Travellers Rest (Nashville, Tennessee)

Travellers Rest is a historic plantation house in Nashville, Tennessee.

Travellers' Rest
LocationFranklin Rd., Oak Hill, Nashville, Tennessee
Coordinates36°4′37″N 86°45′49.3″W
Area9 acres (3.6 ha)
Built1799
Architectural styleVernacular Federal
NRHP reference No.69000179[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 30, 1969

History

In 1799, the two story structure with four rooms was built by Judge John Overton (1766–1833). Overton was an advisor and close friend of Andrew Jackson, judge at the Superior Court of Tennessee and co-founder of Memphis, Tennessee. Overton originally named the property Golgotha after the large number of prehistoric skulls that were unearthed while digging the cellar of the house.[2] Archaeologists now know that these remains were part of a large Mississippian village site. Overton changed the name of the plantation to Travellers Rest in the early 19th century to reflect the recreational effect his home had on him after the long rides on horseback that he had to undertake as a circuit judge.[3] Overton died at Travellers Rest on April 12, 1833.

An addition was made to the house in 1812 to accommodate members of Overton's family. A long ell was added soon after 1820 when Overton married a widow with five children.[4]

At the beginning of the Civil War, Overton's widow occupied the home until her death in 1862. After her death, her son John and his wife Harriet and their children continued to occupy the home. The plantation's farm, which covered 1,050 acres and was worked by 80 slaves, was valued at unknown millions of dollars during this time.[5] A final addition to the house was made in 1887 by John Overton II, when two rooms where added to the ell, one above and one below.[4]

The plantation building was saved from demolition and restored in 1954 to become a museum. Additional archaeological finds were reported from the property as recently as 1995, when construction at the visitors center resulted in disturbance of additional human burials.[6] As of 2008, the Travellers Rest Plantation & Museum houses exhibits that document the life and work of John Overton, the history of the Overton Plantation and Nashville in the Civil War. It is located at 636 Farrell Parkway in Nashville.[3] Travellers Rest is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Travellers Rest". Retrieved November 3, 2008.
  3. "Travellers Rest Plantation & Museum". Travellers Rest Historic House Museum, Inc. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  4. May Dean Coop (July 23, 1969). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Traveller's Rest" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved March 29, 2015. Six photos
  5. "Travellers Rest | Nashville Historic Homes". Nashville Historic Homes. The Perry Property Group. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  6. "Travellers Rest Historic House Museum: Will The Ancestors Ever Know Rest?". Retrieved November 3, 2008.
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