Best guess is AWTPE stands for Auto Tire Warehouse Parts & Equipment.
Part of the Marathon Motor Works building along Clinton St., but predates when the location became a tourist destination.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/nv/signs/#p=54757980060
National Register of Historic Places listing: npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/06000549
The Country Woman's Club in St. Bethlehem, Montgomery County, Tennessee, is a historic log building constructed in 1927, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in women’s history, social history, and architecture. Originally built by the husbands of club members using recycled logs from a barn and stone from a local cabin, the Craftsman-style clubhouse with a hipped roof and stone pier foundation served as a gathering place for rural women seeking social, intellectual, and civic engagement. The building, located at 2216 Old Russellville Pike, Clarksville, retains much of its original character, including hand-hewn logs, chinking, wood floors, and a massive stone fireplace, despite minor modern additions like a concrete ramp added in 2005 for accessibility and air conditioning units.
The club’s historical significance stems from its role in the women’s club movement, reflecting the "New Woman" ethos of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where women took on civic responsibilities through "municipal housekeeping." Founded in 1922 to foster social connections among rural women, the club grew from informal home gatherings to a formal organization affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1923. It supported community initiatives like education, road improvements, and wartime efforts, including selling war bonds and aiding European families during World War II. The clubhouse, built on a .36-acre lot purchased in 1927, became a community landmark symbolizing the strength and cohesion of rural women in Montgomery County.
Architecturally, the Country Woman's Club is a well-preserved example of a vernacular Craftsman-style log building, constructed with local materials and volunteer labor due to limited funds, yet embodying popular design trends of the 1910s to 1930s. The interior layout, with a central meeting room, kitchen, and a bathroom added in 1936, reflects the typical design of women’s clubhouses meant for social gatherings. The club continues to function as a social hub, maintaining its original purpose, with ongoing community service and a membership capped at 66 women. Its historical integrity, combined with its role in documenting rural women’s contributions, underscores its local significance as a cultural and architectural treasure.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/midnw/montgomery/#p=54802741362
From Wikipedia: New Market Presbyterian Church is a historic church at 1000 W. Old Andrew Johnson Hwy in New Market, Tennessee. The congregation was formed September 10, 1826, as an off-split from Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Dandridge. The church building was built in 1885 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Learn more here: npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/98000823
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/east/jefferson/#p=54688134504
This mansion is located along highway US31 along the southern end of Williamson County.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Manor
Homestead Manor is a property in Thompson Station, Tennessee. Construction of the manor began in 1809 by Mr. and Mrs. Francis Giddens with a Revolutionary War Grant, and was completed in 1819.
Homestead Manor features Georgian architecture that can be traced back to Francis Giddens' appreciation for his heritage in Louisa County, Virginia.
Between 2015 and 2019, the property served as a restaurant. Presently, it serves as both an event venue and a coffee shop. The coffee shop, known as "1819," pays tribute to the year when the manor's construction was finalized There is a 50-acre conservation easement
National Register of Historic Places: npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/6cb9176e-b6a3-49e2-b65a-7e4a63e9d5da/ Homestead Manor, built by Francis Giddens in 1809-1819, was designed in the Georgian style. The design features bilateral symmetry, four by five bay organization. The house has a wide gable roof with gable dormers and an attached two story entrance porch with six fluted round columns and carved wood dentils at the eave. The structure is three stories tall and the finished third story is built under the roof eave. The center dormers at the front and rear feature Palladian style triple windows with multi-colored stained glass lights divided by narrow, decorative wood muntins. The main entrance features a rectangular shape transom with colored glass lights, decorative muntins, and the wide side lights repeat the same design.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/midsw/williamson/#p=54749449356
This sign has been redesigned since I last saw it in 2018. Back then, it was called First Farmers and Merchants Bank with a green background.
See it here: flic.kr/p/24rSZeT
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/midsw/maury/#p=54705044568
In 1993 for the development of the Cool Springs Mall, the home the area was named after was going to be torn down. Instead of being lost forever, it was moved and preserved at Crockett Park (flic.kr/p/8Ey6sq).
