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Tourism - Attractions & Lodging

Long known as a hub for tourism in the region, Johnson City is imbued with history, culture and recreation. The community is bursting with a wealth of historic sites and living history museums, world-class theatre and expansive state parks—leading to the question most heard, “What to do first?”

Part of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at ETSU, the B. Carroll Reece Memorial Museum houses a vast historical collection depicting the history of Johnson City, Washington County and the surrounding area, along with the Art Department’s permanent collection of fine artwork. ETSU also houses the Archives of Appalachia, a collection of written documentation, images and sounds portraying life in Appalachia from the 1700s to the present day.

Opened in August 2007, the ETSU and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum and Visitor Center at the Gray Fossil site covers more than five acres of space dedicated to promoting the awareness, interpretation and preservation of the biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians. Interactive exhibits line the walls of the museum, with on-going scientific research and a range of curriculum-based educational programming a mainstay. The museum has the world’s largest collection of fossil tapirs, along with a significant deposit of shovel-tusked elephant, alligator, saber-toothed cat, short-faced bear, Eurasian badger, rhino and the world’s only nearly complete fossil red panda.

Kids and families take pleasure in the exciting, interactive entertainment offered through the Hands On! Regional Museum in Johnson City. Selected as the best museum in the region by readers of Marquee Magazine, guests enjoy more than 20 permanent hands-on exhibits, traveling exhibits, events, camps, workshops and numerous programs designed to stimulate the discovery and understanding in the areas of arts, sciences and humanities.

The Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site is composed of 11 structures relaying the state’s history, from the era of early settlement to the times of the Civil War. In addition to the log cabin of Col. John Tipton and its outbuildings is the Museum and Education Center, which houses both permanent and temporary exhibit space, educational space, a museum shop, and a library and archive.

For some of the area’s spookier history, Appalachian GhostWalks Ghost and History Tours offers lantern-led tours to various locations throughout the area, all the while listening to spine-tingling stories of real history and real ghosts of the Tri-Cities by professionally certified ghost hunters.

The artistic side of Johnson City can be found through such local gems as the Boones Creek Potters Gallery and the Nelson Fine Art Center, which both feature various collections and exhibitions from regional, national and international artisans and artists.

The Johnson City Community Theater is regarded as one of the state’s oldest community theaters. Since its establishment in 1924, the theater has produced innumerable musicals, comedies, dramas and mysteries. ETSU’s Division of Theater is another fine place for live theater productions, music concerts and further year-round entertainment.

Visitors, whether in town on business or leisure, are sure to enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep at one of the area’s quality lodging facilities. More than 1,700 guestrooms are available in the area, which range from economical accommodations to elegant suites—some complete with spacious conference centers as well. One of the city’s most recognized hotels is the Carnegie Hotel, a landmark structure full of more than 100 years of history that recently received AAA designation as a Four-Diamond property.


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