Mabry-Hazen House

06/18/2026

Join us tomorrow and Saturday to hear stories of historic emancipation and triumph from struggle in the lives of the enslaved at Mabry-Hazen House!

In honor of Juneteenth, we will be presenting our FREE tour series on Friday at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM, and on Saturday at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

We are excited to include new research discoveries through stories about the Franklins–a family who the Mabrys enslaved, but the Franklins gained freedom when the Union army arrived in the late summer of 1863. They then directly contributed to the downfall of slavery in Knoxville.
..And Then I Became Free: Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House is part of our New Birth of Freedom Summer Series and America 250th programming. More details about our Juneteenth tours at: https://www.mabryhazen.com/event/juneteenth

06/17/2026

As we prepare for our "...And Then I Became Free: Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House" tours this Juneteenth, we again want to share why we choose terms like enslaved person, enslaver, escape, and self-emancipation over slave, master, or runaway.

Our mission at Mabry-Hazen House is to tell a complete story that honors everyone’s humanity. We aim to do this with a sense of agency for the people subjugated under enslavement, as well as the people who held them in bo***ge, while doing so in the most humanizing, honest language possible. By using terms like “enslaved person,” we recognize individuals like Eliza, Wiley, John, Rachel and others as people who were actively enslaved and denied basic freedoms by white Americans like Joseph and Laura Mabry.

This choice of words moves the emphasis of their stories from being “slaves” at the core of their existence to “enslavement” as a condition of their lives. It's their relationships, occupations, roles, and lives that define them. The story of Eliza Franklin changes from one where we talk of a slave woman owned by Laura Mabry to one where we talk about Eliza as an enslaved mother–emphasizing her as a person and a parent.

This distinction reframes the story of William, Bill, and Moses, who escaped from Joseph Mabry in December 1862. They are no longer “runaways,” but fugitives bravely seeking freedom. Children and pets run away, so that term infantilizes their choice to make a bid for freedom that carries a high risk of harm if captured.

We also choose to refer to the Mabrys as enslavers rather than “masters," emphasizing their active role in the slave system, rather than the idea that one human could actually own another or be inherently superior based on skin color.

While we may on the rare occasion still use terms like “slaveholder” or "life as a slave," our goal is to provide a richer understanding of all who lived and worked at Mabry-Hazen House, and words like "enslaved" help us tell better, truer stories.

Join us this Friday and Saturday in honoring these important stories! 🌟

More information on our Juneteenth programming can be found at www.mabryhazen.com/event/juneteenth

06/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended and made our living history program, Ride Like a Lady: Side Saddle Horseback Riding, a success this past Saturday! We had a great time doing some historical horsin' around.

This program would not be possible without The Society of Sidesaddle Storytellers ! Thank you for bringing your horses, your historical tack and outfits, and your expertise to share with our visitors.

Thanks to Jennifer Montgomery for sharing her beautiful early 1900s carriage! We also thank the Women's Suffrage Museum for outreach and awareness, and Amy Treats for delicious snacks! And, a shout-out to the Knoxville Police Department - TN for sending a mounted unit to be part of the educational program as well. We loved being able to connect the long history of horseback riding to the lives of women across time and into the modern day.

06/12/2026

It's Fun Fact Friday!

Did you know mules played a fundamental role in the Civil War and the growing agricultural economy in Tennessee during the 1860s?

Joseph Mabry was a fan of Spanish Jacks and, in 1860, he imported them to sell in Knoxville. Mules' exceptional abilities to travel long distances and survive on low-quality grains made them ideal transport animals, and both the Union and Confederate armies came to rely on them during the Civil War.

06/12/2026

Tomorrow, join us for our FREE program, Ride Like a Lady: Side Saddle Horseback Riding, a living history program on sidesaddle riding!

The Society of Sidesaddle Storytellers will be here Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 11 AM - 3 PM to share the history and practice of the riding technique and give a demonstration of sidesaddle riding on the Wanda Moody Lawn atop Mabry’s Hill!

After the demonstrations, you are welcome to come up, ask questions, say hello to the horses, and maybe feed them a carrot or two! A display will also be set up with historic equestrian equipment and objects, period dresses from different eras, and photos of famous women equestrians.

The historic house museum will be open for self-guided tours.

More information and free registration here: https://www.mabryhazen.com/sidesaddle

06/10/2026

What does freedom mean to you?

Join us next Friday, June 19th, and Saturday, June 20th, for our FREE tour series, "...And Then I Became Free": Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House, to learn about the trials and triumphs African-Americans enslaved by the Mabrys went through to gain their freedom.

In the 250 years since the nation's founding, the United States has aspired to live up to the lofty ideals expressed in our founding documents, but the great experiment was not without huge disparities in the lived experience. Although "all men are created equal" was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the reality for millions of African-Americans was far from it as the institution of slavery and racism permeated the early Republic. Through a wide range of mass and individual actions, people have continually challenged America to achieve our highest ideals—drawing on the ideas in those founding documents. Hear the different methods local African-Americans used to break down the oppressive institution of American chattel slavery and fought to gain their personal liberty in Knoxville.

Friday, June 19.
Tours are offered at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.

Saturday, June 20.
Tours are offered at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

Learn more and reserve a free tour spot: https://www.mabryhazen.com/event/juneteenth

06/10/2026

06/05/2026

Tickets for Fourth of July on Mabry's Hill are on sale!

Mabry-Hazen House is hosting an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, from 5 PM - 10 PM! Gather with us to celebrate Independence Day, the Declaration of Independence, and our community. Enjoy great views, good food and beer, live music, fun games, great company, and tours of the 1858 house museum.

General admission presale tickets are $15, youth ages 5 to 15 are $5, and our members can get 2 tickets for $10 each!

Purchase tickets: https://www.mabryhazen.com/fourthofjuly

06/03/2026

This Month at Mabry-Hazen House!

Ride Like a Lady: Join the Society of Sidesaddle Storytellers on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 11 AM - 3 PM for a FREE living history program on sidesaddle riding. Hear about the history and practice of the riding technique and see a demonstration of sidesaddle riding on the Wanda Moody Lawn atop Mabry’s Hill! https://www.mabryhazen.com/sidesaddle

And Then I Became Free: Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House: Hear stories of historic emancipation and triumph from struggle in the lives of the enslaved at Mabry-Hazen House! FREE tour series on Juneteenth (Friday, June 19) and Saturday, June 20. https://www.mabryhazen.com/event/juneteenth