Sumner County Museum

06/20/2026

We are proud to host the traveling Rosenwald exhibit from the Tennessee State Museum, highlighting the history of Black Rosenwald schools across Tennessee.

Of the original seven Rosenwald schools in Sumner County, only two remain standing today: Durham Chapel School in Bethpage and the Cairo Rosenwald School. As many of you know, alongside the Save Cairo Rosenwald School Improvement Club we are actively working to preserve the history of the Cairo Rosenwald School.

Visit the museum to explore five exhibit panels that tell the story of these schools, the communities that supported them, and the partnerships that made education possible for thousands of Black Sumner County students.

The museum is open today from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We hope you’ll stop by and learn more about this important chapter of Sumner County and Tennessee history.

06/19/2026

Don’t forget the museum will be open tomorrow and we have an awesome new exhibit for you to enjoy!👀 More details coming tomorrow!

🗺️📍Passport holders, don’t forget! During the months of June and July, the museum will be OPEN from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Stop by to take a tour and pick up your passport if you haven’t already!

👕 Reminder: You will receive an email in July when the t-shirts arrive.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

06/19/2026

🎟️ Tickets are NOW on sale for the biggest barn party of the year at the Second Annual Barn Dance!🤠✨ Pull on your best cowboy boots, grab your dance partner, and get ready for a night of unforgettable fun!

Limited tickets available. Get yours before they’re gone!

Tickets here ➡️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/second-annual-barn-dance-tickets-1990809046449?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile

06/19/2026

On this day in 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing 250,000 enslaved people. Juneteenth celebrates freedom, resilience, and the generations who built opportunities from that freedom.

Today, we remember Diora Wylie Vertrees, whose legacy remains an important part of Sumner County’s history.

Born in a log cabin in Sumner County in 1875, ten years after the abolition of slavery, Diora dedicated her life to education and service. The daughter of Halifax Wylie, known as the “Black Hercules of Sumner County,” she attended school at Horn Town and Village Green.

In 1891, Diora earned her teaching certificate and opened her first school in Portland, earning $20 per month. She later attended Roger Williams University and taught at Gallatin’s South Public School, earning $30 per month. Over the course of an extraordinary 54-year career, she educated hundreds of children.

Beyond the classroom, Diora served at First Baptist Church, led the Missionary and Educational Society for 45 years, taught Sunday school for nearly 60 years, and, from 1924 until her death in 1965, gave every Union High School Union High Museum graduate a Bible.

This Juneteenth, we honor Diora and those who came before her, and fought for a future they themselves were too often denied.

06/18/2026

🎉 10,000 FOLLOWERS! 🎉

What makes this milestone so special isn’t the number itself. It’s YOU, the person behind the screen.📱That’s 10,000 people who care about preserving and sharing the history of Sumner County.

Every like, comment, and share helps us tell the stories of the people, places, and events that made our county into what it is today. Your support allows us to reach new audiences, spark conversations about local history, and ensure these stories continue to be remembered for generations to come.

Whether you’ve visited the museum, attended an event, volunteered, donated, or simply followed along online, thank you for being part of this journey.👏🏻

We’re honored to share Sumner County’s history with you, and we can’t wait to continue uncovering and preserving more stories together.

From all of us at the Sumner County Museum, thank you for helping keep history alive.🫶🏻

06/18/2026

Did you know? This building on the east side of Gallatin’s Public Square Downtown Gallatin looks much different today than it did 50 years ago. The original structure was demolished and later rebuilt to resemble its historic appearance.

Over the years, the upper floor housed a variety of notable residents, including former Texas Ranger Jesse Moore in the 1930s. Moore was known for an extraordinary feat: skating the frozen Cumberland River from Cairo all the way to Nashville!

The address, 119 Public Square, is also associated with one of America’s most famous figures. Long before he became the seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson practiced law in Gallatin. Local tradition identifies this site as one of his law offices during his early legal career. Jackson also practiced law at the Douglass-Clark House which served as one of Sumner County’s earliest courthouses between 1788 and 1790, while he was serving as attorney general on Tennessee’s frontier.

📸 Have an old photograph of a business on the square? Share them in the comments below⬇️

06/18/2026

06/17/2026

We are OPEN!

Come and visit us in our new location in the building
and check out the new and expanded collection!

Spend some time “Remembering Your Roots”

600 Small Street, Gallatin, TN 37066

Museum Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tues/Thursday: 2pm-4pm
Wed/Fri: 9am-12pm
Sat/Sun: Closed

06/17/2026

🤠 The countdown is on! Only 2 days until tickets go on sale for the Second Annual Barn Dance! Tickets go on sale Friday, June 19 at 10 AM and they will go fast! 🎟️TICKETS ➡️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/second-annual-barn-dance-tickets-1990809046449

Presented by Puryear Farms Nursery & Landscaping and the sound behind the music with Keen School of Music , enjoy a magical night under the stars featuring:

💃 Line dancing with Kim Meiss of Line Dance Gallatin
🎶 Live country music by The Luggnutts
😋 Andre's Barbecue
🍻 Drinks
🤠 Best Dressed Country Flair Contest
📸 Photo keepsakes Nashville Smile Bar
👩‍⚖️ Silent auction

👇 Tag your dance partner in the comments and let them know it’s time to dust off their boots!

06/16/2026

Watch as Carey Rutledge takes us behind the scenes of the museum’s attic archives and shares memories of shopping at Suddarth’s on the Square. He recalls the store’s historic elevator, said to be the first in Gallatin, and reflects on what made Suddarth’s such a memorable part of downtown life.