Discover Greene through its history and nature: historic homes, museums, and a memorial site offer different insights into the past; at Paint Creek, waterfalls, water activities, and trails take center stage. Planning requirements also vary—from set tour times to routes with stream crossings.
Greeneville: Presidential History and Walking Tours
At Andrew Johnson's Early Home, panels provide information about Andrew Johnson's education, his escape, his arrival in Greeneville, the beginnings of his family, and the rise of his political career. At the Andrew Johnson Homestead at 209 South Main Street, tours are held at 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 15:00 during park hours. The schedule may vary depending on staffing.
More than 2,000 gravestones mark the grounds of Andrew Johnson National Cemetery. Veterans of conflicts ranging from the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War to World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War, as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan, are buried there. The cemetery adds a different perspective on history to visits to historic homes.
The Dickson-Williams Mansion was completed in 1821. It is an example of the Federal style, which was common from 1780 to 1830—so its construction date falls within that period. Main Street Greeneville offers a 90-minute tour of the mansion led by trained professional interpreters. A Walk with the President also lasts 90 minutes. This walking tour passes historic churches and homes, Old Harmony Cemetery, and Tennessee's oldest jail. Its schedule is seasonal; check the dates for your visit.
Museums, the Mural Trail, and Historic Bridges
The Doak House Museum collects, interprets, preserves, and displays university-related artifacts dating back to 1794, items from the Doak family from 1830 to 1860, and educational and religious artifacts and documents from northeastern Tennessee. New forest trails beside the museum lead to the center of the Tusculum University campus. Admission to the Greeneville-Greene County History Museum is free.
Greeneville's Mural Trail celebrates local history and highlights products and people who have made Greeneville known beyond the region. Bridges also tell the story of the area: the Bible Covered Bridge was built in 1923 over Little Chuckey Creek at a ford connecting the Bible Farm with Warrensburg Road; in 1975, it was designated a historic structure. The Mural Trail and the bridge thus offer different focuses—public murals on the one hand, and a historic crossing on the other.
Riverside Scenery and Trails at Paint Creek
David Crockett Birthplace State Park includes a living 18th-century farm and covers 105 acres. It lies just upstream of the waterfalls on the scenic Nolichucky River. As of the notice dated January 6, 2026, the park had been closed since September 2024 due to extensive flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Check whether its status has changed before visiting.
Paint Creek Recreation Area lies in a mountain hollow along Paint Creek at an elevation of 1,760 feet and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of Cherokee National Forest. Kelly Falls can be seen along Forest Road 41 at Paint Creek as a 15-foot cascade. Swimming, wading, and fly-fishing are possible at Paint Creek; the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency stocks it with rainbow trout throughout the summer. Paint Mountain Trail No. 7 begins within walking distance of Paint Creek Campground.
Pete's Branch Trail #12 passes through Horse Creek Recreation Area in Greene County to the 45-foot-high Pete's Branch Falls. The route covers 1.2 miles on forest roads and 0.6 miles on the trail, as well as four stream crossings. The falls are best seen during wet seasons. Since trail conditions can change, check current conditions ahead of time.
Cycling with Civil War History
Cycling is possible along the Paint Creek corridor toward Hot Springs, North Carolina. The Bridge Burners' Civil War Bike Ride is rated easy and starts at the cemetery and monument on Pottertown Road. The Lick Creek Railroad Bridge can be seen on the Greene County Civil War Bike Ride. It was burned down on the morning of November 9, 1861, by soldiers of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad. The routes thus combine different cycling options with specific historical connections.
Discover more destinations: Greeneville, Baileyton, Marion County, Sullivan, Obion County, Unicoi County, Washington County, Mcnairy County.
For the main travel overview: Tennessee.
