Right here in Blount County, tucked along Sam Houston Schoolhouse Road, sits one of the most interesting little buildings in all of Tennessee. It is a small log cabin, not much bigger than your living room, and over 200 years ago, a teenager named Sam Houston stood inside and taught his first students. Today, you can visit it yourself and step back in time.

What Is the Sam Houston Schoolhouse?

The Sam Houston Schoolhouse is a restored one-room log school where Sam Houston taught in 1812. Houston was just 18 years old at the time, barely older than a high schooler today. He had run away from home to live with the Cherokee (who adopted him and gave him the name "The Raven"), and when he came back, he needed a way to make money. So he became a teacher.

He charged each student eight dollars per year. Students could pay with cash, corn, or cotton cloth since money was not always easy to come by on the frontier. About 20 students attended, ranging from young children to teenagers.

Where Is It?

The schoolhouse is located at 3650 Sam Houston Schoolhouse Road, Maryville, TN 37804. It is a short drive from downtown Maryville. The site includes the schoolhouse itself, a small museum and visitor center, and peaceful grounds with picnic areas. There is no admission fee, though donations are welcome.

What to See

The Schoolhouse: The log cabin has been carefully preserved. Inside, you will see: - A simple fireplace for heat (imagine learning in winter with only a fireplace!) - Wooden benches where students sat - A teacher desk area where Houston would have stood - The cabin is small, which helps kids understand what a one-room school really meant: all ages, all subjects, one room, one teacher

The Visitor Center: This small museum has displays about Sam Houston life, from his time in Blount County to his incredible career: - He became governor of Tennessee - He lived with the Cherokee Nation and advocated for their rights - He moved to Texas and led the fight for Texas independence - He became the president of the Republic of Texas - He later became governor of Texas - He is one of the only people in American history to be governor of two different states

The Grounds: The property is peaceful and shaded. Take time to walk around, sit under the trees, and imagine what this area looked like in 1812. There were no paved roads, no cars, no electricity. Students walked or rode horses to get here.

Before Your Visit: Discussion Questions

Talk about these on the drive over: - What do you think school was like 200 years ago? - How is a one-room schoolhouse different from your school or homeschool? - What would it be like to have students of all ages in one room? - Would you want to pay for school with corn?

During Your Visit: Things to Think About

• Stand in the schoolhouse and look around. How many students do you think could fit in here?
• Look at the fireplace. What would it be like to study in winter with only fire for heat?
• Imagine being 18 years old and being the teacher. Would you be nervous?
• What subjects do you think Houston taught?

After Your Visit: Follow-Up Activities

For younger kids (K-2): - Draw a picture of the schoolhouse from memory - Write three sentences about what you saw - Compare your school day to what school was like in 1812

For older kids (3-5): - Write a diary entry as if you were one of Sam Houston students. What was your day like? - Research Sam Houston and create a mini-biography (one page) - Make a Venn diagram comparing a one-room schoolhouse to your learning space today - Create a timeline of Sam Houston life and mark where the Maryville schoolhouse fits

Connecting to Tennessee History

The Sam Houston Schoolhouse helps us understand several big ideas: - Frontier life: Education happened even on the rough frontier. People valued learning. - Tennessee connections to national history: A young man who taught school in Maryville went on to shape the history of the entire country. - How education has changed: From one-room cabins with 20 students to modern schools and homeschools.

This little cabin is proof that big things can start in small places. And it all happened right here in our community.