Along with the house, the Cool Springs barn seen here and other outbuildings were also relocated. The barn is thought to be older than the house. The first floor is mode of stone piers while the second floor is made of rough hewn logs. The barn is also believed to be the first distillery in the county. Today, it makes a good backdrop for outdoor events held at the house.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/midsw/williamson/#p=54526905755
The historic L-shaped train depot in McKenzie, Tennessee, known as the McKenzie Depot, is a Renaissance Revival-style combination depot built circa 1926, featuring waiting rooms, a freight area, and a ticket office. Located at 85 East Bruce Street, it serves as a key landmark in the town and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (reference number 96000336) in Carroll County. The depot's distinctive L-shape accommodates its dual functions and the intersecting rail lines, with an adjacent red caboose (formerly B&O 903969, later Chessie and CSX, donated to the town flic.kr/p/2rpEBmB ) adding to the site's visual appeal. Today, it stands as a preserved piece of railroad architecture, reflecting the era's design with elements like brick construction and functional layout for passenger and freight operations.
The depot's history is intertwined with McKenzie's founding, as the town was organized in 1867 when the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad intersected with the Memphis and Ohio Railroad on land donated by the McKenzie family, initially called McKenzie Station. It served both the Louisville & Nashville (L&N) and Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis (NC&StL) railroads, facilitating the town's growth from a population of over 500 in 1870 to a bustling community by the 1880s. The last passenger train stopped there in 1970, and following the 1993 demolition of a similar depot in Milan, it became the only extant Renaissance Revival passenger station in West Tennessee. Preservation efforts in the 1990s, including public meetings, ensured its survival, and it now symbolizes the railroads' pivotal role in the region's economic and historical development.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/west/northwest/#p=54766224466
This Warren through truss bridge was originally built by Tennessee Central and crosses over the Stones River. Today, the bridge is used by RJ Corman's Nashville & Eastern Railroad (NERR) and the Music City Star.
Getting here requires a walk on Nashville's Stones River Greenway System. It's about a mile one-way from the YMCA Trailhead on Lebanon Pike or 1.5 miles from the trailhead near Percy Priest Dam.
Less than a thousand feet away is the remains of the NCStL Bridge which also crossed Stones River. Only the piers and the earthworks leading to the river remain.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/nv/parks/#p=54742985898
While not as famous as the "National Road" (US 40) or "Lincoln Highway" (US 30), U.S. 70 was one of the prominent east-west highways across America, and was nicknamed Broadway of America. In the heart of Dickson, TN, this is a repaint of a mural which depicts the route of Broadway of America through Tennessee, however with East and West switched. The original painting included the line at the bottom for "Courtesy Dickson County Chamber of Commerce." The mural repaint is signed by Erwin - April, 17, 2018. This appears along College St. (The old route of 70 through town) near Main St. on the side of the restaurant MilePost 42.
