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Civil War
Tennessee's Civil War history is a study in contrasts: a secessionist state with staunch Union loyalties, divided cities held by both Union and Confederate troops, constant danger and hardship, and nagging uncertainty about friends, neighbors and families, about who was friend or foe.
Tennessee's Civil War tale is one of divided loyalties, crucial battles, and the wide-reaching devastation of "total war." People throughout the state were completely immersed in the economic, social, and physical effects of the conflict, subject to violence and terror, disease and malnutrition, heartbreak and loss, and military rule by both sides. Many grim reminders of the war—as well as hopeful symbols of heroism and kindness—stand today as testament to the war's far-reaching toll.
Use these links to learn more about trails, markers and other interpretive sites; battlefields, and the many Civil War-related museums and other attractions designed to help travelers understand the legacy of the war in Tennessee.
Confederate Memorial Park
"Huge Confederate Flag flies on a 75 ft. pole and Confederate memorial bricks honor Civil War soldiers who fought for the South from the ...more
City: Monterey, TN
Phone: 931-303-5156
Confederate Soldiers Monument
"Built in 1920, this monument honors
the men and women of Tennessee and
Virginia that fought for the Civil War’s
Confederate Army. Among the many
Civil War soldiers that served from Bristol
was Colonel John S. Mosby. Mosby was
deemed the “Gray Ghost” because of his
quick raids on Union strongholds and his
ability to vanish before ...more
City: Bristol, TN
Phone: 423-989-4850.
Courthouse Burning in Livingston
"In April 1865 a company of Confederate guerrillas led by Captain John Francis made a raid on Livingston and burned the county courthouse. U.S. authorities had collected information about the pro-Confederate activities of many local residents and this material was stored in the courthouse, awaiting use in trails. By destroying the courthouse and the evidence against them these residents were ...more
City: Livingston, TN
Cowan
"Cowan was an important wartime location because of its proximity to the Cowan railroad tunnel south of town. The 2,228-foot long tunnel was constructed from 1849-52. Its destruction would have put rail activity from Nashville to Chattanooga at a standstill for a lengthy period of reconstruction. At the junction of U.S. 41-A and the railroad, look for the marker for ...more
Phone: 800-799-6131
Crockett Tavern Museum
"Reconstruction of original 1790s John Crockett Tavern, on site of boyhood home of Davy Crockett. Association for the Preservation of TN Antiquities site (APTA). Period furnishings and textiles. Loom room, Conestoga wagon, gift shop and ...more
City: Morristown, TN
Phone: (423) 587-9900
Cronanville Confederate Cemetery
"Confederate soldier cemetery located near the Island #10 ...more
City: Tiptonville, TN
Phone: 731-253-8144
Crutchfield House
"The city’s first railroad hotel, opened in 1856, hosted Jefferson Davis after he resigned from the U.S. Senate. Violence nearly broke out when the pro-Union owner confronted the future Confederate president. The hotel served travelers on both the Western and Atlantic Railroad and the Nashville and Chattanooga. During 1862, Confederate officers occupied the building followed by Union ...more
Phone: 423-424-4430
Cumberland County Driving Tour
"The audio tour tape “Civil War Trails Across Cumberland County” is available in the office of the county ...more
City: Crossville, TN
Phone: 931-484-6165
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
"The park is rich in American Indian, early pioneer and Civil War history, plus offers 70 miles of trails, tours of the historic Hensley Settlement, cave tours and camping. Visitor Center includes museum, dramatic films, craft sales and bookstore.
For the birdwatcher, the park is home to Ring-billed Gull, Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Wild Turkey, ...more
City: Cumberland Gap, TN
Phone: (606) 248-2817
Cumberland University
"The audio tour tape “Civil War Trails Across Cumberland County” is available in the office of the county ...more
City: Lebanon, TN
Phone: 931-484-6165
Dandridge Historic District
"The state’s second-oldest town is charming and
well preserved, with a downtown National Historic
District that has b o u t i q u e s, antique shops and
restaurants.
Stop by the 1820 coach house--the Visitor Center--for your go-to
first Dandridge stop. Pick up a brochure
for a self-guided walking tour, featuring
21 walkable sites downtown as well as
17 driving ...more
City: Dandridge, TN
Phone: 865-397-7420 ext 17
Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail
"One of the nation's most historic routes, the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail was blazed by the legendary frontiersman in 1775 from Long Island of the Holston at what is now Kingsport, TN, through the Cumberland Gap of Virginia and into Kentucky. It would become the route for hundreds of thousands of settlers of the western frontier.
