Director

Learn more with the Elkton Story Mapper, a project of the Elkton Historical Society sponsored by Humanities Tennessee, at https://www.humanitiestennessee.org/storymapper/elk-river-bridge/Find a Civil War Trails marker on the south side of the bridge, sharing more information about the value of this crossing point during the Civil War. You can view this marker at https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=42500. On the south side of the bridge is the Matt Gardner Homestead. Matt Gardner was an African-American community leader in Elkton, and you can learn more about his remarkable life at mattgardnerhomestead.org.Bridge details: Design: truss/through/warrenDesign Details: One riveted 160.9-foot Warren through truss with polygonal top chords and twenty 26.5-foot concrete deck girder approach spansTotal Length: 692.2 FeetSpan Length: 160.9 FeetOverview: Through truss bridge over Elk River on former US 31/TN 7 at ElktonHistory: Built 1924 by the Montgomery and Parker Co.; bypassed by new bridge in 1959

This is the Old Elkton Bridge, built in 1924. When the new vehiclular bridge next to it was erected in 1959, the Elkton Historical Society led an effort to save this bridge and convert it into a pedestrian bridge.During the Civil War, a wooden bridge stood near here. This is the Elk River's narrowest point between Fayetteville, TN and Florence, AL, making it vital to the movement of both Confederate and United States troops.

Old Elkton Bridge

This tour was developed to support the Giles County Public Library's Summer Reading 2024 program. The tour continues to be available via Clio to provide community members with the ongoing opportunity to explore and learn about our community.

Giles County Public Library's Giles Hunt

This Art Deco building's address is 138 N. 2nd Street and sits on the corner of N. 2nd Street and W. Jefferson Street, Pulaski. Built in 1838, it opened on October 31, 1838, and could seat 800 people. It was used as a movie house until1961. Currently it houses a used bookstore. During the Civil War era, the old county jail stood on this site where Confederate scout Sam Davis was kept under guard until he was hanged on November 27th, 1863. His boss, Capt. Henry Shaw aka Capt. E. Coleman was also in the jail at the same time, but his identity was unknown to his captors.Apparently, the basement of this building may date back to the Civil War era, although this is the second building on this site after the jail was purposely burned by a retreating Confederate army in late December 1864.

Near the library is a building that has been a movie theater, a furniture store, and a bookstore. However, in 1863, it served as a jail in which Confederate scout Sam Davis was housed.

Books & More Building

During the Civil War, many African-American men escaped slavery to become soldiers in the U.S. Army.Here in Giles County, the U.S. Army organized the 110th &amp; 111th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) in late 1863 and early 1864. Most of the soldiers who joined these units had lived their entire lives in slavery. Most of them lived in Giles County, though some came from neighboring Tennessee counties or from the northern counties of Alabama and Mississippi.The U.S. Army controlled Giles County for most of the Civil War, and the 110th &amp; 111th U.S.C.T. were a critical part of the U.S. Army's success here. Their most important job was to protect the Nashville-Decatur Railroad and the Columbia Turnpike (present-day Highway 31) in Pulaski and Giles County. These local U.S. Colored Troops didn't work alone. Other U.S.C.T. regiments and white U.S. Army units from across the country were sent to Giles County to help defend against Confederate forces. Many of these U.S. soldiers were stationed at Fort Lilly in North Pulaski. After military losses at battles at Athens &amp; Sulphur Creek Trestle, Alabama in late 1864, these units helped defend Pulaski against Nathan B. Forrest's Confederate forces. Elements of these regiments served with distinction at the Battle of Nashville and in U.S. General William T. Sherman’s campaign in Georgia. Some soldiers in the 110th &amp; 111th suffered and died in Confederate captivity, especially as prisoners of war in Mobile, Alabama.After the Civil War’s official end in April 1865, many of these U.S.C.T. soldiers continued to serve the United States here while Tennessee transitioned out of the defeated Confederate States and back into the United States of America. Later, many of these veterans remained in Pulaski &amp; Giles County. Some became prominent African-American community members, church leaders, and educators who made Giles County into the community it is today.There is a Civil War Trails interpretive sign in the same park. You can view this sign at https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=246047Learn more about the project and access a full list of U.S. Colored Troops who served in Pulaski at https://www.visitpulaski.com/usctmemorial

