November 2010

The homestead, a large two-story structure of hewn yellow pine logs, has been reconstructed around the original chimney with its two enormous fireplaces. Vance's political career as Civil War officer, North Carolina governor, and U.S. senator is traced at the homestead. The five-room log house and its outbuildings are furnished to evoke the period from 1795 to 1840. Also included is the history of Vance's famous mountain family. The furnishings and household items on display are representative of the period from 1790 to 1840 and include a few pieces original to the home. Clustered about the grounds are six log outbuildings: the corn crib, springhouse, smokehouse, loom house, slave house, and toolhouse. Nearby, the visitor center houses exhibits portraying the life of Vance.

Special events throughout the year highlight seasonal activities of the Vance family's life. The old place comes alive with history as costumed interpreters demonstrate the skills and cherished occupations settlers practiced in the western mountain region during the time when Zebulon Vance was living.

The museum is housed in the historic Shelton House, home to Stephen Jehu Shelton and then to a son, William Taylor Shelton, founder of the Shiprock New Mexico Navajo Indian Reservation and School. The house, an excellent example of a typical Charleston-style farmhouse of the era was built in 1875 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The architecture of the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts features stately columns, a double veranda, a central foyer leading into a dining hall, and a labyrinthine second floor layout. The restored interior is furnished with antiques.

In addition to its extensive crafts collection, the museum also exhibits many artifacts and furniture pieces collected and preserved from as far back as 18th century Waynesville. This collection includes hand woven coverlets, hand sewn quilts, fired pottery, sculptured porcelain, dulcimers, hand painted china, pewter crafts, and antique woven baskets and hand crafted porcelain dolls.

The museum is a regional attraction dedicated to the history of the Waxhaws region and the memory of our nation's 7th President, who was a native of the Waxhaws. Particular attention is given to Scots-Irish immigration and the rural life of these early settlers to the Waxhaws.

In addition there are exhibits interpreting the American Revolution in the region, as well as exhibits on agriculture and important crops and the Civil War. The turn of the century exhibit gives a unique look at the town of Waxhaw as it existed around 1900.

The center section of the park features a 2,000-seat amphitheater, composed of terraced lawns providing dramatic views of the State Capitol building. Its design is patterned after Greek amphitheaters, such as the one at Epidaurus. This will be the site of many special events, ceremonies and concerts for years to come. Groups may reserve the amphitheater for a fee.

Historical significance with the urban building boom in downtown Nashville during the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Tennessee State Capitol disappeared from sight on the east, west and south sides. The northern side of the Capitol was not conducive to the construction of skyscrapers due to the swampy conditions that existed in many areas between the Capitol and the Cumberland River. Ironically, the historic French Lick that attracted wildlife, Indians, trappers and settlers to what would become Nashville also preserved the remaining view of the Capitol and became the home of the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. In order to save the one remaining view of the Capitol and to commemorate Tennessee's 200th birthday, the concept of a mall similar to the one in Washington, DC, took shape.

The mission of the Tennessee Historical Commission is to encourage the inclusive diverse study of Tennessee's history for the benefit of future generations; to protect, preserve, interpret, operate, maintain, and administer historic sites; to mark important locations, persons, and events in Tennessee history; to assist in worthy publication projects; to review, comment on and identify projects that will potentially impact state-owned and non-state-owned historic properties; to locate, identify, record and nominate to the National Register of Historic Places all properties which meet National Register criteria, and to implement other programs of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended.

Chartered by the general assembly in 1957, the Tennessee Agricultural Museum is located at Ellington Agricultural Center in south Nashville. The museum is housed in a former horse barn which was once part of the Brentwood Hall estate of financier Rogers Caldwell. The artifacts date from the beginning of Tennessee agriculture to objects representing agricultural developments during the mid-twentieth century. The museum is also home to the Tennessee Agriculture Hall of Fame, the oldest such institution in the nation.

The museum has an extensive collection of home and farm artifacts from the 19th and early 20th centuries along with rural Tennessee prints. Textiles, a woodworking collection, buggies, wagons and large items like the McCormick reaper and Jumbo steam engine are exhibited in a renovated plantation barn. Log cabins, a small farm house, kitchen/herb garden, perennial garden and nature trail are also part of the museum tour.

Started in 1961 by the Country Music Association, the Country Music Hall of Fame selected its first three inductees, Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, and Fred Rose.

In 1967, the CMA opened the first Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Music Row in Nashville, TN. In 2000, the original building was closed, and in 2001 the new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened, complete with Hall of Fame Rotunda to honor the stars.

Tennessee State Library and Archives is open to the to offer a resource to search for family records and collections and other Tennessee history.

Nashville's library history can be traced back to 1813, but it was the late 1800s before Nashville had a public library. In 1897, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the Library Law, which authorized cities of 20,000 or more to establish and maintain free public libraries and reading rooms. Before that time, city governments had no authority to use tax money to support libraries. Nashville's first public library was the Howard Library, established in 1898. The City of Nashville, acting under the provisions of the Library Law, appropriated $2,500 for the Howard Library.

By 1899, the Howard Library was circulating books, but borrowing was not free, like it is today. Patrons of the library had to purchase a "reader's card" for $2. In 1901, the city increased the appropriation for the Howard Library to $5,000. The reader's card fee was abolished, making Howard Library the first free circulating library in Nashville. The Nashville Public Library grew out of this history.

Cragfont was the home of General James Winchester, a protagonist of the American Revolution, a pioneer in the Middle Tennessee wilderness, a soldier against indigenous Americans, a brigadier general in the War of 1812, and co-founder of the City of Memphis. The construction of Cragfont was started in 1798 and finished in 1802. It was the finest mansion on the Tennessee frontier and typified the grandeur and style of the best architecture of the late Georgian period. Named Cragfont because it stood on a rocky bluff with a spring at its base, the house is furnished with Federal antiques, some of which are original to the Winchester family. The basement holds an authentic weaving room.