Harriman: Historic Sites, Culture, and River Activities

Harriman combines historic architecture, cultural attractions, and activities on the Emory River. If you’re looking for a hotel in Harriman, you can plan your stay around the aspects that interest you most: local history, events, stargazing, or time on the water. These different themes give your search a specific connection to what you’d like to experience in the city.

History and Architecture in Harriman

The Roane Street Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It lies mainly along Roane Street (US/TN Highway 29) in the heart of Harriman’s Central Business District. The district is primarily commercial and also includes several government buildings. The city’s history is reflected here in an area with both commercial and civic character.

The historic Harriman Public Library building features a Greek Revival-style interior. Details include gilded, embossed columns, elegant oak arches, and a portrait of Andrew Carnegie above the east fireplace. The library is considered a historic landmark that honors the entrepreneurial spirit and culture of the people of Harriman, Tennessee.

The origins of the Historic Carnegie Library in Harriman date to efforts by Mrs. Robert F. Armstrong, Mayor Claude E. Hendrick, and the City Council to secure a $10,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation in 1909. Those early efforts and the architectural features described today offer different ways to explore the library’s history: its beginnings and the design of its historic building.

Cornstalk Heights is also characterized by historic architecture. Many Victorian homes still stand there, built by wealthy residents in the 1890s and early 1900s. These homes represent a different aspect of Harriman’s architectural history from the primarily commercial Roane Street Commercial Historic District.

Culture, Events, and Astronomy

The Princess Theatre hosts concerts, movies, dance performances, community events, and educational programs. Its offerings range from stage and film programs to community and educational events. If you’d like to shape your stay around culture, you’ll find a variety of offerings at this named venue.

The Harriman Heritage Museum displays a wide selection of artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia related to Harriman’s past. The collection offers another way to explore the city’s history through tangible and photographic records.

The public is invited to stargazing sessions, short courses, and seminars on general astronomy topics at the Tamke-Allan Observatory. The facility includes a classroom, two domes, and several optical and radio telescopes. The Observatory thus combines public activities with the spaces and instruments available at the facility.

The “Cornstalk Heights Hauntings of Historic Harriman” walking tours take place during the fall season; exact dates may vary. Their seasonal nature sets these walks apart from the year-round themes of architecture and local history. If a tour is important to your travel plans, check the dates for your intended visit.

Birdwatching and Activities on the Emory River

The Gupton Wetlands are located within the TVA-owned Lakeshore Park and are considered a birdwatching area. For nature enthusiasts, this offers a different focus from Harriman’s historic buildings and cultural attractions: here, the emphasis is on birdwatching.

In summer, concerts by the Babahatchie Band and movie nights take place in a park on the banks of the Emory River. Dates may vary. If you’d like to include one of these events in your trip, coordinate your plans with the event dates.

Boating, fishing, swimming, and paddling are possible on the Emory River. These activities differ from birdwatching in the Gupton Wetlands and offer additional options for planning your trip. Water conditions and safety requirements vary; keep this in mind when choosing an activity on the river.

Discover more destinations: Kingston, Rockwood.

For the broader travel overview: Roane County.