Located in Cave Springs Heritage Plaza, this statue recognizes the service of over 2500 formerly enslaved men who served in the United States Army in Giles County during the Civil War.Also known as "Resurrection of Valor," this bronze statue shows a black soldier looking at and talking to a young black child.This was created by local sculptor Pamela Sue Keller, as an initiative of Pulaski's Community Advisory Council for Inclusive Recognition &amp; Acknowledgement (CACIRA). It is located in Cave Springs Heritage Plaza on N. 1st Street, Pulaski.The statue commemorates the former enslaved men who served in the 110th &amp; 111th regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops of Giles County, TN.This project was the vision of retired local educator Mrs. Vivian Sims who funded the project herself and helped create a partnership with CACIRA and the City of Pulaski. The intent is that it will send a message of hope and inspiration to younger generations.

U.S. Colored Troops Memorial "Resurrection of Valor"

Born in Pulaski in 1891, Walter Herschel Beech was an aviation pioneer. In 1924 he helped to establish the Travel Air Manufacturing Company in Wichita, Kansas. By 1929 the company was the world's largest producer of commercial aircraft, and in 1930, merged with Curtiss-Wright aircraft. In 1932, Beech and his wife founded the Beech Aircraft Company, which produced more than 7,400 military aircraft during World War II.

This TN Historical Commission Marker located across College Street from the Ross Bass Post Office commemorates the legacy of aviation pioneer, Walter Herschel Beech. He was born on a farm near Pulaski, TN on January 30, 1891, and started flying at age 14. He flew for the U.S Army in WWI and afterwards became involved with airplane manufacturing companies until he and his partners founded Beech Aircraft Company in 1932 in Wichita, KS. The Beechcraft aircraft were quickly popular and award winning and the company would become one of the big three aircraft manufacturers in the country. A museum to these aircraft is now located in Tullahoma, TN. He died from a heart attack on November 29, 1950, and has posthumously been inducted into the National (1977), International (1982), Kansas (1987) and Tennessee (2005) Aviation Hall of Fames.

Walter Beech Historic Marker

The burial spot of ten former Pulaski mayors, the Old Graveyard Memorial Park was the site of Pulaski’s first designated burial ground. First in use by 1817, three years before Pulaski was chartered, this graveyard remained the primary burial ground for Pulaski citizens for several decades, before the creation of what would become Maplewood Cemetery, which opened in 1855. Burials continued at the old graveyard until 1883. Over the course of the 20th century, the graveyard fell into neglect. In 1968, concerned citizens joined together to revive the space, turning it into a park in honor of the deceased who found their final resting places here. Though the park does not follow modern best practices in cemetery preservation, it stands as a memorial to Pulaski’s earliest residents, with a marker listing the names of every known person interred here to preserve their memory in perpetuity, even as the original engravings fade.

The official name for this cemetery is The Old Graveyard Memorial Park located within the borders of Cemetery Street, S. Ist Street and S. 2nd Street. It was used as a burial ground from 1817 to 1883 and contains many early settler's graves. In 1967-68 it was turned into a memorial park with many of the gravestones moved and displayed at the north end of the park. An obelisk in the center provides the names of those known to be buried here and shows a map of where the actual graves are located.

Old Graveyard Memorial Park

Here, two groups of Native Americans (Benge &amp; Bell groups) passed through Pulaski late in October 1838 due to the Indian Removal Act of 1830. One group (Benge) of 1100 people traveled north from Fort Payne, AL. The other group (Bell) of about 650-700 people traveled west from what is now Charleston, TN near Cleveland, TN. While a few days apart when they passed through Pulaski, they both crossed the creek here.From the observation boardwalk, you can still see some stone pilings remaining from the supports of the original bridge. This was the only place to cross Richland Creek in Pulaski until the mid-20th-century.

This platform overlooks Richland Creek and looks down on a stone abutment that can still be seen where the old Richland Creek Bridge was located between S 2nd Street and S 3rd Street.

Trail of Tears Overlook

Located between Stadium and Cemetery Streets, the actual address is 500 Spofford St., Pulaski, TN. Formerly used for events including county fairs, it now boasts a Baseball field and Football field as a popular athletic facility. This 11.5-acre site is owned by the City of Pulaski.

