Self-Guided Visit
Self-Guided Cemetery Walk
Wander the city's oldest cemetery to find the graves of James White, William Blount, Hugh Lawson White, and other early Knoxvillians.
- Duration:
- 45 min
Cemetery / Burial Ground
First Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Knoxville's oldest cemetery (platted 1795, with burials likely from the early 1790s) holding the graves of city founder James White and territorial governor William Blount; long believed locally to be haunted.
620 State Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free public cemetery; donations to First Presbyterian welcome
Access
Limited Access
Historic cemetery with uneven ground and stone steps
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1795 · Oldest cemetery in Knoxville, platted 1795 with earlier burials · Burial site of William Blount, James White, Hugh Lawson White, and Samuel Carrick · Roughly one-tenth of marked graves date to the 1838 yellow fever epidemic · Final burial 1879; cemetery preserved by First Presbyterian Church · Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1996)
James White, Knoxville's founder, worked with surveyor Charles McClung in 1791 to plat the new town and reserve space for a church and cemetery. While the cemetery was not officially platted until 1795, burials likely occurred earlier, and many graves were already in place by 1799. The cemetery sits adjacent to 620 State Street in downtown Knoxville next to First Presbyterian Church.
Notable burials include territorial governor William Blount, James White himself, U.S. senator and 1836 presidential candidate Hugh Lawson White, church founder and first Blount College president Samuel Carrick, and U.S. senator John Williams. The 1838 yellow fever epidemic proved particularly deadly: approximately one-tenth of marked graves date to that single year.
The cemetery formally operated until 1857, though the final burial occurred in 1879. After that, it was preserved as a historic graveyard rather than an active burying ground. The site is now maintained by First Presbyterian Church and is open to the public during daylight hours.
First Presbyterian Church Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 4, 1996, and is widely considered one of Knoxville's most important historic-preservation properties.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presbyterian_Church_Cemetery
- https://www.fpcknox.org/graveyard-at-first-presbyterian
- https://www.visitknoxville.com/blog/post/haunted-places-in-knoxville/
Feeling of being watched among the headstonesUnexplained cold spotsOccasional shadow figures (per ghost-tour reports)
First Presbyterian Church Cemetery has held a haunted reputation in Knoxville for more than a century. The most frequently cited piece of evidence is a young Adolph S. Ochs (later publisher of the New York Times) who worked as a printer's devil at the Knoxville Chronicle in the 1870s. According to multiple regional histories, Ochs preferred to remain at the print shop until daylight rather than walk past First Presbyterian Cemetery after dark; this extended overnight presence reportedly helped him master the printing trades early in his career.
The cemetery is a stop on multiple downtown Knoxville ghost walking tours, including the US Ghost Adventures Knoxville Ghost Tour, and is sometimes associated with the spirit of Abner Baker. Visitor reports collected by ghost-tour operators describe a general feeling of being watched, unexplained cold spots, and occasional shadow figures among the headstones.
Because the cemetery contains the graves of so many of Knoxville's founding families and a substantial cluster of 1838 yellow-fever victims, ghost-tour material commonly anchors the haunted reputation to the unusual concentration of early Knoxville deaths. Specific named-witness modern paranormal accounts are limited in published sources, but the Ochs anecdote and the cemetery's continued role in Knoxville ghost tourism make this one of the city's most enduring spirits-of-place locations.
Notable Entities
Abner Baker (associated spirit per local lore)Spirits of 1838 yellow-fever victims (collective)
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Walking Tour Booking Required
Knoxville Ghost Tour Stop
Featured stop on multiple downtown Knoxville ghost walking tours, covering the cemetery's lore and the young Adolph Ochs anecdote.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is First Presbyterian Church Cemetery family-friendly?
Family-friendly historic cemetery; please treat the site respectfully and walk only on paths. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit First Presbyterian Church Cemetery?
Free public cemetery; donations to First Presbyterian welcome This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is First Presbyterian Church Cemetery wheelchair accessible?
First Presbyterian Church Cemetery has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Historic cemetery with uneven ground and stone steps.