Clement Railroad Hotel Museum-Hotel Halbrook Historic Site

Clement Railroad Hotel Museum-Hotel Halbrook Historic Site The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, located in the 1913 Hotel Halbrook in Dickson, TN, explores regional history, highlights Governor Frank G. Education. Events.

Clement’s legacy, and preserves the rich heritage of Tennessee through engaging exhibits State Historic Site. Tours. Venue Rental. Membership. Community Center. All at the heart of Dickson. The Hotel Halbrook, the home of the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, was constructed in 1913 and is one of the few remaining examples of a railroad hotel in a small Tennessee town. It functioned as a hotel until

1954. On June 9, 2009, it opened to the public once again and became officially known as the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, under the Tennessee Historical Commission. The Museum explores the history and heritage of Dickson County, the Western Highland Rim, and the State of Tennessee through exhibits and collections relating to the railroad, iron ore industry, commerce, the Civil War, settlement, and the accomplishments of Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement. The Museum is fortunate to have many artifacts and items that once belonged to Governor Clement and his family. Museum visitors can see the rooms where the Clements' lived while managing the Hotel Halbrook as well as exhibits featuring Governor Clement's early years, campaigns, and accomplishments. Here at the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, we educate and provide events for the community, give tours throughout the museum, provide membership to visitors, offer venue rental and are a visitor center right at the heart of Dickson. This project is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Historical Commission.

What a wonderful evening at Artsy First Thursday and the official opening reception for the Clement Railroad Hotel Museu...
09/04/2026

What a wonderful evening at Artsy First Thursday and the official opening reception for the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum’s newest temporary exhibit, “Then & Now”!

We were thrilled to welcome so many visitors to explore this unique exhibition, created in partnership with the Artists Guild of Dickson County. “Then & Now” pairs the history of some of Dickson County’s most iconic architectural landmarks with original artwork depicting how these special places appear today.

The exhibit will remain on display through the end of October 2026. Each original piece of artwork is also available through a silent auction benefiting the Clement Museum’s endowment. Bidding will continue through October 22, when the auction concludes during our annual Legacy Event.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the opening such a success! We invite you to visit the museum, experience “Then & Now,” and place a bid to support the preservation of Dickson County’s history for generations to come.

Come on out tonight from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for the opening of “Then & Now,” the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum’s newest t...
09/03/2026

Come on out tonight from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for the opening of “Then & Now,” the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum’s newest temporary exhibit!

Created in partnership with the Artists Guild of Dickson County, Then & Now pairs the history of some of our county’s most iconic architectural landmarks with original artwork showing how local artists see these places today.

Admission is FREE, so stop by, enjoy the artwork, and discover Dickson County’s architectural history in a whole new way!

This project was made possible through a Tennessee America 250 grant.

“Then & Now: The Architectural History of Dickson County,” our newest temporary exhibit, is now on display at the Clemen...
09/02/2026

“Then & Now: The Architectural History of Dickson County,” our newest temporary exhibit, is now on display at the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum!

Created in partnership with the Artists Guild of Dickson County, this special exhibition brings together local history and local art. The Clement Museum researched the stories behind some of Dickson County’s most iconic historic buildings and architectural sites. Members of the Artists Guild then visited each location and created original works of art representing their own views of those places as they appear today.

Join us tomorrow (Thursday, September 3, 2026) from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for the exhibit’s opening reception. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome!

Come see these incredible works of art and discover more about the rich architectural history of Dickson County.

This project was made possible through the Tennessee America 250 Grant.

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum is proud to announce Steve Bass, founder and owner of Bass Tire Company, as our third ...
08/31/2026

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum is proud to announce Steve Bass, founder and owner of Bass Tire Company, as our third honoree for the 2026 Legacy Event on Thursday, October 22.

A Dickson County native, Steve has built a remarkable career in business while never forgetting the community that helped shape him. Beyond his success as a business owner, he has become known for his generosity and philanthropy, supporting organizations and causes that strengthen communities and improve the lives of others.

Additionally, Steve’s connection to the Clement story, goes back long before the Hotel Halbrook became a museum.

As a young man, Steve knew Maybelle Clement, mother of Governor Frank G. Clement, who continued to live in the Hotel Halbrook after her son rose to become Governor of Tennessee. Steve would purchase groceries for Mrs. Clement and bring them to her here at the hotel, the building that today houses the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum - Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site

It is a meaningful connection that brings Steve’s story full circle. Decades later, we are honored to welcome him back to this historic place, not carrying groceries through its doors, but being recognized for the legacy he has built through his own entrepreneurship, generosity, and service to others.