Towns identified along the mural are Bristol, Kingsport, Rogersville, Rutledge, Knoxville, Kingston, Rockwood, Crossville, Sparta, McMinnville, Woodbury, Murfreesboro, Nashville, White Bluff, Burns, Dickson, Tenn City, McEwen, Waverly, Camden, Bruceton, Huntington, Jackson, Brownsville and Memphis. For those of you that are interested in such things, the route shows here follows what is now US 70S instead of US70 from Nashville to Sparta, which is the original configuration. Before it was part of Broadway of America, much of this route was originally known as the Memphis-to-Bristol Highway or State Route 1.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/midnw/dickson/#p=54797347175
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Hickory_United_Methodist_Church
Old Hickory Methodist Church is a Methodist congregation which meets at 1216 Hadley Avenue in Old Hickory, Tennessee. The church building was constructed in 1928 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
History Old Hickory Methodist Church was organized in 1925. Originally, it met in the "little gym," which is now the site of the Old Hickory Community Center. The construction of the current sanctuary began with services held in the basement. The sanctuary was completed in 1929 at a cost of $30,000, and the first service was held on the first Sunday in 1929. Pews were installed in 1936 to replace folding chairs. An educational annex was added in 1939 at a cost of $10,000, and second floor was added in 1954. In 1967 the sanctuary was remodeled and redecorated. Stained-glass windows were installed in 1983. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 1985.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/nv/misc/#p=54706834381
National Register of Historic Places listing npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/90001658
The Edward Moody King House, located at 512 Finley Street in Dyersburg, Tennessee, is a significant example of Classical Revival architecture, built circa 1905-1907 for Edward Moody King and his wife, Mary Stevens King. The property, encompassing a 1.25-acre lot, was purchased in 1900 after the couple’s previous home burned down, prompting them to acquire and briefly reside in the nearby Minnick House, which likely inspired the design of their new residence. Constructed on lots 23 and part of 25 in the Fowlkes Addition, a prestigious residential area of Dyersburg at the time, the house was possibly designed by Memphis architect George Mahan, though documentation is inconclusive. The Kings, tied to the prominent Stevens Lumber Company (later E.M. King Lumber Company), owned the property until their deaths in 1940, after which it passed to their daughter Zelda Gilbert and later to their son E.M. King, Jr., with current ownership held by E.M. King, III and Mary Louise King. The house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, stands as Dyersburgs largest and most intact Classical Revival residence, surrounded by modern commercial properties but retaining its historical and architectural integrity.
Architecturally, the Edward Moody King House is a grand, two-story brick structure distinguished by its Classical Revival features, including a symmetrical facade, colossal Ionic columns, and expansive porticos. The south facade, facing Finley Street, is dominated by a semi-circular, two-story portico with six massive wooden Ionic columns and a deep frieze with dentil trim, complemented by brick quoins and three gabled dormers with Palladian windows. The east facade, along King Avenue, mirrors this grandeur with a similar portico, while the west elevation features a porte cochere with Doric columns and a flat roof with a balustrade. A two-story outbuilding, serving as a garage and servants’ quarters, and remnants of a formal rose garden with concrete pathways and a circular flower box, enhance the propertys historical character.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/west/northwest/#p=54790774713
China as in fancy dishes, not China the country, although maybe some or much of it was from the country of China.
Located along the main parkway in Pigeon Forge (US441/321). Below FAMOUS is BRANDS.
NOTE: As of 2025, this building is now gone.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/east/smokies/#p=54735629957
The Dickson County Justice Center, located at 500 Spring Street in Charlotte, Tennessee, is a modern, three-story, 70,000-square-foot facility that serves as the county’s primary judicial hub. Completed in November 2020, it consolidates multiple court functions previously spread across separate buildings, including Circuit Court, Chancery Court, General Sessions Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Court. The building features a secure judges’ parking area, holding cells, and a central control system, with courtrooms and clerk offices on the upper floors. Its design emphasizes functionality and security, with a single main entrance equipped with a metal detector and baggage check, separate staff and prisoner elevators, and a two-story atrium with hardwood millwork and porcelain tile at the entrance. A flexible multi-use room on the main floor accommodates large conferences, jury assemblies, and courtroom waiting areas, enhancing operational efficiency.
