Sumner County Museum

06/01/2026

The Bridal House will be open on Saturday, June 6th from 10-3. Admission is free so come and see what is new at the Bridal House.

The address is 2315 Highway 25 West in Cottontown.

05/31/2026

A few weeks ago, we joined Hendersonville High School’s Audio Visual Production students behind the scenes as they worked on a special final project for America’s 250th Birthday.🇺🇸

As part of telling the story of Sumner County’s early beginnings, these talented students teamed up with none other than local historian Ken Thomson to help bring our county’s history to life on screen.🎥

This student-led video will be released later this summer. Take a sneak peek and hear from the students themselves as they share what this project means to them and the history they learned along the way.👏

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

The treasures inside the Traveling Trunk are waiting to be discovered at ’s Out of School Bash! 🚙🗺️📍

Stop by and explore hands-on history. We also have passports available for purchase!

We’ll be here until 3 PM, so there’s still time to join the fun. Don’t miss this free family-friendly event!

05/30/2026

Before May comes to a close celebrating recent graduates we are sharing more behind the photo of one graduate, Cathrine Berry from Union High School.

The first photograph shows Catherine Berry on her graduation day, May 18, 1933. The second photograph, taken around 1928, features three Union High School classmates. From left to right: Catharine Harris, Catherine Berry, and Sadie Scott. Catherine Berry and Sadie Scott were first cousins. All three young women would go on to graduate together from Union High School on May 18, 1933.

Catherine’s accomplishment was especially meaningful because it came during a difficult time. She had hoped to attend Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College, now Tennessee State University, and pursue a career in nursing.

However, her father became gravely ill and could no longer provide for the family. As the Great Depression deepened, her plans for higher education had to be set aside.

📸 Photos and story courtesy of Andre James Baldwin, grandson of Catherine Berry.

05/29/2026

It’s been a busy week for many Sumner County History Hunters! We even had our first completed passport! 🎉 Shelby successfully uncovered the hidden history at every stop and received her Certificate of Completion. Congratulations, Shelby! 👏🏻

One of this year’s Passport stops, the City of Gallatin Engineering Division, has gone all out to share the history of the Franklin House through an interactive exhibit located inside their office building. Be sure to stop by, learn about this historic site, and pick up your very own Stormwater Duck!

There’s still time to join the adventure. Passports are available for in-person registration at the museum.🚙🗺️📍

05/29/2026

Don’t forget to come into the museum to see the Randy Record sign and learn more about the shop!

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

We can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday!

05/29/2026

Catch back up with Ehrin Ehlert as he shares the story of an attack on Bledsoe’s Fort from Hugh Rogan’s perspective in this Stories of Sumner feature.

Hugh Rogan came to settle at Bledsoe’s Lick because the fort offered protection from Native American attacks. Rogan was also one of the signers of the Cumberland Compact alongside Isaac Bledsoe and Anthony Bledsoe. Signed on May 13, 1780, by 256 Middle Tennessee settlers, the Cumberland Compact created a system of judicial government for early frontier life.

The Compact established a governing council of 12 judges elected by free men over the age of 21. This “Tribunal” held judicial, legislative, and executive powers. One of its primary purposes was to create a legal framework for land transfers and protect settlers’ financial interests. Governors received 1,000 deer skins, while constables earned 1 mink skin for each warrant served.

The meeting to establish the Compact began on May 1, 1780, when settlers entered into Articles of Agreement and formed a Compact of Government. They reconvened on May 13 to adopt additional articles and officially sign the document. Nearly all signatures were written by the signers themselves.
Fortunately, most of the Cumberland Compact has survived.

Historian Albigence Waldo Putnam discovered it in 1846, though the first page had been destroyed. The document distributed representation equally among the eight Cumberland settlements including Nashborough, Mansker’s, Bledsoe’s, Asher’s, Stone’s River, Freeland, Eaton’s, and Fort Union.

The Compact granted voting rights to all free men over the age of 21 and established regulations for land claims, land titles, inheritance, common defense, and general welfare. All males over the age of 16 were required to serve in the militia, and in return they were granted the right to own real estate.
Each settlement could elect its own military officers, who were empowered to enforce discipline.

The Cumberland Compact remained the guiding law for the Cumberland settlements until Tennessee achieved statehood in 1796.