Stabilization and repair of the historic Howell House began in August 2024.

The Howell House serves as the Garden’s Visitors Center, administrative offices, and wedding party dressing rooms for groups celebrating garden weddings. Stabilization began with work on both the roof and the foundation. Roof work includes removal and preservation of historic red clay roofing shingles, decking replacement and repairs, and stone chimney repairs. Foundation work includes installation of six piers down to the bedrock, reinforcing steel beams in the basement, and a water channeling system with sump pumps.

This project is being supported in part by the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and the Tennessee Historical Commission. Additional funding sources include the City of Knoxville Historic Preservation Program, City of Knoxville capital funding, and private donors such as Ambassador Victor and Mrs. Joan Ashe, Aslan Foundation, and Lawson Family Foundation.

This phase of the project will address two of the five sources of water intrusion. The three remaining sources of water intrusion include deteriorated window lintels, masonry cracks, and a failing exterior drain that should be moving water away from the basement level. Arresting water damage buys time for the Garden to continue raising funds for repair and restoration of the building.