Architecturally, the Justice Center blends modern utility with aesthetic harmony, complementing Charlotte’s historic Courthouse Square. Designed by Wold | HFR Design and constructed by T.W. Frierson Contractor, Inc., the building uses brick and cast stone trim to echo the visual character of the historic Dickson County Courthouse (see it here: flic.kr/p/9tAuDV ), built in 1833 and still the oldest operating courthouse in Tennessee. Located off TN-Highway 49, it acts as a new focal point for the downtown district while maintaining the area’s traditional charm. The project, costing $23 million, was driven by the need to replace outdated facilities, with input from local judges to ensure state-of-the-art functionality. The Justice Center’s secure design and technological upgrades improve access to justice while preserving the community’s historical identity, making it a significant addition to Dickson County’s infrastructure.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/midnw/dickson/#p=54773093205
The Collinwood Railroad Station, also known as the Tennessee Western Railroad Station, is a historic landmark in Collinwood, Tennessee, built in 1916 to serve the railroad line connecting the town to Iron City, which spurred significant local growth and transformed Collinwood into a bustling boom town with a population of around two thousand before World War I. Constructed by the Tennessee Western Railroad under a lease from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, the well-built depot featured a four-room design with later additions like a baggage room and warehouse in 1918, playing a vital role in transportation, freight handling, and community development until operations ceased in 1939 and the tracks were removed by 1941. Over the decades, the station adapted to various uses, including as a private residence, warehouse, grist mill, City Hall from 1965 to 1980, and senior citizens center until 2000, before being renovated and repurposed as the Collinwood Depot Branch Library in 2001. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 for its architectural, engineering, and historical significance in transportation and settlement, the station stands as a preserved symbol of early 20th-century rail heritage along what is now a highway bed
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/midsw/wayneperry/#p=54724780712
This bridge was originally built by Tennessee Central Railroad in Clarksville. This line had several bridge through the middle of town. When the tracks were removed, several of the bridges were preserved, and a couple of them turned into pedestrian use.
Today, this through truss bridge is part of the Upland Trail in Clarksville's Greenway system. Before it opened to pedestrians, an additional fence was added on all sides. (I'm not used to the enclosure going above me, but I guess they didn't want people to climb it. The bridge has earned the nickname "The Cage.") The trail ends at the south end of the bridge, so it is a pedestrian bridge to nowhere. The south end is at Valleybrook Park, and while you can't get into the park from this bridge, it's where the bridge gets the name. I wonder if they've ever planned on a walkway or stairs on that side.
While the trail stops here, it does provide a good view of the 1891 Railroad bridge over the Cumberland River. Live tracks run below this bridge on a line once part of NCStL and now part of RJ Corman.
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/midnw/montgomery/#p=54770607665
This mural highlights: The towns location near three counties the historic L-shaped train station: flic.kr/p/2rrvdtM The Park Theater, where the mural is located: flic.kr/p/2r2rv1c Home of Bethel University Zip code 38201 The gazebo in the middle of the town square The high school team mascot Rebels The Webb Public School with Professor JL Seets Established 1869
See this photo here: https://seemidtn.com/collection/galleries/tn/west/northwest/#p=54777572134
While this barn now has an advertisement for the Lost Creek Golf Club, at one time, this was a barn advertising Rock City. (In the David Jenkins book on Rock City Barns, it appears on page 152 top middle.)
The golf club itself opened in 1967, but closed in 2019. Their Ad is painted on both sides. I don't know when it was first painted, but it doesn't appear to be that way in the Jenkins 1996 book. Their clubhouse was about a quarter mile away in the direction the arrow is pointing.
This barn is visible from two different highways. Modern US11E runs to the north of the barn, in the background. This image was taken from the south side along Old Andrew Johnson Highway. This barn is also about a half mile west of the middle of New Market, TN.
This is now one of 97 different Rock City Barns I have photographed and uploaded to Flickr in my Rock City Barns set. I'm close to 100, but the remaining ones are getting tougher to see. People often ask me how I've found so many of them. I have drawn from many resources such as books and web sites and sometimes luck, but there's not really one "go to" place to find them all. Well, now on my flickr account, I have tried to create a one stop source for the locations of all of the barns I've been to. Check this Map of Rock City Barns page, where I have plotted each barn on a Map.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54746510337/
Elm Springs, a historic Greek Revival mansion located just outside Columbia, Tennessee, was constructed in 1837 by wealthy New Orleans cotton merchants James and Nathaniel Dick as a wedding gift for their sister, Sarah Dick Todd, and her husband, Christopher Todd. The two-story brick home, built by master builder Nathan Vaught on a 500-acre property named for its abundant elm trees and natural springs, features classic elements such as a two-story portico with Doric columns, wide hallways, and spacious rooms, making it one of the finest surviving examples of antebellum architecture in Maury County. The Todds resided there for the remainder of their lives, establishing it as a prominent cotton plantation in the region.
