Tennessee's second-oldest town, founded in 1786, preserves a remarkable concentration of antebellum commercial and residential architecture on its tree-lined main street and surrounding blocks. The Rogers Ridge historic district features over 30 buildings on the National Register, including the 1836 Hawkins County Courthouse, Hale Springs Inn, and a Cherokee newspaper printing office site. A self-guided walking tour brochure available at the depot visitor center covers the major landmarks.