Sam Davis House

Smyrna, Tennessee's Sam Davis House was constructed in 1810 as a log structure with a Greek Revival style portico. In 1847 Charles Davis purchased the home and covered the logs with poplar siding. He also added a wing on the home's rear elevation. Perhaps the most famous member of the Davis family was their eldest son Sam. When Sam was just 19 years old he enlisted in the Confederate Army. He was assigned to the First Tennessee Volunteer Infantry as a private. While in this regiment he saw battle action at Perryville and Shiloh. Davis was wounded during the latter battle. Eventually Davis was reassigned to Coleman's Scouts, where he served as a courier. On November 20, 1863 Davis was captured in Minor Hill, Tennessee on charges of espionage. The Union troops found Davis in possession of anti-Union newspapers and detailed drawings of Union fortifications in and around Nashville. Davis was held for trial in Pulaski, Tennessee. Davis was later tried, convicted, and hanged for espionage. Sam Davis was 21. His death became one of the Civil War's most notable examples of martyrdom. The "boy hero of the Confederacy" was brought back home to Smyrna and buried behind his family's home. The Davis family continued to reside in this home until 1927 when the State of Tennessee purchased it and the surrounding property. In 1969 the Sam Davis House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2016 a Navy Blue Angels airplane crashed in a field directly behind the Sam Davis House. By doing this, the pilot saved the lives of numerous people. Today the home still functions as a museum and is open to visitors year round.

At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own a historic home, commercial building, or farm? If so contact me today to learn more about the historic preservation strategies I offer. These include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, nominations for a Permanent Conservation Easement, nominations to the Century Farms program, and writing text for historic makers. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.