Maryville in Blount County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

John Craig's Fort

Photographed by Judith Barber, August 16, 2012

1. John Craig's Fort Marker

Inscription. Site of the original settlement of Maryville. Here Captain John Craig in 1785 erected a fort on Pistol Creek to protect settlers from Indian raids. In 1793 as many as 280 men, women, and children lived within its walls for several months, surviving an attack by 500 Indians. New Providence Presbyterian Church was organized here in 1786 by the Reverend Archibald Scott.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1 E 100.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1785.

Location. 35° 45.524′ N, 83° 57.956′ W. Marker is in Maryville, Tennessee, in Blount County. It is at the intersection of South Washington Street (State Highway 35) and Sevierville Road, on the right when traveling south on South Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Maryville TN 37804, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee,

in the Great Smoky Mountains,

and in Greater Knoxville.

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,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Craig Fort - 1785 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Broadway Bell (approx. ¼ mile away); The New Broadway Bell

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Founders Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Maryville College (approx. 0.3 miles away); Blount County War Dead Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Blount County Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); “Battle of the Bulge” World War II Veterans of Blount County (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maryville.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, August 27, 2017

2. John Craig's Fort Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, August 27, 2017

3. John Craig's Fort Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2012, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 2,996 times since then and 166 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 27, 2012, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. 2, 3. submitted on August 28, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.