The Morrison, Tennessee, area has a rich history worth exploring. The best way to truly get to know a place is by diving into its history, especially by visiting its important historical sites. If you’re planning your springtime adventures, make sure you stop at these historic sites in the area.
Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens
Head over to McMinnville to explore the Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens. This mansion was built in 1896 as the home for the owner of the “Gorilla Pants” factory in town. Clay Faulkner and his wife lived in the 10,000-square-foot home they built with all the modern conveniences of its time. Now, it’s a great place for visitors who want to explore what life was like for the upper crust in the earliest years of the 20th century.
Tickets to the museum are $13 for adults and $7 for children 12 and younger. You’ll get a guided tour of the mansion, as well as the opportunity to stroll through the manicured gardens around it.
Cumberland Caverns
If you’re looking for a tour of the area’s natural history, head to the Cumberland Caverns. The nearly 30 miles of caves and passageways of the Cumberland Caverns let you see a great many geological features, including rock formations, underground waterfalls, pools, and more. This is a great destination if you’re trying to find something interesting to do with kids.
Admission to the daytime walking tour is $13.95 for children 6-12 and $21.95 for adults. It includes a guided 1.5- to 2-hour, 1.5-mile walking tour with a guide who explains the history behind the many rooms you can explore in the caves.
The Black House
The oldest standing residential home in McMinnville is the Black House. It was built in 1825 and is now a museum that lets visitors dive into the pre-Civil War history of the area. Its Federal-style architecture was popular at the time and many of the now-gone houses that lined the streets of McMinnville were built similarly. This building was home to a Revolutionary War soldier, a friend of President Polk, and a Confederate surgeon until it fell into disuse. It has now been restored, complete with period-specific furnishings.
Tours of the museum are given out by appointment only. Call Jeanette Lowery at 931-668-5050 to schedule your tour.
Southern Museum & Galleries
If you want to take a crash course in the history of the area and see local photography, visit the Southern Museum & Galleries. The gallery is mainly dedicated to the work of photographer, artist, author, and historian Monty Wanamaker, who helped capture the essence of what made the area the place it is today. Wanamaker, who passed away in 2018, was prolific in his work to collect and create items that displayed McMinnville’s and Tennessee’s heritage.
Give yourself enough time to explore all the historically significant areas our part of Tennessee has to offer. Whether you’re a seasoned history buff or you just want to experience a little bit of the way things used to be, these sites are all worth a visit.
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