This place was interesting. When you first arrive, you are seated in a small room at a table to watch a LONG video. They tell you that you can leave at any time. We watched the video for maybe half an hour. It was pretty interesting. I had never heard of Sam Houston, so his story was all new to me. There's a lot to see museum-wise in that same room and an adjoining room. After that, we could walk outside to see and, yes, go into the schoolhouse. This place is only $5/person, and we felt it was worth the visit.

Best (Surprise) history of a COLORFUL Leader in a lush flower/spring/country area! It cost $5 each to enjoy the visitor center featuring a three ( yes Three) our video of which we watched half, but it was riveting! Sam Houston had a challenging childhood, left home at 16 and lived on an island with Cherokee Indians for three years, we had no idea he was an alcoholic, bipolar, married three times (1 was a woman from the reservation that he didn’t officially marry). He was BFF with Andrew Jackson, learned how to lance and drain his own war wounds, & of course, as we know was an incredibly brave soldier, leader, rebel-rouser & later the father of eight amazing kids. The grounds are spectacular in beauty, quiet, and even a natural spring with meandering foot paths. You can’t actually walk into the school house as a chain prohibits you from entering, but you can see in from 3 sides. Surprisingly, it’s only like 15 minutes max from the Knoxville airport so do have our time as this was one of the best history museums we’ve been in. Clean bathrooms and they sell knickknacks & a very sweet woman with agreed southern draw was so kind.

We were visiting in this area and saw signs for the schoolhouse and thought it might be of interest. When we arrived we found adequate parking and walked into the visitor center which is also a museum, gift shop and research center. We spent about an hour watching a video about the life of Sam Houston. The video is actually about three hours long. Afterward, we walked to the schoolhouse and went inside where we found the teacher’s desk, benches and a fireplace. This site is worth a visit if you are in the area and have an interest in history.

What a wonderful little place to visit! Not only will you get a very important history lesson on the video (watch as long as you'd like), but you may be so tuned in that you'll spend a good hour and a half like we did, but the gift shop and museum area will keep you entertained as well. When you make your way out to the grounds you'll be met with a beautiful archway and well manicured landscaping. The schoolhouse itself will have you believing that you've actually stepped back in time as you sit on one of the benches with those children under the instruction of Sam Houston himself!

Visited in April 2021. This is a great historical site for the history buff. It is on the original site of the schoolhouse where Sam Houston taught for a brief period as a young man. The visitor center is small, but there are a few unique artifacts.