Exchange Place

Exchange Place Historical Site and Living History Farm

Kingsport’s Exchange Place has been a working farm since the early 1800s. Today it is a historic treasure, depicting farm life between the 1820-1850 time period.

Exchange Place got its name because it was a place where travelers could exchange tired horses for fresh ones and exchange Virginia currency for Tennessee currency.

n Before white settlement, Native Americans occupied the area

n In 1750, Edmund Pendleton received a 3,000 acre land grant (including the property that would become Exchange Place) from British Colonial Governor Robert Dinwiddle. n Pendleton appointed his nephews, James and Thomas, as agents to sell the land in 200-acre tracts. Thomas’ grandson, John Strother Gaines, acquired the land that became known as Exchange Place. By 1820 he had established a homestead here. n In 1845, Gaines traded the property to John Montgomery Preston. Preston deeded it to his son, James, in 1847. He raised his family here before returning to Abingdon, Virginia after the Civil War. n Generations of the Preston family owned Exchange Place until 1970, when seven acres, including the main house and its dependency buildings, were donated to the Netherland Inn Association. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and developed as a living history museum.

Today Exchange Place brings east Tennessee history to life. The historic site occupies both sides of Orebank Road.

For additional information see: www.exchangeplace.info

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Exchange Place hosts the storytelling event “Witches Wynd” in late October and “Christmas in the Country” in early December. FESTIVALS

Exchange Place hosts the Spring Garden Fair in April and the Fall Folk Arts Festival in September.

(ED. NOTE: Due to changing situations with the COVID pandemic, readers are advised that some events could be postponed or cancelled. Before making a trip, call ahead to make sure.)