The Carter Mansion, built circa 1780, is the oldest frame structure in Tennessee and one of the oldest European-built structures west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The frontier-era home of John Carter — a Watauga Association leader key to early American westward settlement — is now a state historic site featuring guided tours and period furnishings. The two-story Georgian structure survives remarkably intact and provides an extraordinary window into 18th-century frontier life. A must-visit for American history enthusiasts.