Mansker's Station & The Bowen House

Mansker's Station & The Bowen House TIME TO EXPLORE! Historic Mansker's Station consists of a reproduction 1779 log station and the Bowen Plantation House.

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.

09/14/2026

Thank you Axe and Anvil Hand Works , for your hard work building new bellows and a forge for the Mansker's Station Blacksmith shop. Here is a sneak peek at the work behind the scenes before the installation.

Daniel Smith was one of the most influential people who helped found the State of Tennessee. He was born on October 29th...
09/10/2026

Daniel Smith was one of the most influential people who helped found the State of Tennessee. He was born on October 29th, 1748, in Stafford County, Virginia. He received a license in surveying at age twenty-two and became an agent for the famous Dr. Thomas Walker. He remained under Walker for almost fifteen years before moving to what is now Tennessee. He married Sarah Michie in 1773, and they had two children, George and Mary Ann.

Smith was instrumental in helping survey the line between Virginia and North Carolina on the Western Frontier in 1779-1780. At this time, North Carolina claimed the land that is now Tennessee. Daniel Smith also served as a militia colonel in the Revolutionary War. For his service, he was awarded 3,140 acres in what later became Sumner County, TN. In 1784, Smith and his family moved to his newly acquired land and began building a beautiful plantation home, which he named Rock Castle. Interestingly, his neighbor Willian Bowen hired the same two architects that he used to build his own home a few miles away. Both Rock Castle and the Bowen House still stand today and are two of the oldest homes in TN.

Daniel Smith accomplished more than most men of his time. He became a general in the TN militia and fought Native Americans. He was shot twice in the chest and survived. Unlike many men of his day, he constantly advocated for peace with the Native tribes. Among his many famous associates, he knew Kasper Mansker and stayed at Mansker’s Station many times. He made the first official survey of Middle Tennessee. Smith was a justice of the peace, a sheriff, and one of the five trustees responsible for overseeing the establishment of the City of Nashville. He also served twice as a United States Senator. After failing health forced him to retire in 1809, he went back to his home in Sumner County and lived there peaceably until his death in 1818.

Rockcastle County Historical Society and Museum
Visit Sumner TN
Sources: Walter T. Durham, Daniel Smith (Gallatin, 1976)
John Haywood, The Civil and Political History of the State of Tennessee (reprinted Knoxville, 1969)

To commemorate America 250, we are highlighting 25 trades that built America. This week we are showcasing the gunsmith. ...
09/09/2026

To commemorate America 250, we are highlighting 25 trades that built America. This week we are showcasing the gunsmith. A colonial gunsmith made rifles, pistols, and fowling pieces, all by hand. A gunsmith had to be proficient in many skills, most notably iron forging and woodworking. For an 18th-century gunsmith, repairing guns made up most of his workday, rather than creating them from scratch.

238 years ago, the U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 delegates in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. Join us next Tues...
09/08/2026

238 years ago, the U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 delegates in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. Join us next Tuesday, September 16th, for Homeschool Day, where homeschool families will participate in interactive demonstrations and learn about The Words that Made America.

Tuesday, September 16th from 9:30-11:00
Mansker's Station
705 Caldwell Drive
$9 for ages 6+
Reservation Required: https://www.goodlettsville.gov/2096/Homeschool-Groups

Signed Copy of the Constitution of the United States; Miscellaneous Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, Record Group 360; National Archives.

Did you know that Goodlettsville had a nationally known Lamb and Wool Club in the 19th Century? Learn about the union th...
09/03/2026

Did you know that Goodlettsville had a nationally known Lamb and Wool Club in the 19th Century?

Learn about the union that was recognized by the Tennessee Agricultural Hall of Fame in our second case of the new museum at the Visitor Center, Goodlettsville: A Small Town View.

The overarching theme of this exhibit is Goodlettsville through the years, beginning in 1779 with the settlement of Kasper Mansker in what would become Goodlettsville, TN. The exhibit follows the chronological development of Goodlettsville from 1779 to the present day. Goodlettsville: A Small Town View celebrates what historically made Goodlettsville unique and what makes Goodlettsville unique today.

This exhibit is free to view at any time during regular operating hours, Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Thank you to the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial for their generous grant that helped us to bring Goodlettsville: A Small Town View to life!

Tennessee 250

For America 250, we are emphasizing 25 early American crafts and trades. This week, we are featuring the ackerman. An ac...
09/02/2026

For America 250, we are emphasizing 25 early American crafts and trades. This week, we are featuring the ackerman. An ackerman literally meant a man of the acres or field, referring to a farmer. In the 18th century, the ackerman was growing wheat, corn, barley, and to***co. We are growing to***co in the Mansker’s Station gardens; come check it out!

09/01/2026

You will be tapping your feet to the music before you know it!

Yulefest is just 3 months away, so mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5th, for a cozy night of historical music by the fireplace in celebration of the festive season.

Bring the whole family for this FREE holiday tradition at Mansker's Station & The Bowen House. Take your time listening to the sounds of yesteryear as you tour the sites and take in the beauty of simple, natural decorations, refreshments, and unique shopping at the gift shop. The event takes place from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Mansker's Station & The Bowen House on Saturday, December 5th.

Mary Henley Russell (1760–1827) was the eldest daughter of General William and Tabitha Russell. As a young teenager, Mar...
08/27/2026

Mary Henley Russell (1760–1827) was the eldest daughter of General William and Tabitha Russell. As a young teenager, Mary lost her mother. So, she acted as a mother to her younger siblings, especially her six-month old sister. Mary grew up in Virginia just as colonial revolts began. The American War for Independence raged along that eastern coastline. Her dad was a Brigadier General, leading militiamen to battle.

One such soldier, William Bowen, became attached to General Russell’s daughter Mary. Though the exact date is unknown, William and Mary got married around 1777, when she was seventeen years old. The newly wedded couple began their married life in Virginia in the late 1770s. And their family grew quickly during that heavy wartime.

The Bowens had their first child in 1778 and their last child in 1792. Her eldest and youngest were fourteen years apart. The War for Independence resolved in 1783. As a reward for his military service, Captain William Bowen received almost 1,300 acres of land in western North Carolina.

At the end of the War, William and Mary moved their family to the woods of what is now Middle Tennessee. The Bowens began their journey in the summer of 1784. Mary was pregnant at the time AND had to watch over and care for their other three children under the age of six! The Bowens lived at their family home, The Bowen House, for decades. At Mary’s death, she divided the estate between her children. Mary passed away at sixty-seven years.

To commemorate America 250, we are highlighting 25 trades that built America. This week’s trade really stinks! The tanne...
08/26/2026

To commemorate America 250, we are highlighting 25 trades that built America. This week’s trade really stinks! The tanner would skin and process animal hides to turn into leather for clothing, saddles, military equipment, and everyday uses. After skinning the animal, the tanner would soak the hides in water and then soak them in urine to loosen the hair. From there, the hide would be beaten with sticks and kneaded with animal f***s so that the enzymes could break down the stiff hides. Lastly, the hides were ready for the final coat, tanning. They did this using tannins derived from tree bark. The process was so foul-smelling that the tanner was always located on the outside of the town.

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

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