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Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings

	ROCKY MOUNT Tennessee
Washington County, on U.S. 11E, about 5 miles northwest of Johnson City. Rocky Mount Museum

Rocky Mount, built about 1770 by William Cobb, was one of the first homes in Tennessee and served for a time as the residence of William Blount, Governor of the Southwest Territory. Blount arrived in present Tennessee late in 1790 and set up temporary headquarters in Cobb's log house. For 18 months Rocky Mount served as temporary capitol of the Territory. In the summer of 1791 Blount founded Knoxville, where he constructed a permanent residence. Rocky Mount subsequently served as a stopping place on the stagecoach line from Baltimore, Md., to Memphis, Tenn. Andrew Jackson, a relative of Cobb's, once spent 6 weeks at the house, while waiting for his license to practice law in Jonesboro. From 1838 to 1847 the house served as a U.S. post office.

The State of Tennessee purchased Rocky Mount and in 1959 authorized the Rocky Mount Historical Association to restore and maintain it. It is a two-story structure of white oak logs. The logs are hewn, notched, and chinked with clay. One large hipped chimney of brick stands in an ell at the back of the house. The large fireplaces, mantels, and woodwork are of pine. The stairway and front door are paneled. The house is furnished with period pieces and several of Cobb's possessions. Reconstructed kitchen and scullery buildings stand on the grounds, as does a brick museum containing exhibits of pioneer life in Tennessee. Rocky Mount is open to the public.