Historic Travellers Rest

Historic Travellers Rest The 1799 home of John Overton, Nashville's oldest house museum open to the public.
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We are dedicated to preserving the the 1799 home of Judge John Overton and serving as a gateway for learners of all ages to explore Nashville's historic past.

Whether large or small, Travellers Rest has a space to create your ideal wedding day, rain 🌧️or shine ☀️
06/10/2026

Whether large or small, Travellers Rest has a space to create your ideal wedding day, rain 🌧️or shine ☀️

Happy National Call your Doctor Day! Mary Overton’s first husband, Dr. Francis May, was Andrew Jackson’s personal physic...
06/09/2026

Happy National Call your Doctor Day! Mary Overton’s first husband, Dr. Francis May, was Andrew Jackson’s personal physician and surgeon for the first several years of his career. Dr. May attended Jackson at the infamous Battle of New Orleans in 1815, which established the future president as a military hero. He was also the attending surgeon for Jackson at the duel in which he killed Charles Dickinson.

Mary had five children with Dr. May before his death in 1817. Three years later in 1821, she married Judge Overton, and the family moved into his home at Travellers Rest. Overton had known Dr. May, as they were both closely associated with Andrew Jackson. It is speculated that Dr. May may have taught Mary some of her medical knowledge. She maintained a medicinal herb garden for years after his death. All of her children survived to adulthood under her care, which was very rare for the time period.

Pictured are Mary’s Apothecary Kit, demonstrating how she put her medical knowledge from her first husband into practice, and a copy of Dr. May’s obituary from the Republican Banner, Nashville’s newspaper at the time of his death.

Tomorrow, June 8, is National Best Friends Day. Judge Overton’s best friend happened to be Andrew Jackson, our nation’s ...
06/07/2026

Tomorrow, June 8, is National Best Friends Day. Judge Overton’s best friend happened to be Andrew Jackson, our nation’s seventh president. Overton first met Jackson in 1789, years before his political success, staying at the boarding house of Mrs. Donelson. They kept closely in touch and visited each other numerous times when they had established homes of their own at the Hermitage and Travellers Rest. The two also founded the city of Memphis, along with their associate James Wi******er, as a trade endeavor.

Overton and Jackson had very different personalities. Overton was reserved and introverted, while Jackson preferred a life full of action and adventure. Overton was perhaps one of Andrew Jackson’s greatest supporters in his ambitious goal of going to the White House. He hosted several political events in the large room of Travellers Rest throughout Jackson’s campaign and presidency.

In 1833, when John Overton passed away, his future step-son in law wrote "I heard him request Dr. Hogg to say to General Jackson, that he saw him die, and that he died a man and a soldier. So you see he clung to the general till his last moments.”

🖼️ Portraits of Judge John Overton and President Andrew Jackson. Both were painted by Ralph E.W. Earl. Copies of these portraits, and more, can be viewed at Historic Travellers Rest.

Are you planning a wedding this fall and still looking for a venue? Are you looking for one of the most popular dates of...
06/06/2026

Are you planning a wedding this fall and still looking for a venue? Are you looking for one of the most popular dates of the year? You are in luck! October 10, 2026 (10.10.26) just became available at Travellers Rest. The grounds 🌳are beautiful in October, so call and schedule your tour with Ashley today.

☎️ 615-832-8197 extension 10
📨 [email protected]

On Friday, June 5, the last house tour will be at 2pm to allow our Junior Docent campers to give a special tour to their...
06/04/2026

On Friday, June 5, the last house tour will be at 2pm to allow our Junior Docent campers to give a special tour to their guests during the 3pm hour. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Judge John Overton certainly had a hand in many different business endeavors throughout his life. Shortly after moving t...
06/04/2026

Judge John Overton certainly had a hand in many different business endeavors throughout his life. Shortly after moving to Tennessee to practice law, Overton became associated in a mercantile business with Edward Douglas. In the 1790s, Tennessee was still considered the “wild west,” so this mercantile likely sold everyday necessities that men and women on the frontier could use. It was originally agreed that profits would be shared equally between owners, but it was determined later that Douglas would receive extra since he operated the store. On June 4, 1797, this partnership was dissolved when the business did not prove to be successful.

Here is a historic photograph of Davoll’s General Store in Massachusetts, which first opened in 1793. It is the oldest mercantile in the United States that is still open to the public! While you can no longer visit the mercantile Overton and Douglas owned, you can still visit Overton’s home at Travellers Rest! Stop by any Tuesday-Saturday between the hours of 10 and 3 for a tour!

You've been picturing this day your whole life. Rolling grounds, whispering trees, and a venue full of soul. This is whe...
06/03/2026

You've been picturing this day your whole life. Rolling grounds, whispering trees, and a venue full of soul. This is where forever begins. 🌲

Call Ashley to schedule your wedding venue tour today. 615-832-8197 x 10.

Happy Birthday to the Volunteer State! Tennessee turns 230 years old today! George Washington officially declared Tennes...
06/01/2026

Happy Birthday to the Volunteer State! Tennessee turns 230 years old today! George Washington officially declared Tennessee to be the 16th state on June 1, 1796. Since then, the state has hailed three United States presidents, including Andrew Jackson (Judge Overton’s Best Friend), James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson.

The volunteer state got its nickname when over 20,000 Tennesseeians volunteered to fight in the War of 1812. Several years later, President James K. Polk, one of our state’s three presidents, issued a call for 2,800 volunteers to enlist in the Mexican-American War. Over 30,000 Tennesseeians responded, more than in any other state.

From the mountains in the east to the deltas of the west and the rolling hills in between, celebrate Tennessee’s history today!

On May 30th, 1806, future president Andrew Jackson killed Charles Dickinson in a duel in Kentucky. The practice of dueli...
05/30/2026

On May 30th, 1806, future president Andrew Jackson killed Charles Dickinson in a duel in Kentucky. The practice of dueling originated in medieval Europe where gentlemen settled disputes of honor in one-on-one combat. In fact, being “called out” comes from publicly challenging an adversary to a duel. Andrew Jackson was known for a quick temper and was involved in a few dueling situations, but his 1806 duel was the only one in which shots were fired. The conflict began as a disagreement over a horse race, but escalated when Dickinson insulted Jackson’s wife, Rachel. The first shot was fired by Charles Dickinson, striking Jackson in the chest. Even after being wounded, Jackson shot Dickinson who later succumbed to his wounds. Jackson was permanently affected by this duel. His reputation was damaged by this public killing and he carried Dickinson’s bullet inside his chest for the remainder of his life.

Image courtesy of Library of Congress

After the Civil War, John Overton II received a pardon for his financial support of the Confederacy, but regaining his p...
05/29/2026

After the Civil War, John Overton II received a pardon for his financial support of the Confederacy, but regaining his property proved far more difficult. Although he took the required oath, Union General George H. Thomas challenged its validity, beginning a long legal battle that reached President Andrew Johnson.

At the same time, federal policy was shifting. The Freedmen’s Bureau had initially managed nearly 800,000 acres of confiscated land, with plans to redistribute to formerly enslaved people. However, Johnson’s Amnesty Proclamation in May 1865 restored property rights to most former Confederates. This new policy resulted in evictions and forced labor contracts for many formerly enslaved people who had hoped to begin a new life on their own land. Overton regained his property but at great cost to others, and Johnson’s mismanagement of Reconstruction led to his impeachment.

Image courtesy of Tennessee Virtual Archive

Address

636 Farrell Pkwy
Nashville, TN
37220

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(615) 832-8197

Website

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