Two Rivers (Nashville, Tennessee)

Nashville's Two Rivers Mansion is located at the confluence of the Stones and Cumberland Rivers. This home is not to be confused with the five bay Federal style home located west of Franklin, Tennessee, that goes by the same name. Nashville's Two Rivers is one of the only purely Italianate style homes remaining in Tennessee. Architectural historians have identified the nearby Clover Bottom Mansion as the other surviving pure Italianate style home, and also as an identical twin of Two Rivers. Italianate style homes feature very elaborate front porticos, elaborate trim around the roof line, and arched windows that span from the ceiling to the floor. Homes of this variety feature open air, rectangular floor plans. These style homes were popular during the mid to late 1850s (Clover Bottom:1858, Two Rivers:1859). The Two Rivers Mansion was the second house to be built on the property. In 1802, a small brick house was constructed on the property by William Harding. This home was Harding's residence until the property was passed through his will to his daughter Willie, and her husband David H. McGavock. The Harding and McGavock families were significant figures in Tennessee history. The Harding family were responsible for the Belle Meade Plantation, and the McGavock family were responsible for the Carnton Plantation. Shortly after acquiring the property near the confluence of the "two rivers," McGavock set to work constructing a home for his family. According to Two Rivers' National Register nomination, the brick used in the home's construction were quarried and fired on site. Almost all of the bricks were stamped with the name "David H. McGavock." Some of the bricks even have the children's hand prints on them. The cedar used to construct the home's front portico and floor and ceiling beams, were taken from trees growing on the property. The "filgree" design on the portico of the home, is thought to have been carved by slaves. Two Rivers withstood the Civil War, and the years that followed. In 1965, descendants of the McGavock family sold Two Rivers and its surrounding acreage to Metro Nashville. A total of three generations of the McGavock family have lived at Two Rivers. Metro Nashville converted the home and property into a park, golf course, and event center. When finished, the property featured an eighteen hole golf course, baseball and softball fields, six tennis courts, and a playground. The Two Rivers Mansion was converted for use as an event center for weddings, anniversary parties, birthday parties, and any other type of special event. The Two Rivers property still serves all of these functions today. In 1972, Two Rivers was listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance. Two Rivers is truly a Tennessee historical gem, and is a fine work of historic preservation!!

The nearby Clover Bottom Mansion is often referred to by historians as Two Rivers' identical twin, or vice versa. Clover Bottom is owned by the State of Tennessee and serves as the offices of the Tennessee Historical Commission. 

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.