Ivan Racheff House and Gardens
The Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs (TFGC) headquarters is housed at the Ivan Racheff House and Gardens (IRH&G).
The property was offered to TFGC by Mr. Racheff in order to assure the continuation of his award-winning gardens, primarily for enjoyment by the public. TFGC accepted the gift in 1970, and to this date has maintained and expanded the gardens for all Tennesseans.
The House and Garden address is 1943 Tennessee Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee. Mailing address is P.O. Box 52094, Knoxville, TN 37950
The gardens and house open Monday-Friday, 9 am – 3 pm. Both are closed the 2nd week in December through the 2nd week in March.
Racheff House & Garden Administration
The Ivan Racheff House and Garden is designated as the headquarters of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. It is governed by elected and appointed members of TFGC, including the TFGC President and designated IRH&G Committee Members, as defined in the TFGC Bylaws.
The Arboretum
The 3.5 acre Racheff Garden was designated a Level I Arboretum by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council in 2003 and upgraded to a Level II Arboretum on March 21, 2018.
The Racheff House & Garden History
Mr. Ivan Racheff House donated his home (built in 1902) and gardens (started in 1947) to the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs in 1970. A Memorial Wall was added in May, 1976. TFGC membership efforts resulted in a National Register of Historic Places designation in 2002.
Friends of Racheff Fund
Friends of Racheff is a fundraising method to help maintain the TFGC headquarters, Ivan Racheff House & Gardens. TFGC garden clubs, members, and nonmembers are encouraged to contribute to the fund. The suggested amount is $76, which was the amount Mr. Ivan Racheff budgeted for his first garden investment in 1947.
Racheff House & Garden Memorial Wall
The IRH&G Memorial Wall was installed in May 1976 to memorialize members of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs. The area includes the wall, fountain, and stone patio. Memorial bronze plaques are placed on the wall and dedicated by garden clubs and family members.