Long before Columbus settled America, ...more
City: Kingsport, TN
Phone: 800-743-5282
David Crockett Cabin & Museum
"A replica of Crockett's office, open to the public ...more
City: Lawrenceburg, TN
Phone: 931-762-4231
Debow House
"East of Hartsvile, on a prominent hill overlooking Highway 25, sits this National Register-listed Victorian home. Local leaders met here in 1870 and set the boundaries for the new county of Trousdale, one of the state’s Reconstruction-era counties. The house is not open to the ...more
City: Hartsville vicinity, TN
Phone: 615-374-9243
Downtown Dickson
"Visit the new city park, eight antique malls and historic buildings. Over 50 retail stores surround the railroad built by Civil War ...more
City: Dickson, TN
Phone: 877-718-4967
Blue Heron Cruises
"Family-friendly fun aboard a 24-passenger pontoon boat! All cruises travel through scenic wildlife refuge and Tennessee countryside, viewing wild birds, the Cumberland River and cozy creeks. Seven cruises available, from 90 minutes to 3-1/2 hours. Narrated Nature Cruise, Harpeth River Cruise, Sunset Cruise (playing light jazz music), Kids Adventure Cruise (fun and games), Waterfront ...more
City: Ashland City, TN
Phone: (615) 792-7358
Blues City Tours
"Graceland, City Tour, Mud Island, Riverboat, Civil Rights Museum. Casino at Mud Island, Memphis Music Tour, Shopping at Beale ...more
City: Memphis, TN
Phone: 901-522-9229
Bolivar Historic Court Square
"Bolivar's first established historic district includes the Little Courthouse Museum, the Hardeman County Courthouse, as well as a Confederate ...more
City: Bolivar, TN
Phone: 731-658-6554
Bolivar Historic District
"Bolivar's original electric and water department built in the early 1900s later became the Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce in the ...more
City: Bolivar, TN
Phone: 731-658-6554
Bolivar Historic District Walking Tour
"Blessed with classic architectural styles running the gamut from Greek Revival to Italianate, Bolivar's historic districts hearken back to a day when nearly fanatical attention to detail could be seen from initial design to the detailed decorative carvings throughout the buildings. The famed Philadelphia-based architect Fletcher Sloan has left his mark of genius through a number of post-bellum homes that ...more
City: Bolivar, TN
Phone: (731) 658-6554
Bradford-Hynds House/Attack On Dandridge
"As Confederate General James Longstreet’s 20,000 Confederates
approached Dandridge in 1863, Union commanders met here and decided to withdraw their vastly outnumbered troops to Strawberry Plains. The Confederate high command occupied the house the next ...more
City: Dandridge, TN
Bradley Academy Museum & Cultural Center
"Built in 1917 as a school for African Americans. Features restored classroom, Civil War exhibit and local history ...more
City: Murfreesboro, TN
Phone: 615-867-2633
Bridgeman House
"This two-story 1815 home next to the courthouse was owned by John Bridgeman, a local civic and business leader who outfitted a company of Confederate infantry from Bledsoe County. Open Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 ...more
Bristol Historic Downtown
"From its earliest days, Bristol served as a trade hub and by the late 1800s, it had become the largest center for commerce within a 200-mile
radius. In 1899, H.P. King built the region’s first complete department store paving the way for retail growth. In 1901, State Street was born — a thriving shopping district —
and is still the ...more
City: Bristol, TN
Phone: 423-989-4850
Britton Lane Civil War Battlefield
"Site of 1862 battle. Restored log cabin used as a hospital on battlefield site. More than 5,000 troops met in ...more
City: Denmark, TN
Phone: 731-935-2209
Brownsville Historic District
"Tour the historical district of homes and churches on the National Register of Historic ...more
City: Brownsville, TN
Phone: 731-772-4883
Buck Lodge Fortifications (Fort Mitchell)
"The Buck Lodge site was another federal stockade meant to protect the vital Louisville and Nashville railroad line. Manned by the 13th Indiana Field Artillery and the 106th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the fortifications protected two bridges as well as a water tank. The site is not open to the ...more
City: Gallatin, TN
Phone: 888-425-5286
Bulls Gap Historic District
"1880s Main Street is still fully intact. Includes 27 structures, ranging from Old Country Store to Gilley's Hotel and private residences.
This was the site of several skirmishes and campsites during the Civil War. One of the bridges successfully destroyed by The Bridge Burners was Lick Creek Bridge in Bulls ...more
City: Bulls Gap, TN
Phone: 423-272-2186
Butler Museum
"This museum depicts early life in the mountains featuring Indian artifacts, Civil War artifacts and artifacts from home life. Old town of Butler up to 1948 when gates of Watauga Dam were ...more
City: Butler, TN
Phone: 423-768-3880
Buttonwillow Civil War Dinner Theater
"SELECTED BY THE TRAVEL CHANNEL and FEATURED ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL!
Located in the old Buttonwillow Church just outside of Chattanooga....The Buttonwillow Church Civil War Dinner Theater proudly presents "Granddaddy's Watch", a moving two-hour live performance recently featured on PBS and based on actual events. The War Between the States comes to life on a magnificent 19th-century set in the beautifully ...more
City: Whitwell, TN
Phone: 423-658-7478
Cumberland Furnace Historic District
"Visit more than 23 historic buildings in the first iron ore village of middle Tennessee, where cannon balls for the War of 1812 were ...more
City: Cumberland Furnace, TN
Phone: 877-718-4967
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
"The park is rich in American Indian, early pioneer and Civil War history, plus offers 70 miles of trails, tours of the historic Hensley Settlement, cave tours and camping. Visitor Center includes museum, dramatic films, craft sales and bookstore.
