Grassmere

Nashville's Grassmere Mansion was constructed around 1815 as a five bay Federal style structure. The home also has elements of the Italianate style in the ornamental trim on the portico and the curved windows on the facade. Those features were added in the late 19th century. The home features an "I" shaped floor plan. The home features a gabled roof with chimneys on each of the side elevations, and sits on a stone foundation. The home sits on land that was part of a 640 acre land grant that was issued from North Carolina. In 1810, Michael C. Dunn purchased 272 acres of that grant and built a log cabin for himself and his family. Soon after he had a larger home constructed that he dubbed Grassmere. This home would remain in the ownership of Dunn's descendants until 1964. In 1964, the home and 200 acres were deeded to the Cumberland Museum to be developed and operated as a nature study center. When the final Dunn descendant passed away in 1985, the plans for this nature center were put in motion. The land opened to the public that same year as Grassmere Wildlife Park. In 1994 the park closed and the City of Nashville purchased the home and land. The Metro Council decided that there were two options for the property. They would either relocate the Nashville Zoo from Joelton, or simply make Grassmere a city park. The former option was chosen and in 1998 the Nashville Zoo officially relocated from Joelton to Grassmere and has remained there ever since. The Grassmere Mansion remains a vital part of the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Archaeological resources such as the Dunn Family cemetery remain intact on the property, even after the bodies were relocated  closer to the family home in 2013. In 1984 the Grassmere Mansion was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion B and C for its association with prominent Nashville citizens and also for its significance in architecture. The Grassmere Mansion is a great example of adaptive reuse of a historic property.

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.