Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Patrick Sullivan's Saloon

Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 31, 2018

1. Patrick Sullivan's Saloon Marker

Inscription. Irish immigrant Patrick Sullivan (1841-1925), came to Knoxville with his family in the 1850s to work on the new railroad. Sullivan, a Union veteran, established his first bar near this spot soon after the Civil War, and built this larger, grander building in 1888. Its conspicuous architecture stood out among the approximately 40 saloons that lined the Central Street "Bowery." Unusual in its era, Sullivan's served both blacks and whites, men and women. It closed when Knoxville voted to ban saloons in 1907, but survived as a cafe and ice-cream parlor run by the Italian Armetta family. The building reopened as a renovated restaurant/saloon in 1988.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 35° 58.236′ N, 83° 55.103′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. It is at the intersection of East Jackson Street and North Central Street, on the left when traveling east on East Jackson Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 North Central Street, Knoxville TN 37902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vinnies Italian Restaurant (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Richard Clarke (about 700 feet away); The Midday Merry-Go-Round

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Uncle Dave Macon (approx. 0.2 miles away); C. Kermit “Buck” Ewing (approx. 0.2 miles away); Charlie Oaks (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hubris Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cal Fackler Johnson (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Patrick Sullivan's Saloon and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 31, 2018

2. Patrick Sullivan's Saloon and Marker

Patrick Sullivan's Saloon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald

3. Patrick Sullivan's Saloon

Photograph in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Image taken between 1980 and 2006.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2018. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 2,781 times since then and 212 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 12, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.