Dickson Williams Mansion- Greeneville Tennessee

We bought our tickets to the Dickson Williams Mansion at the General Morgan Hotel.  This was very convenient, and you could buy tickets for other tours at the hotel!  PLUS, the Dickson Williams Mansion is right behind the hotel!
 

A very friendly lady introduced herself to us as Patty, our guide.  From there we were off for a marathon tour!

She took us over at 1.  I told her we like the "weird stories" and trivia relating to a historic home.  She delivered.  I told her she was giving us a great story in each room.  In the first room, there was a white couch and 2 chairs donated by the Johnson family that had been to the White House!  She knew something cool about each room!

She talked about how the house had been built, with a generous portion built for servants.  The family housed both Union and Confederate soldiers here at different times during the war (the family had 1 child fighting for the north, and 2 for the south).

People visit this house because of Morgan.  John Hunt Morgan was a legendary Confederate General who operated in a very rough way.  Anyway, Patty pointed out the areas (outside of the home) where he was chased, and gave us a very vivid account of his final moments.  After the tour, we were able to retrace Morgan’s last moments.

The last room you really tour is the room where John Hunt Morgan spent his last night.  Patty talked about Morgan’s body being displayed there the next day.  Morgan had no descendants (though Patty did have someone come through claiming to be a descendant- and that person said they would never take a DNA test).

Patty asked if we were on a time limit, and I told her not really.  Well, we ended the tour well after 3!  This was a great tour, of a cool home with a great Civil War connection.  PLUS, the one hour tour ended up being much longer, and we LOVED THAT!  With Patty, we got way more than our money’s worth and we felt like we truly understood the Dickson Williams Mansion AND Greeneville in the Civil War.  This tour gets my highest possible recommendation!

General Morgan Inn- Greeneville Tennessee

We have been trying to stay at historic hotels when we can.... and I was super excited that we were able to get a room at the General Morgan Inn!

This great hotel is literally the heart of the town.  It is vibrant and warm.  The front desk was able to tell us everything about the town, tours, and history.  The Andrew Johnson sites, historic buildings, and great local shops are all a very short walk from here!

They have a very nice upscale restaurant inside.  We were able to purchase tickets for a local tour at the front desk too.

Local coffee shop Catalyst Coffee is housed inside of the General Morgan Inn, and we were given vouchers for breakfast at the coffee shop!

I REALLY like having a nice coffee shop inside of a hotel.  The Alex Johnson has a similar set up too.

This is such a perfect hotel in a great historic town.  We went there mostly for the history... but I am sure we will be back again because Greeneville, and the General Morgan Inn, are so cozy!

Catalyst Coffee in Greeneville Tennessee

As we stayed in Greeneville Tennessee for a few days, I was thrilled to see that the town has a GREAT little local coffee shop!

We stayed at the General Morgan Inn, and in the same building was Catalyst Coffee!

The place is cozy, in a historic area, and it has good coffee!

We hung out here a good amount while in town.  The staff was helpful and friendly.  The coffee was good.  The food was good.

AND Catalyst Coffee cares about their community!  THEY GIVE AWAY THEIR PROFITS!  Seriously, check out their page for more info on it!  I think that is pretty cool though!

President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library near Greeneville Tennessee

Tusculum College near Greeneville Tennessee has a GREAT little museum dedicated to Andrew Johnson. 

It is not walking distance from the other Johnson sites, but it is a very scenic, enjoyable short drive from the area.

Also, though the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library is small, it is packed with some super cool relics.  Johnson's desk and other items are on display.  My FAVORITE item is the train themed tea set that belonged to Jefferson Davis.  The set was taken from Richmond and was going to be a gift to the 16th President.  Since Lincoln was assassinated shortly after that, the tea set found its way in to Andrew Johnson's collection!

AND, very close by is the home stadium for the low A farm team of the Houston Astros!  The college, museum, minor league baseball team ALL make this a great area!

US Post Office Greeneville Tennessee

Here is an undated postcard showing the old post office in Greeneville Tennessee!

Greeneville Courthouse- Greeneville, Tennessee

Here are a few pics I took of the courthouse in Greeneville Tennessee, along with a postcard scan!  The postcard is undated, put I am guessing from the early 50s.  I tried to get a photo from the same angle as the postcard.....  Check out the few changes!  It is still very similar!

Postcard- Andrew Johnson Memorial- Greeneville, Tennessee

"The original building, the old tailor shop in which Andrew Johnson worked as a tailor before becoming the 17th President of the United States, still stands in Greeneville, Tennessee.  A brick building has been placed around the old shop to preserve it for future generations."

Greene County Gaol- Greeneville, Tennessee

ANOTHER great thing to check out in Greeneville Tennessee, in addition to the various Andrew Johnson and Civil War sites, is the old jail.

They kind of leave the building open.  We strolled through one night, and again the next day. 

Greeneville Astros- Greeneville Tennessee

The Greeneville area has a minor league baseball team!

Unfortunately, their season had ended by the time I made it to Pioneer Park.  Fortunately for them, they won their championship this season!

Still, I was thrilled that Sales Account Executive Ben Stillner and other staff were still around to let me buy some of their merch, and to let me check out the park!  The Appalachian League Astros were done for the season, but the local Tusculum College team was practicing on the field!


PLUS, the team has a very nice museum in their offices.  We were able to check things out there too!

Like many of the other minor league parks I have visited in the off season, the Greeneville Astros could not have been any more generous.  They encouraged me to take my time in the team shop, at the park, and at their museum.

AND, I got the feeling while I was there, that this must be an incredible place to see a game during the season.  It is a nice, cozy park in a small town setting.  With the professional, yet hungry players they must bring in, the action is going to be exciting.

I will have to make it back for a game.

Andrew Johnson Replica House- Greeneville Tennessee

We found out that, not too far from the Andrew Johnson home in Greeneville Tennessee is an exact replica of the home!

It seems that there was a lady living in the Andrew Johnson home, and the parks hoped to take it over, and open it up to tourists.  The owner agreed to give up the home IF they would build one exactly like it nearby!  Well, that's just what happened!

Night-Time View, Home of Andrew Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn.

This beautiful unsent postcard says on the back-

Andrew Johnson was born in 1808 in North Carolina and died in 1875 in Carter County, Tenn., where he had gone to visit a daughter.  His body was removed to his home at Greeneville and, because of his oft repeated request, was wrapped in the flag of his country for burial.  His burial plot and about 15 acres surrounding it was aquired by the United States Government and is now known as the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery.  He was the 17th president of the U.S.A.

Greeneville Tennessee

I know I have said it before, but I have really wanted to get to Greeneville Tennessee for some time!

We briefly thought about trying to stop here on a day trip, but after reading up on it, we knew we needed more time than that.

Andrew Johnson, Our 17th President, spent a lot of time here.  The National Park Service and nearby Tusculum College have done a super job of preserving and providing great sites associated with him.


Legendary Confederate General John Hunt Morgan spent his last night here.... and died here.

Greeneville was (kind of) the Capital of the State of Franklin.  I know what you are thinking...  there is no state named Franklin.  Well, there almost was.  Its pretty complicated and very interesting.  Look it up.

So, there were many things associated with this town that I wanted to take in!  Luckily, as we explored, we learned that there was even more strange history going on!


I have a lot to say about the place, but for now, here are some random photos from around town....