First Presbyterian Historic Cemetery

First Presbyterian Historic Cemetery
Location: Downtown Knoxville


I think this cemetery is absolutely stunning. Before I even realized the historic significance of this cemetery, I loved it just because it looks so beautiful. Tucked away behind the Tennessee Theater, the cemetery is not something that you would expect to see. It is situated right next to First Presbyterian Church and across the street from one of the parking garages I use when I go downtown. It is easy to overlook, but it is an important part of Knoxville's history.



Inside the cemetery are buried many of Knoxville's historic icons such as the Blounts, the McClungs, the Carricks, and even James White. The founding fathers of Knoxville rest in that cemetery. It was really neat to see the graves of all these people that I had recently learned so much about. From visiting the Blount Mansion and the James White Fort, I learned about so many of the people that were buried there. And many of the graves had names that I recognized from buildings around campus. These were not only Knoxville's founding fathers, but the University of Tennessee's too. It was unreal to visit the graves of people whose homes I had just finished visiting.



The cemetery is also on the national register of historic places. One thing I really liked about the cemetery was a chart it had of all the graves. This chart was next to the entrance, and it was very helpful. Many of the graves were worn down, and some of the names were no longer on the tombstones. Thanks to the chart, I was still able to locate the graves of many famous Knoxvillians, despite being unable to read the words on the tombstones.

The cemetery was also in very nice condition. The grounds were nicely maintained. The tombs, although worn with age, were not overrun with weeds or other plants. The grass was trimmed, and the paths were in good condition. This also added to the positive experience that I had.

I immensely enjoyed my visit to the First Presbyterian cemetery. It was both an educational and beautiful experience. That will not be my last visit.