KNOXVILLE GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Behind the Brick Wall: A 75‑Minute Passage Through Eugenia Williams’s 1941 Regency Revival House
A guided 75‑minute tour led by Laura Still of Knoxville Walking Tours that opens the restored 1941 Eugenia Williams House and grounds to the public for the first time.
Behind the Brick Wall: A 75‑Minute Passage Through Eugenia Williams’s 1941 Regency Revival House.
Hidden for decades behind a high brick wall on Lyons View Pike, the Eugenia Williams House — a Regency Revival residence designed by John Fanz Staub and completed in 1941 — has been meticulously restored and is now accessible on a focused, 75‑minute walking tour that traces the estate’s gardens, public rooms and private suites while unfolding the life and mysteries of its owner, Eugenia Williams.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Stories of Eugenia Williams and her Knoxville
The guide places Eugenia Williams — a 1939 divorcee and heiress who lived largely alone in the house for more than 40 years — at the center of the tour, weaving accounts of visitors, local lore and the estate’s hidden moments as you move the property’s upper grounds and interior rooms.
Period rooms and original finishes
Visitors see a carefully restored living room and dining room — complete with a carved white‑marble mantelpiece and a crystal chandelier — plus the great hall, gallery, library and public entertaining spaces preserved to their 1941 condition.
Butler’s pantry, kitchen, private chambers and terrace
The tour moves through the working heart of the house — the kitchen and butler’s pantry with original appliances and finishes — then up to Eugenia’s bedroom and boudoir and down the backstairs to finish on the flagstone terrace overlooking the lower grounds and river bluff.
What the day feels like
What the tour feels like
The pace is deliberate and intimate: meet in the upper parking area, meander the gently sloping upper grounds while the guide sets the historical scene, then enter the great hall for a room‑by‑room walkthrough of entertaining spaces, service areas and private rooms before concluding on the back terrace and allowing time to explore the grounds.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who should join — and who should consider alternatives.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The tour runs 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes).
Rate is $25 per person.
Tours begin in the upper parking area and run rain or shine; plan for the weather and wear comfortable shoes for the short walk and stair access.
Meet in the upper parking area at the scheduled tour time.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the tour?
The tour is 75 minutes long.
Where do I meet for the tour?
Meet in the upper parking area.
How much does the tour cost?
The rate is $25 per person.
Are there age or mobility restrictions?
The tour is geared to ages 15 and up; portions of the building are accessible only by stairs and the route includes about a 1/4‑mile walk.
What if it rains?
Tours run rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather.
Who can I call with questions before booking?
Please call 865‑309‑4522 if you have any questions about joining the tour.