The 6 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Jonesborough, Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee Hills Distillery is the dream and vision of our founder, Stephen Callahan. The distillery is located in Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town, and housed in the very historic Salt House building which was constructed in the1840s and used to store salt during the Civil War era. The building has gone through a very rigorous renovation process and provides the perfect venue for any tourist visiting Jonesborough. While at the distillery, visitors have the opportunity to witness every aspect of our liquor making process such as mashing/fermenting to the final distillation in our hand-made copper stills that were built by the fellas at Tennessee Hills Distillery, as well as our bottling and packaging processes. The facility also provides a tasting bar that will allow our customers and tourist to experience and purchase all of our Tennessee Hills products.

The International Storytelling Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of people around the world through the arts of storytelling. The Center’s campus includes the 14,000 square foot Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall, surrounded by a three-acre park. The Hall includes a state of the art performance theater, Gift Shop and additional rooms available for rent for weddings, receptions, business meetings and seminars. ISC’s flagship event, the National Storytelling Festival occurs annually during the first weekend of every October, it is the oldest and most prestigious event of its kind in the world, and ignited the modern day storytelling revival in America. Programming at the center also includes the renowned teller-in-residence (TIR) series, which boasts a 26 week lineup of nationally-known storytellers in Jonesborough, Tennessee—the storytelling capital of the world.

Located in the heart of downtown Jonesborough, the Chester Inn Museum chronicles the history of Jonesborough from its inception in 1779 to the present. The museum is located on the street level of the oldest commercial building in town. Exhibits include information on the State of Franklin, a diorama of Jonesborough in the 1850s, the history of the Chester Inn, the 1873 cholera epidemic, and much more! Activities for kids include a coloring book and museum scavenger hunt. We have rotating exhibits, so make sure you check back with us often. January - February - open by appointment only March - April - Mon, Fri, Sat 11-6, Sun 1-5 May - Oct - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat 11-6, Sun 1-5 Nov - Dec - Mon, Fri, Sat 11-6, Sun 1-5 Join us on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 P.M. for History Happy Hour!