Following the Todds' deaths, the property passed to their daughter, Susan Todd Looney, and her husband, Abraham M. Looney, a prominent attorney, Tennessee state senator, and Confederate officer who rose from captain to lieutenant colonel in the 1st Tennessee Infantry during the Civil War. In November 1864, amid the Franklin-Nashville Campaign, Union forces under General John M. Schofield, preparing to withdraw from Columbia, targeted Elm Springs for destruction as part of a "burn line" to clear fields of fire, setting fires inside the house. However, arriving Confederate cavalry under Brigadier General Frank C. Armstrong extinguished the flames and prevented its total loss, later using the mansion to shelter convalescing officers, including General John C. Brown, who would become Tennessee's governor. Post-war, the property changed hands to the Akin family around 1910, then to Howard and Rebecca T. Blocker in 1946, with Rebecca retaining ownership into the 1970s.
In 1985, the Gillham family acquired Elm Springs and undertook restorations to return it to near-original condition, leading to its addition to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The Sons of Confederate Veterans purchased the property in 1992, establishing it as their international headquarters and, until a 2005 split over political differences, sharing it with the Military Order of the Stars and Bars. Today, the seven-acre site includes the restored mansion open for tours and rentals, alongside a recently added multi-million-dollar National Confederate Museum housing artifacts and offices, preserving its role as a key link to Tennessee's antebellum and Civil War heritage while drawing visitors interested in Southern history.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54764422709/
Bowl-O-Rena, a beloved family entertainment venue in Dickson, Tennessee, has been a staple of local leisure since its establishment in 1980 as one of the area's premier bowling centers, located at 726 E. College St. in the heart of this historic community founded in 1803 and known for its early iron industry roots. Operating as Bowl-O-Rena Inc., it features multiple lanes for open bowling, leagues, and tournaments—including hosting high school events like the 2024 Division I Region Bowling Tournaments—alongside a snack bar serving popular local favorites that has passed routine health inspections as recently as March 2024. Over its 45 years in business, the alley has cultivated a reputation for its welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, with friendly staff and no-tap games on Friday nights drawing bowlers of all ages, though some visitors note its traditional, older-school vibe compared to newer competitors in Dickson. As a community hub, it continues to thrive, offering affordable fun and fostering social connections in a town rich with Tennessee heritage.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54787919581/
The Sevier County Courthouse was completed on November 10, 1895 with Kenneth McDonald as the supervising architect. This is the fifth courthouse for Sevier County and was built for a little over $22,000. Limestone came from a nearby quarry and Isaac Dockery, a notable African American brick mason in Sevierville, manufactured the bricks. The centerpiece of the courthouse is the Seth Thomas clock which is located in the 130ft tall tower. This clock cost more than $1,300 and is still in flawless operation today. Several finishing touches were made over the next several months and the first court was held on October 5, 1896.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54796178617/
This church was founded in 1874 amid a contentious split from the Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church, which had been established in 1851, with the new congregation purchasing the church building for $200. The two groups frequently clashed, leading to multiple name changes for the new church and a decline in membership that resulted in its closure, though they eventually reconciled and reunited with the original Mt. Horeb congregation. In 1986, a private investor acquired the white board frame building, initiating extensive repairs, and it is now celebrated as the Hebron Presbyterian Church, renowned for its stunning arched windows and shutters, making it one of the most beautiful churches in the county.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54806275779/
Dyersburg's Greyhound Bus Station is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure to the Dyersburg Courthouse Square Historic District. (Note in 1991, it was a Dominos Pizza, but today is known as Bus Stop Dyersburg. The Bus Stop sign is not vintage.) Here is the text of that listing:
24. 304 West Court Street. Greyhound Bus Station (Domino's Pizza) ca. 1938. Art Deco. One-story brick building with a stone foundation. Facade is dominated by a vertical spire on a series of gradually stacked horizontal platforms over a double-leaf glass door. The spire, doors, and a pair of triple disk motif elements are extended in brick from the remainder of the building. Each side of the building is flanked with a flat sheet metal awning. Parking lot once served as the driveway for busses, and thus connects the property with the district. (C)
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54808716805/
This is located at the back of the parking lot for the school's bookstore along College St.
