What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 3pm Tuesday 8am - 3pm Wednesday 8am - 3pm Thursday 8am - 3pm Friday 8am - 3pm

Mansker's Station & The Bowen House, 705 Caldwell Drive, Goodlettsville, TN (2026)

Official page of the City of Goodlettsville
Mansker's Station and the Bowen House consists of a reproduction 1779 log station and the oldest brick home in Middle Tennessee, the Bowen House.

06/11/2026

While Tennessee was not one of the 13 colonies, the land was. During the Revolutionary War, land that we now call Tennessee, was considered the western frontier of North Carolina. By 1783, the war had depleted North Carolina of nearly all its money, and the state had no way to pay their soldiers and military suppliers. Instead, North Carolina offered land grants from their western territory, modern day Tennessee. However, not every colonist fought in the Revolutionary War. Some families moved westward to more wooded areas where they could build wealth as long hunters. Kasper Mansker was one of those hunters who moved west during the war. In 1783, Kasper Mansker built his second station on the east bank of Mansker Creek, and it became a prominent station hosting notable people such as Isaac Bledsoe, Andrew Jackson, and John Overton. Visitors included the French botanist André Michaux.

Take a tour of our authentic reproduction fort, Mansker's Station to step back in time to America 250 years ago!

Sources:
Griffey, I. M. (2018, March 1). Land grants. Tennessee Encyclopedia. https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/land-grants/
West, C. V. (2018, March 1). Mansker, Kasper. Tennessee Encyclopedia. https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/kasper-mansker/
📷: Tennessee Vacation

Tennessee 250
America250

06/10/2026

When you drive by a Tennessee farm, you will likely see chickens. But did you know that these animals are not native to Tennessee? The pioneers that first settled in Tennessee introduced chickens to the area because they used them for their egg production. The chickens wandered the frontier freely and it was the children's responsibility to find the eggs each morning. Our youngest Heritage Day demonstrator, Sophie, is a natural at taking care of her family's chickens!

06/09/2026

Explore the modern technologies of helicopters, ambulances and excavators at Touch a Truck then step back in time in the 18th century replica fort, Mansker's Station, to feel furs essential to trade, admire handmade goods, and watch blacksmiths at work at Touch of History! Families are invited to Moss-Wright Park for Touch a Truck and Touch of History, two unique experiences rolled into one unforgettable morning on Friday June 12, 2026.

Plan your visit!
🕰️The event is from 9:30 am-12:30 pm on Friday, June 12th
🎟️Admission is FREE for both events!
🔇The event will offer a sensory-friendly hour from 11:30am-12:30pm. During this time, vehicle horns, lights, and engines will be turned off to create a calmer environment for those with sensory sensitivities.
🅿️Parking is available at the Visitor’s Center (lot and adjacent grass area) and throughout Moss-Wright Park.

Goodlettsville Parks and Rec City of Goodlettsville, TN Government

06/04/2026

This Demonstration Day celebrating America’s 250th invites you to participate in early American games. Travel back to the Tennessee frontier when toys were hand-made and games were primarily outdoors! Join us for Colonial Field Day on June 17th from 9:30 am-11:30am.

June 17th, 9:30 am-11:30am
Mansker's Station, 705 Caldwell Drive Goodlettsville TN
$9 Admission for ages 6 and up
No advanced registration required
More information: https://www.goodlettsville.gov/2120/Demonstration-Day

06/03/2026

Captain William Bowen, the owner of the Bowen House began his military service with the French and Indian War in the 1750s. Bowen was a member of the colonial army of Virginia and served under William Russell. William Russell was one of the 15 Virginia men on the committee of the Fincastle Resolutions, in support of the Continental Congress boycotting British goods in 1775. The Fincastle Resolutions were the first time colonists openly defied the British rule and paved the way for the Declaration of Independence a year later, in 1776.

When the Revolutionary War begun, William Russell was promoted to Colonel and William Bowen served under him again, becoming Captain. In 1777, Bowen married Russell's daughter, Mary Henley Russell.

Colonel Russell led the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth and then served in the Virginia House of Delegates before his passing in 1794.

If you'd like to trace history nearly 250 years back, you can visit Colonel William Russell's gravestone at Arlington National Cemetery or tour the home owned by his daughter, Mary Henley Russell Bowen, and her husband, Captain William Bowen, in Goodlettsville.

Sources:
American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Arlington National Cemetery. (n.d.). https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/Revolutionary-War
Downtown Roanoke. (2025, January). A Salute to Southwest Virginia: 250th Anniversary of the Fincastle Resolutions. A Salute to Southwest Virginia: 250th Anniversary of the Fincastle Resolutions | Downtown Roanoke. https://www.downtownroanoke.org/do/a-salute-to-southwest-virginia-250th-anniversary-of-the-fincastle-resolutions
Fincastle Resolutions 250th Anniversary. Virginia 250. (2025, January). https://www.va250.org/fincastle-resolutions/
Freudenthal, B. (2018, March 1). Bowen, William. Tennessee Encyclopedia. https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/william-bowen/
Loving, R. (1960, March 17). Russell was a stalwart pioneer in clinch valley. Lebanon News, p. 2. Retrieved May 2026, from https://www.virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=LN19600317.1.2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------.
Tennessee 250 America250

06/02/2026

In the mid 1800s, families of the deceased would give Wiggs Seed Cookies to the guests who attended the funerals, as a thank you for attending. Wiggs are a yeast bread made with caraway seeds that are shaped into wedges. Jennifer demonstrated baking Wiggs Seed Cookies at Heritage Days and you can try it yourself at home using this recipe from Townsends below!
https://savoringthepast.net/2016/03/25/baking-wiggs-seed-cakes/

Address

705 Caldwell Drive
Goodlettsville, TN
37072

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 3pm
Tuesday	8am - 3pm
Wednesday	8am - 3pm
Thursday	8am - 3pm
Friday	8am - 3pm

Telephone

(615) 859-3678

Website

https://t.mtrbio.com/manskersstation

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mansker's Station & The Bowen House posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Mansker's Station & The Bowen House:

Mansker's Station & The Bowen House