National Register of Historic Places

Brabson's Ferry Plantation

Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee
Listed
June 24, 1975
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
75001780

About this property

Brabson's Ferry Plantation is a Pioneer Century farm and former antebellum plantation near Sevierville, Tennessee. Located at what was once a strategic crossing of the French Broad River, by 1860 the plantation had become one of the largest in East Tennessee and one of the few in the region that rivalled the large plantations of the Deep South in size and influence. The farm remains in operation, and several of its structures—including two plantation houses and an 18th-century plank house—have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. John Brabson II (1773–1848) established Brabson's Ferry Plantation after purchasing the plantation's namesake ferry in 1798, and he acquired the surrounding fertile farmland over subsequent decades. Brabson's sons continued operating the plantation after his death and established a business that catered to the ferry's traffic. As the Brabsons supported the Confederacy during the U.S. Civil War, their plantation was looted by Sevier County Unionists, and toward the end of the war most members of the family were forced to flee. Several eventually returned, however, and by the end of the 19th century they had rebuilt the plantation and ferry. The Brabson family still owns and manages the farm.

Location

Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee
35.92956, -83.65108

Categories

INDUSTRYAGRICULTUREARTMILITARYTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church
Industrial
0.7 mi
Wheatlands
Early Republic
1.2 mi
Buckingham House (Additional Documentation)
Early Republic
1.4 mi
Newman, Capt. James, House
Industrial
3.2 mi
Seven Islands Methodist Church (Additional Documentation)
Civil War
3.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Fair Garden
1864Civil War
2.6 mi
Fair Garden Tennessee
1864Civil War
4 mi
Battle of Fair Garden Tennessee
1864Civil War
5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Brabson's Ferry Plantation listed on the National Register?

Brabson's Ferry Plantation was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 24, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Brabson's Ferry Plantation?

Brabson's Ferry Plantation is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Brabson's Ferry Plantation?

The period of significance for Brabson's Ferry Plantation is recorded as the listed era.

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