Elements of this mural:
A megaphone with their chant "Let's Go Peay!"
Browning Administration Building
A mother and child next to a doctor.
Their Governors mascot
A Fort Campbell Soldier
Behind the soldier is the railroad bridge over the Cumberland River.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54807542362/
Hines Pond is a nearly forgotten scenic spot in Tracy City, TN. It's located along highway US41 on the west side of town, and there's a small paved parking lot and a picnic table. The stream becomes Big Fiery Gizzard Creek and eventually becomes some of the best waterfalls in the Cumberland Plateau.
To see more of the area, check my video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgNslQRah18
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/51783308582/
There's a facebook page for this barn where the flag was painted for the background of a 2013 Country Music Video.
www.facebook.com/groups/132351087316009/
The barn is located along Spencer Mill Rd. in southern Dickson County, TN.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/53582474626/
I believe this is an amazing piece of Southern country culture. Ifrst, it's part of the legacy of how the town of Centerville has honored the local legacy. But it's also from a local artist using a rare art form and it appears in a quaint location.
The story begins with this statue from 2005: flic.kr/p/h243t
Unhappy with the way city leaders treated the town square traffic leading to the statue, it was moved several times. The city fixed town square traffic and in 2016 then commissioned this chicken wire statue to placed in the same spot as the first.
Recently, a more traditional statue was placed on the square: flic.kr/p/2pvxXxq
The Chicken wire statue needed a new home. A local garden club had the perfect spot. On the east side of town where highway 100/48 cross the Duck River, there's an intersection with the old highway runs between a rock bluff and the river. At that intersection is the Centerville Bluff Garden and this art has been moved to a natural ledge halfway up the bluff.
Map: www.google.com/maps/@35.7851792,-87.4571496,3a,75y,354.66...
The Artist is Ricky Pittman. He intended to make more or Pearl, but the project was unfunded. However, he was commissioned to make a Dolly Parton out of Chicken Wire for the Graduate Hotel in Nashville. He has a website here: egrapevinestore.com/blog/
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/53552975459/
Tims Ford Dam was built by the TVA from 1966 to 1970, stands 175 feet high and 1580 feet long at its crest, and impounds the Elk River for an average of 36 megawatts of hydroelectric power. The reservoir has a flood storage capacity of 219,600 acre-feet.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/52299016697/
Seen in Cross Plains, TN at Exit 112 Antique Mall.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/50131636748/
Spokes is the name of this artwork arch of different kinds of Bicycles. It is located in Cookeville's Depot District and highlights the start of a new bicycle path through town. At night, the bottom of the arch has color changing LED lights.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/52040361682/
While it's not a great view, it's still an interesting view - and you can't see it at all most of the year. Fort Dickerson Park located south of downtown is a Civil War Battlefield atop a tall hill and includes this scenic overlook.
This historic bridge over the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville was closed in 2011 for a complete rebuild. I drove over it on June 21, 2014 a few days after it reopened at a cost of $32 Million. The Open-Spandrel arch bridge originally completed in 1931 carries US441 and is the start of the Chapman Highway to Gatlinburg. For the full story:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henley_Street_Bridge
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/26630406635/
Located at Mus Island, across the Wolf river Harbor from downtown Memphis, is the famous Riverwalk. This is a scale model of the Mississippi River from its confluence with the Ohio River to it's Delta at the Gulf of Mexico 954 miles away. Thirty inches scales to one mile and one contour ridge equals five feet of vertical depth for a total length of 2,000 feet.
There are several highlights along the riverwalk. 20 cities are mapped, including Memphis and its four bridges. Nearly 100 markers point out highlights along the river. The model river empties into a one acre replica of the Gulf of Mexico. There, visitors can rent a swan-shaped paddle boat with the Memphis Skyline in the background.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/27209292635/
This vintage neon sign for the Sumner Drive-In is located at the Sumner County Museum in Gallatin, TN. A classic car is parked in front of it, so it had to be photographed at an angle, but I like the reflection off the car. The drive-in movie theater operated from 1947 to 1998.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/52188795532/
When this home was completed circa 1895, it represented a stylish Late Victorian era home in the small community in Greenbrier. Mr. Sprouse was a prominent tobacco businessman in Robertson County. Today, the house is operated as a local history museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more info and vintage pictures, check the NRHP link below:
npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/81ab1016-57da-481a-8d15-770...
