Clover Bottom Mansion

The Clover Bottom Mansion is one of the oldest homes in Tennessee. It was constructed on land along the Stones River, in present day Donelson, Tennessee. The land that the mansion sits on was claimed in 1780 by John Donelson. Donelson was the father of United States First Lady Rachel Jackson. Donelson eventually sold the property to Dr. James Hoggatt. The Hoggatts built the current structure in 1858, as the center piece of their 1,500 acre plantation. The name "Clover Bottom" was given to the plantation due to it being located in the "bottom" land of the Stones River. The mansion was constructed using the ornamental Italianate architectural style. This architectural style is similar to the McGavock family's nearby Two River's Mansion. The Clover Bottom Plantation was home to approximately sixty slaves. One of the slaves, John McCline, was ten or eleven when he joined a group of Federal troops passing by, becoming a teamster for them. During the Civil War, troops from both sides set up camp on the grounds of the mansion. On one occasion, when Nathan Bedford Forrest and his men camped at Clover Bottom, the Hoggatt family threw them a barbecue of ham, and corn bread. In 1886 the Hoggatt family sold the mansion and surrounding grounds to Andrew Price. Price had been a four term Congressman from Louisiana. Price had deep roots in Tennessee, and Clover Bottom was a way for him to reclaim them. He and his wife restored the home, and added multiple outbuildings, in order to house thoroughbred race horses. These horses were entered in races at the nearby race track. The Price family owned the Clover Bottom Mansion until 1918, when it was sold to the Stanford family. The Stanford's owned the home until they sold it to the State of Tennessee in 1948. The State used the  mansion as a State Trooper outpost, and also for the Tennessee School for the Blind. By 1980, the historic home had fallen into a state of neglect. The home sat that way until 1994, when the offices of the Tennessee Historical Commission were relocated there. The THC restored the home and all of its outbuildings. Interpretive material, and walking trails were also added to make the site visitor friendly. The THC also provides tours of the bottom floor of the historic home by appointment. The Clover Bottom Mansion is a true historic preservation success story.

The Clover Bottom Mansion as it looked during the Civil War.

Restored slave cabins at Clover Bottom.

Historical Marker at Clover Bottom.

The McGavock family's Two Rivers Mansion bears a strong architectural resemblance to Clover Bottom.

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