Tennessee was first established. Of course, Nashville is the current capital, which is fine by me. I'm just as happy to live in a city without gaggles of politicians roaming the streets. Our local County Commission provides more than enough entertainment.

Freedom From Fear

Freedom from fear is a towering need that every human is entitled to have. I was thinking about that as I looked up at this granite tower at the Worlds Fair Park. It's part of the new East Tennessee Veterans Memorial near the interactive fountain.

I'm Thankful

It's Thanksgiving Day in the US today, and I'll bet this photo was the last thing you expected to see - it's not a parade, or food, and definitely not turkeys in any sense of the word. I've been reflecting on the things in my life for which I give thanks. And although I'm thankful for having food on my table, and for the ability to watch a parade, and even for turkeys, I am also extremely thankful today that I could exercise my right to vote in the national and local elections this month.

That came to mind as I passed the monument to our Tennessee suffragists on Market Square one evening. It was only 88 years ago that the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, giving women in this country the right to vote. And that was made possible in part by the women memorialized here in bronze. Tennessee was the 36th state to ratify the amendment, which cast the deciding vote to pass the amendment into law. Out in front you see Lizzie Crozier French who founded a suffrage society in Knoxville, and behind her are Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville, and Elizabeth Avery Meriwether of Memphis. I'm thankful to them for giving me the gift of a voice in my government.

Memento Mori

Since May 30th was the original Memorial Day in the U.S., I thought I'd show you an interesting historical monument from Knoxville's National Cemetery, where many Civil War veterans are buried. This is a rather large marble monument to soldiers from Tennessee who served in the Union Army. Tennessee was the last of the Southern states to join the Confederacy, but East Tennessee remained strongly pro-Union, which is why you can find this monument in Knoxville.