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This Is Kingsport 2022 > City to Celebrate 200th Anniversary of Charter Signing

City to Celebrate 200th Anniversary of Charter Signing

Contributed by: Guest Contributor
Date: August 1, 2022

Two centuries ago, the signing of Kingsport’s first charter occurred at the Netherland Inn, establishing the city as a municipality with a local system of government. On Aug. 20, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., city residents and leaders will celebrate the Charter Bicentennial with a variety of fun and educational events for all ages.

Events will include demonstrations of 19th century crafts, reenactors in period clothing, live music, self-guided tours of the Inn and the Bank Barn, and much more.  

At 11 a.m., Mayor Pat Shull will read a proclamation and oversee a mock charter signing to give viewers the feeling of being there for this momentous event in the city’s history.

“Kingsport has a rich, vibrant history and I’m really looking forward to observing the 200th anniversary of our first charter as a municipality,” Mayor Shull said.

Additional activities will include selfie opportunities in a real, historically accurate stagecoach in the Bank Barn, a display of original historical documents important to the city, and presentations by storytellers who will share fascinating facts about the Inn and its individual rooms.

The Netherland Inn, the oldest historic site in Kingsport, rose above the Holston River between 1802 and 1808 as a point from which William King of Saltville, Va., could ship salt and other commodities westward. The building didn’t become an inn until 1818, when King sold it to Richard Netherland, who established the inn and tavern for those traveling the Old Stage Road. Presidents Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, and James K. Polk are among the many guests who reportedly stayed at the Inn during its early years.

The Bank Barn
The Netherland Inn

“The Netherland Inn is a prime example of an American frontier settlement and stands today as a testament to its importance to Kingsport’s history,” said City Archivist Brianne Wright. “Its location in the boatyard district and its placement on the Old Stage Road made it the epicenter of early Kingsport life. If not for the Netherland Inn, Kingsport may have looked very different.”

Log Cabin Children’s Museum and Schoolhouse

Among the other buildings located on the Inn site is the Log Cabin Children’s Museum and Schoolhouse, featuring children’s toys of the 18th and 19th centuries. The cabin, believed to have been occupied by Daniel Boone from 1773-1775, was originally located along Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Trail in Virginia.

From the early 1800s to the 1920s or 1930s, the Bank Barn, also located near the Inn, provided a stable and a location for making repairs on stagecoaches and wagons. While the current building is a reconstruction, portions of the original limestone foundation are still visible.

During the Civil War, Kingsport, like many other cities across the country, lost its charter due to the ensuing economic downturn. The city was finally rechartered in 1917.

Another opportunity to support the oldest historic site in the city will be the Inn’s annual Lo’Country Boil on Aug. 13 from 6–10 p.m. at the Kingsport Farmer’s Market, 308 Clinchfield St. Tickets are $60 per person, and sponsorships are available. All proceeds will be used to improve and maintain the Inn.

To learn more, visit the Netherland Inn’s website or Facebook page.