Join us on October 22 as we honor Steve Bass and celebrate the other individuals whose lives and accomplishments embody the spirit of Legacy.

🎟️ Tickets can be purchased below and are $100 per person. Admission includes access to the Legacy program as well as receptions before and after the program featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

👇

https://clementrailroadmuseum.org/gift-shop/ols/products/2026-legacy-event-ticket

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum congratulates Danny Williams on his inauguration as the 11th Mayor of Dickson County, ...
08/30/2026

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum congratulates Danny Williams on his inauguration as the 11th Mayor of Dickson County, Tennessee!

We look forward to working with Mayor Williams and his administration as we continue preserving and sharing our county’s history while building an even stronger future for Dickson County.

Along with Mayor Williams, members of the Dickson County Commission and new members of the Dickson County Board of Education were also sworn into office.

We were especially proud to play a role in today’s ceremonies. Dickson County’s Register of Deeds, County Trustee, General Sessions Court Clerk, Administrator of Highways, and Sheriff all took their oaths using a Bible that once belonged to Governor Frank G. Clement and is preserved in the Clement Museum’s collection.

The Bible was presented to Governor Clement in March 1953, shortly after he began his first term, by his friend, the Rev. Billy Graham.

Their friendship extended far beyond this gift. Faith was an important part of Clement’s public and private life. He assisted Graham with “crusades” in Nashville and across the country, and Graham even encouraged Clement to leave politics and join his ministry. Clement declined, believing his own calling was public service. Their families remained close for decades.

Frank G. Clement, a Dickson native, served as Governor of Tennessee from 1953–1959 and 1963–1967 and became one of Tennessee’s most consequential political figures of his generation. Graham became one of the most influential Christian evangelists of the 20th century.

More than seven decades after that Bible was given to a young Tennessee governor, we were honored to see it used again as Dickson County’s newest public servants took their oaths of office.

Congratulations to Mayor Williams and all of our inaugurated county officials. We look forward to working together in service to Dickson County and its future!

70 years ago this week, 12 courageous young Black students walked into Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee, and in...
08/28/2026

70 years ago this week, 12 courageous young Black students walked into Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee, and into the history of the American Civil Rights Movement.

In August 1956, the “Clinton 12” entered the previously all White Clinton High School, making it the first state supported public high school in the Southeast to be desegregated.

Their actions came only two years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 decision in “Brown v. Board of Education” declared segregated public schools unconstitutional. Brown II followed in 1955, ordering desegregation with “all deliberate speed,” language that allowed time delays across much of the South.

In Clinton, however, a federal court ordered integration for the 1956-57 school year. Alfred Williams, Alvah Jay McSwain, Anna Theresser Caswell, Bobby Cain, Gail Ann Epps, Maurice Soles, Minnie Ann Dickey, Regina Turner, Robert Thacker, Ronald Gordon Hayden, William Latham, and Jo Ann Allen became the young people who carried that order into reality.

Their courage was quickly tested as outside segregationists, including John Kasper, descended on Clinton and demonstrations escalated into violence.

Tennessee was then led by 36-year-old Governor Frank G. Clement. In September 1956, faced with mob violence and resistance to the federal court order, Clement deployed the Tennessee National Guard to Clinton to restore order and protect the integration process. Becoming the first American governor to use the National Guard to enforce school integration.

70 years later, we remember the courage of the 12, their families, and those who stood with them.

We encourage everyone to learn more by visiting and following the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton, which preserves this important chapter of Tennessee and American history.

Former U.S. Congressman Bob Clement is remembering his friend Dolly Parton and reflecting on her extraordinary life, gen...
08/28/2026

Former U.S. Congressman Bob Clement is remembering his friend Dolly Parton and reflecting on her extraordinary life, generosity, and enduring legacy.

Years ago, Clement spoke at the dedication of the Dolly Parton Parkway in Sevierville. During his remarks, he told her:

“Now Dolly, always remember to be kind to those on your way up the ladder of success, because you’ll have to pass by them on your way back down.”

When Clement sat back down, Dolly leaned over and warmly replied, “Bob, I’m not going back down.”

“And I am not surprised at all that Dolly only continued to rise in success,” Clement recalled.

Clement also reflected on Dolly’s Sevier County roots and her high school friend Gary Wade, who went on to serve as Mayor of Sevierville and Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court. Today, Gary Wade Boulevard runs near Dolly Parton Parkway, two roads honoring two Sevier County natives whose very different lives brought tremendous pride to their hometown and Tennessee.

