Whites Creek Historical Society

Whites Creek is situated where the Central Basin of Middle Tennessee meets the Highland Rim, approximately five miles northwest of downtown Nashville. The dramatic landscape of steep wooded slopes and gently rolling valleys provided fertile land for Native Americans, buffalo, and those men given land grants for their service in the Revolutionary War. Originally a part of North Carolina, this land was given to Tennessee in 1790; Tennessee became a state in 1796. This “new” land had been occupied by Native Americans for thousands of years, with the Cherokee and Chickamauga being the farmers and hunters in the 1700’s.

Whites Creek, named for Zachariah White who first explored the area in 1779, has the only rural historic district in Middle Tennessee that is registered with the National Register of Historic Places. Among the buildings still in use are five that were witnesses to the Trail of Tears in 1838 including Cedarwood dating from 1835, and the Stump family log house and tavern both built in late 1790’s.

The trials and triumphs throughout Whites Creek history has been recorded in numerous books, diaries, and word-of-mouth storytelling. The Whites Creek Historical Society is dedicated to documenting these various people, places, and stories that this rich land has yielded. Please enjoy your visit with us and watch for additions in the future.

murphy3801@gmail.com