Travellers Rest In Tennessee Just Turned 225 Years Old And It's The Perfect Spot For A Day Trip
By Chris Dodge|Published March 21, 2024
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
I love history and am a firm believer that everything from the past can be helpful in the present. Life is the university and everyone can be your teacher — good or bad, we can learn from those lessons and grow from it. Travellers Rest Historic House Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is a historic house that positions the past in the present. Preserving history and learning from those who have gone before us can be a valuable gift, making Travellers Rest a great place to go for a day trip next time you are looking for a family outing.
This is Travellers Rest Historic House Museum, the oldest historical house open to the public in Nashville, Tennessee.
They are dedicated to the preservation and accurate accounts of our past as well as educating the public. They offer tours and events all throughout the year so this is a great place to bring your family and learn alot at this little museum.
The history of Travellers Rest predates when the house was built, to the land itself.
There have been discoveries of the indigenous people that lived on what is now the Travellers Rest property. The artifacts they have found date back to what is known as the Mississippi Period and provide clues about a mound built on the site, similar to what you would find at the Pinson Mounds.
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Those indigenous people had disappeared by the time [white] settlers came in from the east.
Judge John Overton saw an opportunity and jumped at the chance to own land, which was at the time part of North Carolina. So back in 1796 (which is also the same year that Tennessee became a state, in fact!), he bought the land and built Travellers Rest three years later, in 1799. Overton was a well-learned man and was close friends with Andrew Jackson. Together with a group of political leaders, Overton helped launch Jackson into his seat as President of the United States!
The historians at Travellers Rest are working hard to uncover the names of these individuals who were enslaved on the property. At the time of Overton’s death, he owned 53 slaves, but sadly many of them remain nameless. However, these individuals have accomplished many great things that made a lasting impact on their various areas of expertise. As more work goes on, historians hope to honor the people that were once a part of the story of Travellers Rest.
The Civil War forever changed the economy and way of life for every American, and its impact was also felt right at Travellers Rest.
Judge John Overton had died before the war, but his son (who was also named John Overton and usually referred to as Col. John Overton) sided with the Confederates during the war. His home had been transformed into a headquarters for the Battle of Nashville. The Union won the battle and Overton was left in the ruins of economic defeat as well. Over time, recovery started to take place in many areas of our country including this man who was later pardoned by the President and allowed to continue building back his estate from the war-torn ashes of the Civil War.
Fast forward to today and you can take a trip through over 1,000 years of history at Travellers Rest.
I hope you enjoyed taking a journey through time with me -- if this sort of thing interests you, then a trip to Travellers Rest will be perfect for you. The expert team on the location has fun programs and field trips to truly see history come alive.
In 2024 Travellers Rest in Nashville will be experiencing its 225th anniversary, not only that but this year also marks the 70th anniversary of the building being saved from demolition. So pay them a visit this spring in celebration of these two monumental anniversaries and dig deep into the history of Tennessee. To check out the programs available and events please visit the Travellers Rest website.
For all you history buffs out there, Music City is a great place for you to visit. I would recommend a trip to the Tennessee State Museum, then to admire another historic property take a trip to Belmont Mansion.
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