Welcome to the Rhea County Historical Society

Welcome to the Rhea County Historical Society—where the story of our community is preserved, interpreted, and shared with purpose. For generations, Rhea County has been a place of faith, industry, courage, controversy, and quiet perseverance. From early frontier settlements to the Scopes Trial, from river commerce to rural classrooms, our history is rich with moments that shaped not only our county, but our state and nation. It is our mission to ensure that these stories are not forgotten, but faithfully remembered and thoughtfully told.

The Rhea County Historical Society exists to preserve, document, and promote the heritage of Rhea County, Tennessee. We safeguard original records, photographs, artifacts, family histories, and oral traditions that connect present generations to those who came before. Through careful research and responsible stewardship, we make these materials accessible to genealogists, students, scholars, and everyday citizens who simply want to know more about the place they call home. History is not merely nostalgia—it is identity, memory, and truth.

For decades, our Society has served as the trusted authority on Rhea County history. Long before social media posts and internet searches, our members were collecting documents, interviewing elders, restoring cemeteries, publishing research, and advocating for the protection of historic landmarks. Our quarterly publication, Rhea Notes, has provided carefully researched articles and primary-source documentation that continue to guide researchers today. When questions arise about our county’s past, it is to the Society’s archives and scholarship that people turn.

But our work extends beyond preservation. We believe history should be living and accessible. Through public programs, publications, partnerships, and special projects, we strive to bring the past into meaningful conversation with the present. Whether through the restoration of historic sites, the digitization of fragile records, educational presentations, or collaborative community efforts, we seek to cultivate a deeper understanding of how yesterday shapes today.

We do this work because Rhea County’s story matters. Every courthouse record, family Bible, weathered headstone, and fading photograph represents a life once lived and a story worth telling. In a rapidly changing world, preserving local history anchors us. It reminds us who we are, what we have endured, and what we are capable of building together. Our heritage is not something to be passively inherited—it is something to be actively protected.

This new collection of historical writings represents the continued commitment of our members to research, scholarship, and public education. Here you will find new discoveries, timeless articles from past editions of Rhea Notes, thoughtful columns from our County Historian, Pat Guffey, and ongoing explorations into the people, places, and events that define our county. We invite you not only to read, but to participate—to join us in preserving Rhea County’s past for future generations.

If you value truth, heritage, and community, we welcome you. Become a member. Attend a program. Share your family stories. Support our mission. Together, we ensure that the history of Rhea County is not only remembered—but faithfully stewarded for generations to come.

President Jacob Ellis and Vice President B.B. Blevins pose next to a recently dedicated Revolutionary War veteran grave in Rhea County.