“Dolly was an extraordinary entertainer, but her legacy reaches far beyond her music. She was a brilliant businesswoman, a philanthropist with a genuine concern for those who went without, and through her Imagination Library, she put books into the hands of millions of children.” Clement said.

Clement continued, “For all her success, Dolly remained genuinely kind. She never forgot where she came from, and she used the success she earned to lift up others along the way.

“There will never be another Dolly Parton. Tennessee has lost one of its greatest ambassadors, and the world has lost a truly remarkable human being. We were simply fortunate to have lived at the same time as Dolly.”

About Bob Clement: Robert “Bob” Clement represented Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District from 1988 to 2003 and also served on the Tennessee Public Service Commission and TVA Board of Directors and as president of Cumberland University. The eldest son of Governor Frank G. Clement, he is President Emeritus of the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum – Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site in Dickson, Tennessee.

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum - Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site is proud to honor Dickson native Sunita Mani at o...
08/28/2026

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum - Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site is proud to honor Dickson native Sunita Mani at our annual Legacy Event on Thursday, October 22!

Born and raised in Dickson, Sunita is a graduate of Dickson County High School who has gone on to build an acclaimed career as an actress, comedian, dancer, and performer. From her hometown in Tennessee to screens around the world, Sunita’s career is a wonderful example of the talent and creativity that have their roots right here in Dickson County.

You may recognize Sunita from her many television appearances including: GLOW, Mr. Robot, The Good Place, Search Party, No Activity, and Scavengers Reign, as well as films including Everything Everywhere All at Once, Spirited, W**e Country, Save Yourselves!, Evil Eye, A Nice Indian Boy, Death of a Unicorn, and The Roses. She also gained early national attention for her unforgettable appearance in the music video for Dj Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What.”

On October 22, we invite you to join us as Sunita returns home to Dickson County and is recognized as one of the Clement Museum’s 2026 Legacy Event honorees!

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now for $100 per person.

Purchase tickets here 👇

https://clementrailroadmuseum.org/gift-shop/ols/products/2026-legacy-event-ticket

Your ticket includes admission to the Legacy Event program as well as receptions before and after the program featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

08/27/2026

🎨 THEN & NOW: An Architectural Art History of Dickson County 🖼️

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum is excited to announce the opening of our newest temporary exhibit, “Then & Now,” on Friday, August 21!

Created in partnership with the Artists Guild of Dickson County, Then & Now explores historic places from across Dickson County (some still standing and others long gone). Historic photographs from the museum’s collection are paired with original works by local artists, capturing how these places appear today while offering each artist’s own interpretation of our shared past.

Join us for a special Then & Now Opening Reception during Artsy First Thursday:

📅 Thursday, September 3
🕔 5:00–8:00 PM
🎟️ FREE & open to the public

Meet the artists whose work is featured in the exhibit, enjoy live music and light refreshments, and spend an evening celebrating the intersection of local history and art.

Can’t make the September 3rd reception? Then & Now officially opens Friday, August 21 and can be viewed during regular museum hours with the cost of general admission.

&now

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum - Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site is proud to honor renowned Tennessee artist Phil ...
08/26/2026

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum - Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site is proud to honor renowned Tennessee artist Phil Ponder at our annual Legacy Event on Thursday, October 22!

For decades, Phil has helped preserve the places and memories of Middle Tennessee through his extraordinarily detailed pen-and-ink and watercolor paintings. He is best known for his depictions of Nashville skylines, historic buildings, churches, schools, homes, and landmarks. Phil has completed more than 700 paintings during his remarkable career. His distinctive technique combines artistic skill with painstaking architectural accuracy, sometimes even counting individual rows of bricks to ensure a building is captured correctly.

Phil’s life of service extends far beyond the canvas. A U.S. Navy veteran, he spent 30 years with Genesco before making art his second career. He later served two terms on the Metro Nashville Council, more than a decade on the Metro Planning Commission, and as a community liaison for former U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper. In 2023, the Metro Historical Commission honored Phil with its “Achievement Award” for his work documenting and preserving Middle Tennessee’s architectural history through art.

Join us on October 22 as we celebrate Phil Ponder and recognize his extraordinary artistic and civic legacy.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now for $100 per person and include admission to the Legacy Event program, along with receptions before and after the program featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

Purchase tickets below 👇

https://clementrailroadmuseum.org/gift-shop/ols/products/2026-legacy-event-ticket

Address

100 Frank Clement Place
Dickson, TN
37055

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+16154460500

Website

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