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/51365417797/
If it's new
If it's sharp
We have it!
This hand-painted wall advertisement is located inside the Arcade in downtown Nashville. Also, I don't have any information on it. Please let me know if you do have info about it.
in 2019, this was a solid white wall, just like the area on the right. I'd like to think this isn't a new mural made to look like an old mural; but if that's what someone did, it has convinced me. However, if someone was able to peel white paint off of another layer of paint, that doesn't seem easy.
I can't find any record of a Yorke Men's Shop past or present at the Arcade. I also can't find any news stories regarding "look what we found when we peeled back some paint" or "look what we just made." Perhaps it is signed, but there are a couple of cars right up against it and the no parking sign.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/51832235287/
probably a UFO enthusiast, Curtis King built this house in 1972. It's located along a hairpin turn along highway US127 heading up to Signal Mountain.
The staircase which comes below was originally motorized and would retract up into the house, but it no longer works. (according to legend, one couple who owned the house had an argument, the wife retracted the stairs up and then moved the car where the stairs would lower, thus trapping the husband inside!)
When constructed, many futuristic details were added, such as rounded rooms and furniture. It had an entertainment room and full bar. The 2000 sqft house originally cost $250,000.
In the nearly 50 years since construction, it has changed owners several times, and at one point was available as a vacation rental.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/51380509182/
This is the mill of Hurricane Mills. Today, this area is much better known as being part of the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state.
This mill, and other historic spots nearby are on the National Register of Historic Places listed as the "Hurricane Mills Rural Historic District." According to a plaque across the river from the mill, this mill and dam were built by James T. Anderson in 1896. "Though wool was carded here, grain processing predominated, corn meal and flour were shipped through the south."
In the mid 60's, Loretta and Mooney Lynn purchased the 1876 mansion across the street from the river. Over the next few years, they preserved many of the nearby buildings and commercially opened the area as the dude ranch. Today, you can take a tour of the area, or just walk around some of the places, like I did. The mill's water wheel was removed and placed nearby.
Today, the mill serves two purposes. First, it is one of three gift shops on the ranch. Second, it is opened as the "Loretta Lynn Doll and Fan Museum"
Unfortunately, the Middle Tennessee May 2010 floods were not kind to Hurricane Mills. Just a few feet downstream from the mill (and would have been viewable in this picture), there was an iron bridge built in 1911 that used to carry highway TN13 (but had been replaced by a newer bridge) was completely washed away. I can't find any confirmation of this, but I suspect the mill suffered much damage as well as it looks like the exterior is almost completely rebuilt with new wood in 2010. (If you find any pre-flood picture, the mill is painted a deep red, and my 2010 photo looks like all new wood then. In this 2020 photo, the wood shows 10 years of age.)
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/51048266207/
This 1963 Ford Galaxie with the logo of Leipers Fork Sherriff used to be always parked in front of Puckett's Grocery. Now that parking spaces are hard to come by, they have moved it just outside of town along highway TN46. As this might remind someone of the Andy Griffith Show, the front license plate of "Protected by Fife."
Picture in its old spot in 2009:
flic.kr/p/6qPkhm
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/52469363804/
I suppose I had never thought about it, but Ruby Falls stays open well past sundown during the winter. Along with Rock City and the Incline Railway, Ruby Falls makes the big three tourist attractions along Lookout Mountain.
The Castle itself looks different as they cut away the vines growing up the side around 2018. There is an observation deck atop the castle.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/51831497748/
Located at the corner of Shelby Ave and 17th St., this building was originally the home of S.W. Simpkins Grocery Store. About 15 years ago, the store was abandoned and falling into disrepair.
