305 William Blount: The Man and His Mansion
History | Available (Membership Required)
Occasionally referred to as Tennessee’s “founding scoundrel,” William Blount signed the U.S. Constitution and played a leading role in creating the new state of Tennessee, but ended his career in ignominy, deeply in debt and facing trial as the first impeached federal official in U.S. history.
Blount’s circa 1792 home still stands on the north bank of the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville, a testament to this complex man and his bygone age. It is Knox County’s only National Historic Landmark.
In this single-session class, historian and author Michael Jordan, who worked as Blount Mansion’s public relations director for several years and recently authored the museum’s official guidebook, will share the compelling story of the man and his mansion.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is a storyteller who loves to dig into the history of places where he lives and share with others the stories he unearths. Michael is the creator of more than 30 historical films and the author of 5 local history books. He is a former television journalist and freelance war correspondent who moved with his family from Savannah, GA to Knoxville a decade ago. Since then, Michael has worked at the public relations director at a National Historic Landmark Museum and is now a fundraiser for WUOT, the public radio station broadcast from Knoxville and Oak Ridge.