For the birdwatcher, the park is home to Ring-billed Gull, Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Wild Turkey, ...more
City: Cumberland Gap, TN
Phone: (606) 248-2817
Dandridge Historic District
"The state’s second-oldest town is charming and
well preserved, with a downtown National Historic
District that has b o u t i q u e s, antique shops and
restaurants.
Stop by the 1820 coach house--the Visitor Center--for your go-to
first Dandridge stop. Pick up a brochure
for a self-guided walking tour, featuring
21 walkable sites downtown as well as
17 driving ...more
City: Dandridge, TN
Phone: 865-397-7420 ext 17
Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail
"One of the nation's most historic routes, the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail was blazed by the legendary frontiersman in 1775 from Long Island of the Holston at what is now Kingsport, TN, through the Cumberland Gap of Virginia and into Kentucky. It would become the route for hundreds of thousands of settlers of the western frontier.
Long before Columbus settled America, ...more
City: Kingsport, TN
Phone: 800-743-5282
David Crockett Cherokee Museum
"A great Cherokee art exhibit; a dinosaur egg found in Lawrence County, history of David Crockett and Lawrence County history exhibit, local art exhibits. A visual arts center showing the renowned play, Unto These Hills and Cherokee ...more
City: Lawrenceburg, TN
Phone: 931-762-3733
Davis Bridge Battlefield
"Generals Sterling Price and Earl Van Dorn met General Ord here after the Battle of Corinth, October 5, 1862. A battle then ensued for the ...more
City: Pocahontas, TN
Phone: 731-658-6554
Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park
"Davy Crockett's Birthplace State Park was established in 1973 and has been preserved as a historic site on land acquired from the Davy Crockett Birthplace Association. The park consists of 105 partially wooded acres of land along the Nolichucky River in Greene County. The stone monument to Crockett, erected in late 1960s, features samples of official state stone of ...more
City: Limestone, TN
Phone: 423-257-2167
Denmark Presbyterian Church
"The oldest Presbyterian church in west Tennessee was founded on Cub Creek in 1821, before the town was settled. The congregation moved to Denmark but outgrew its home at a Baptist school.
Using slave labor, the Snipes brothers had the church built in just six days in 1854, and the church was ready for worship the next Sunday. It originally also housed Masonic Lodge ...more
City: Denmark, TN
Doak House Museum
"Original home of Samuel Witherspoon Doak. Museum depicts the role the Doak family played in the religion and education of the people of the Southwest ...more
City: Greeneville, TN
Phone: 800-729-0256
Downtown Dickson
"Visit the new city park, eight antique malls and historic buildings. Over 50 retail stores surround the railroad built by Civil War ...more
City: Dickson, TN
Phone: 877-718-4967
Downtown Greeneville Historic District
"Bricked sidewalks lined with historic homes. Features the 4 corners of Andrew Johnson, tailor shop and museum, early home, statue and birthplace ...more
City: Greeneville, TN
Phone: 423-638-4111
Dunlap Coke Ovens Park and Historic Site
"A 32-acre park for hiking and 5,000 square-foot museum of coal mining history and coke ovens operation of 100 years ago. Many artifacts. Bluegrass festival the first Friday and Saturday in ...more
City: Dunlap, TN
Phone: 423-949-3483
Elizabethton Walking Tour
"A self-guided walking tour. Tour the historic structures along this mainly level route. Shop and eat in the historic downtown area. Brochures available at the Chamber of ...more
City: Elizabethton, TN
Phone: 423-547-3852
Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens
"Tour shop, eat and laugh at the Victorian mansion where history is fun. The 10,000 square foot mansion, built by Gorilla Pants manufacturer Clay Faulkner in 1896, boasts Biltmore-like systems, a friendly ghost and museum-quality antiques.
Guided mansion tours, lunch in the Victorian Tea Room, and shopping for 1890s treasures in the Victorian Gift Shop offered daily for walk-ins. ...more
City: McMinnville, TN
Phone: 931-668-4444
Farragut Folklife Museum
"The Farragut Folklife Museum--and the town of Farragut itself--is named in honor of David Farragut, the first admiral of the U.S. Navy, who was born in and grew up in the area.
He was commissioned as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy when he was only nine years old. He served in the War of 1812 and had become a prize ...more
City: Farragut, TN
Phone: 865-966-7057
Upcoming events
Date: May 23, 2013
Test and Tune
Location: Millington, TN
Date: May 23, 2013
Smokies Baseball
Location: Kodak, TN
Date: May 23, 2013
Nine to Five
Location: Crossville, TN
See more May events »
Pinson Mounds
Pinson Mounds State Park contains the second largest Indian mound in the United States, at 72 feet high.











