Craighead Jackson House

The Craighead-Jackson House’s brick-laden exterior holds a terrible secret. A young girl was burned to death here in a tragic accident. This servant of the Jackson family perished in the flames, and now her spirit angrily reminds visitors of her fiery end. 

While the historic 1818 two-story Federalist-style building appears unassuming, another remnant of Knoxville’s early days, the reality is far more grave. A spirit resides here and one that died in a most terrible condition, creating the perfect environment for paranormal enthusiasts.

The walls, now carefully maintained by the Blount Mansion Association, tell the story of Knoxville’s past. A story that US Ghost Adventures tells in full detail on our Knoxville Ghost tour, the number one ghost tour in The Marble City. The violent stories of the 19th century, starkly outlining the tepid history of America, come alive every night with our experienced tour guides.

Take a journey with us as we explore the Craighead-Jackson House, your first stop on our tour of haunted Knoxville. Be sure to book your haunted Knoxville Ghost tour as soon as you plan to visit! 

Read on to learn the haunted history of the Craighead-Jackson House. 

Craighead-Jackson House History

John Craighead, son of Capt. Robert Brown Craighead moved to Knoxville with this family sometime around 1789. He and his family were among the first settlers to live in Knoxville, with Fort Knox being established in 1786. 

In 1791, the area was renamed Knoxville, after Secretary of War John Knox, becoming the capital of the newly formed Southwest Territory. John Craighead quickly became a public figure, both politically and religiously. 

He served as City Alderman in 1824 and was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. In 1818, Craighead purchased Lot 15 and built his future, the magnificent two-story Federalist-style building we see today. 

The Craighead family continued to live here after John’s death in 1846, eventually selling the home to Confederate Congressman William Swan. Swan lived here for a short period while he served a brief term as Knoxville’s Mayor.

Eventually, Swan would go on to create East Knoxville, a section of town that was later annexed by the city, and the home was sold to Dr. George Jackson before the outbreak of the Civil War. 

Renovations of the Craighead-Jackson House

George Jackson only enjoyed the home’s beautiful layout for a few short years, passing away in 1861. His family remained here until 1885, when they sold the house to Caspar Aebli, a Swiss immigrant who died in 1914. His family continued to live here, giving the house its first major renovation until WW2 when the historic home was turned into apartments. 

The home was poorly maintained and fell into disrepair during this period. In 1957, it was purchased by the city of Knoxville and later acquired by the Blount Mansion Association in 1962. 

The association used it as a visitor center for the Blount Mansion, another historic and haunted home across the street, until the 1990s. It then became a storage center for archival records and an office space. 

In 2019, a $75,000 renovation project was greenlit with the help of local philanthropists, the Boyd Family. The project was completed in 2021 and included the construction of 13 new windows, a new kitchen, bathroom, new floors, and a full replastering.

It now operates as a museum, allowing guests to tour the 19th-century home for an iconic view into the past.