The City of Maryville and the historic Sam Houston Schoolhouse will host a day of celebration Saturday, March 19 surrounding the unveiling of a statue commemorating famous Tennessee governor, honorary Cherokee citizen and Texas forefather Sam Houston. The festivities include the statue unveiling ceremony March 19 at 10:30 a.m. at the Maryville Municipal Building and a celebration on the Schoolhouse grounds beginning at 1:30 p.m.
The statue will reside in front of the Maryville Municipal building at the corner of Broadway and Lamar Alexander Parkway. The ceremony will include remarks from Sam Houston’s great-great granddaughter, a leader from the Cherokee Nation, mayors from Ireland and Texas, and Maryville Mayor Tom Taylor. The Sam Houston Elementary School choir will honor the school’s namesake with an original song.
“We are excited to unveil this reflection of art and history,” said City of Maryville Councilman Joe Swann. “Sam Houston is one of America’s most celebrated and interesting historical figures who has quite a story to tell. The unveiling of Houston’s statue in our downtown area, accompanied by important representatives from Texas and beyond, will culminate the long-awaited recognition of Maryville and Blount County’s most famous historical resident. ”
Donations to support the completion of the statue can be sent to the City of Maryville through March 30. Interested contributors can contact the city at (865) 273-3401.
Other events are planned in conjunction with the unveiling celebration. After the unveiling of the statue, a reception will be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Sam Houston Schoolhouse, where Houston taught in the early 1800s. Attendees will listen to live music, enjoy historic tales and learn about the hidden history of Sam Houston.
Ruby Tuesday Lodge will host a private reception Friday, March 18 for special guests from around the country and abroad. The lodge has a block of rooms available to the public for the weekend. Rooms can be booked by calling (865) 981-9800 or visiting www.rtlodge.com.
The Texas Center for Regional Studies is offering a weekend-long Sam Houston Tour, which begins March 17 and lasts through March 21. Guests will visit historic sites in Dayton, Tenn., attend the unveiling ceremony and related celebrations and explore noteworthy locations such as Fort Loudoun, the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and the Tellico Blockhouse. Interested participants can register by March 10 at www.samtrail.net.
Those interested in more information about the unveiling event can contact the City of Maryville at (865) 273-3401. For information about the Sam Houston Schoolhouse event, (865) 983-1550.