Around 2010, the building underwent a refurbishment. The long-gone Coca Cola mural on the side of the building was also repainted about 2015 to look as it did in the past. As of 2018, the building is now home to Shelby Ave. Bicycle Co.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/51415842592/
Located a block from the middle of town, along highway TN49
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54912571407/
This 1921 building located in Chattanooga at the corner of McCallie and Orchard Knob. In the year 2000, the congregation sold the building to what is today the Richmont Graduate University.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/52234028752/
This caboose is located at the Monterey Depot Museum in Eastern Putnam County. On the day I took this photo in 2022, it was behind a fence as the build a ramp for the visitors.
Tennessee Central was headquartered in Nashville - that property is now a museum. They occasionally run excursions all the way to Monterey.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/52539253689/
This was originally used at the Big Chief Motel along highway US11W in Bean Station, TN.
This is located north of Dandridge, TN at a restaurant called Miller's Creek Café. The owners of the property went to significant effort to decorate the grounds of the restaurant with vintage memorabilia. However, it appears they never finished the project, never opened, and they never will. (Best I can tell, when the family patriarch passed away, the rest of the family was unable to fulfill his vision. Online info is limited. It probably would have been great.) The restaurant building is next door to Mill Dale Farm and their 1843 Mill house.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54239236733/
Umbrella Rock is a distinctive feature at Point Park atop Lookout Mountain. For decades, it was one of the top photo ops in the area - climb up a rock and the Moccasin Bend of the Tennessee River down below becomes your backdrop. (A quick Google search will show many examples of this.)
However, today the government won't let us have any fun. (Or, they don't want any pesky lawsuits from someone getting seriously injured from falling off a mountain in a federal park.) Today, this is locked behind a fence and this is the best view you can usually get. However, on rare occasions, the park will have event where you can get a selfie next to it, but you can't climb it anymore.
On the right is the Ochs Museum, and you can also get a view looking down upon it. www.google.com/maps/@35.0125735,-85.3438457,2a,75y,311.55...
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/52031853452/
Want more? See the full gallery here: www.seemidtn.com/album/county/3se/marshall/dolly/index.html
Dolly Parton’s Tennessean Travel Stop opened in 2026 along Interstate 65 at the US31A exit near Cornersville in southern Middle Tennessee, offering travelers a sparkling roadside destination. Outside, visitors find a tour bus display, the Doggy Parton dog park, and a welcoming courtyard near the rear entrance. Inside, the eye is drawn to a prominent chandelier crafted from guitars, mandolins, and banjos, each adorned with jewels and sequins. Food options include a full-service restaurant, a grab-and-go station, and the Cup of Ambition coffee shop. The interior is filled with lively details: large wall portraits of Dolly, guitars fashioned from license plates of famous musicians, and a general store stocked with exclusive Dolly merchandise ranging from shirts and purses to drinkware and souvenirs.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/55441863995/
"I just thank God I can make a living doing something I enjoy as much as playing music"
This Caboose is located at Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet, TN. Originally, it was a simple red caboose to celebrate the town's railroad heritage. In recent years, a mural of Charlie Daniels was painted on the caboose as well as a TN Music Pathways marker was added just off the right side.
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54442357709/
I stumbled across this sign. I assume it is a restored vintage neon sign, but I can't confirm it. However, it is new to this location. It was manufactured by Walker & Company of Detroit, which was a prolific sign maker of the big car companies.
In Columbia, Woodland St. between 7th and 8th historically has been home to several auto shops and mechanics. Now, after some redevelopment, this block is Colombia's Motor Alley.
This sign is at 806 Woodland St. I don't know if the building itself ever had a connection to Studebaker, but the building has a restored garage door. The actual business here now is Hazelwood Laboratories, which specializes in Audio equipment.
Update: The building and sign is owned by Mike Wolfe of American Pickers fame. It's on the same block as Columbia Motor Alley (Wolfe's current project).
Learn more about Hazelwood Laboratories here: https://youtu.be/ewbaJZIC55M
See this photo on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/54642744314/