The History Behind This Nashville Mansion Is Both Fascinating And Spooky
×
Meghan Kraft
Author
Nashville has its share of opulent Southern mansions, including the famous Belmont Mansion, Cheekwood Mansion, and Belle Meade Plantation, to name a few. But there’s one old mansion in East Nashville that often goes overlooked despite its gorgeous preservation and fascinating history. The Riverwood mansion is the site of weddings and events today, but it has also played host to seven US Presidents, and according to some legends, even a few ghosts.
The Riverwood Mansion is tucked away in to the Inglewood neighorhood of East Nashville, but it's actually one of the city's oldest and most historic homes.
The mansion was built in the late 1790's, and it still holds much of its historic charm. The hardwood floors in the mansion are still the original floors, and much of the furniture hasn't been changed in the last 150 years.
Advertisement
Today, the mansion is a wedding venue and sits on 8 of the original 2500 acres. The mansion has passed through the hands of different families over the years, but some of the owners have a dark history.
Advertisement
Related Stories
The 13 Most Beautiful Restaurants In All Of Nashville
16 Wildly Famous Restaurants In Nashville That Are Totally Worth The Hullabaloo
17 Small Towns Around Nashville Where Everyone Knows Your Name
In 1908, Riverwood was owned by Duncan Brown Cooper who was known for being a little hot-headed. The new Nashville Tennessean newspaper had printed something that he took offense to and a feud arose between him and the newspaper's publisher. The feud resulted in Cooper killing the publisher, and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
That's not all of the spooky history of this place. One of the first owners, Alexander Porter, died in the house shortly after purchasing it. It is said by many that Porter's wife still haunts the grounds, looking for her dead husband.
The mansion also has plenty of good history, too. In the mid-1900's, it was known for its opulent parties for the Nashville elite, and it has hosted at least seven presidents at its parties, including Andrew Jackson, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
If you aren't lucky enough to attend a wedding or event at Riverwood, you can schedule a private tour, but you should do so at least a few weeks in advance. You can contact the mansion directly through their website for more information.
Discover more of Nashville’s coolest treasures and take a tour of this unique neighborhood distillery.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.