Whether you have lived here all your life or are visiting for the first time, it does not take long to realize that East Tennessee is a special place. It is a land of verdant mountains and valleys, a land where the progress of the Tennessee Valley Authority, atomic energy facilities, and a state university blend with generations-old traditions to create a cherished way of life. To truly know East Tennessee today, though, you must first explore its past. And, the East Tennessee Historical Society invites you to do just that