Sam Davis Park

During the first half of the nineteenth century, historians estimate that approximately 100,000 Native Americans were forcibly removed from their Eastern homelands and relocated to lands west of the Mississippi River. The purpose of the removal, which was supported and enforced by various state and federal agencies, was to secure Native American lands for the expansion of non-Indian settlements. The removal policies that were enacted in the Southeast focused on the displacement of the members of five primary tribes; Choctaw, Seminole, Creek, Chickasaw, and Cherokee. It is important to note that these policies also targeted the removal of all Native American peoples located throughout the Southeast, which included the descendants of smaller tribes such as the Timucuas, Natchez, Shawnee, Catawbas and Yuchis. Although various acts of removal had been on-going throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the final effort to secure all Eastern Native American lands culminated with the passage of the Indian Removal Act on May 28th, 1830. The Indian Removal Act had become a primary initiative under the direction of President Andrew Jackson's administration and was effectively used to remove the remaining Southeast Native American tribes. Although the act was met with much resistance by both Indian and non-Indian representatives, it's passage eventually resulted in the signing of the treaty of New Echota. With the signing of this treaty, the Cherokees conceded their remaining land holdings to the United States government in exchange for 15 million dollars and a claim of land in the western territory known as Oklahoma. This led to the final steps of the removal process. In the early stages, approximately 4000 Cherokees voluntarily relocated to the western territory. However, a number of Cherokees did not agree with the establishment of the treaty of New Echota and refused to leave their homeland. As a result, the United States government rounded up approximately 17,000 Cherokees and placed them in stockades. From these stock aids, which were located within former Cherokee lands, the Native Americans were led along pre-established land and water trails to the western territory. The journey along these trails was designated "Nunna-da-ul-tsun-yi" by the Cherokee people, which translates as "the Trail Where They Cried.". To subsequent generations, the removal policies and actions have come to be known as the Trail of Tears.​The City of Pulaski, located in Giles County, Tennessee, has the unique distinction of being one of the only cities in the country where two of the Trail of Tears land routes overlapped. Beginning in 1838, John Bell led a group of approximately six hundred Native Americans along a land route that entered the City of Pulaski from the east. During this time, John Benge led another group of approximately 1,000 Native Americans along a land route that entered the City from the south. It is believed that both groups crossed Richland Creek is in the same bridge. After crossing the creek, the two groups continued westward along the same trail for approximately six miles. At that point, each group chose to follow a separate route.Prior to and subsequently following the events set in motion by the 1830 Indian Removal Act, Native Americans found that they had many advocates who supported their efforts to remain on their homeland territories. David Crockett, a native of Tennessee who lived near the City of Pulaski, was one of the many supporters who lobbied at the state and federal level to protect the Southeastern Indian tribes and ensure their right to remain on lands slated for non-Indian settlement. Crockett, a member of the United States Congress was vehemently opposed to the removal of Native Americans and spent much of his time and effort defending the rights of the Native American people. In 1834, Crockett lost his bid for re-election to Congress and left Tennessee for the western frontier. Two years later, he was killed in the Battle of the Alamo.

This interpretive center is situated in Memorial Park at 229 Stadium Street, Pulaski, TN.The site is dedicated to telling the story of two groups of Native Americans (Benge &amp; Bell groups) passed through Pulaski late in October 1838 because of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. One group (Benge) of 1100 people traveled north from Fort Payne, AL. The other group (Bell) of about 650-700 people traveled west from what is now Charleston, TN near Cleveland, TN. While a few days apart when they passed through Pulaski, it was the only place where two groups crossed paths.Inside are interpretive panels providing national and local viewpoints of this event. A statue of a Cherokee family is on the property and signage, but the entrance is graced with a colorful map outlining the paths taken by the two groups.Located in the old Rock Church, previously home to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, which was located at 416 S. First Street. The building is built of materials from Milky Way Farm.

Trail of Tears Interpretive Center

Located at 1980 Elkton Pike, Pulaski, TN, the land was purchased by Giles County from the local Co-op board, and is currently a public county-owned park administered by a non-profit board. It provides a location for the county fair and other events including the annual Lawn &amp; Garden Show, Red Carpet Horse Show, and now a Farmers Market. The facility is available for rent to Giles County civic clubs &amp; residents who want to use it for events.

Giles County Agri-Park

The formal name of this business is TN Valley Cooperative - Pulaski. It provides a wide variety of agricultural products for the local farming community and other property owners. They provide several classes and learning opportunities educating the public on best farm practices and animal husbandry. This facility is located at 2070 Elkton Pike, Pulaski, TN.

Giles County Co-op

Wolf Gap was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit organization with the goal of providing enriching history &amp; nature education programming to Giles County and neighboring counties in southern-middle Tennessee. Recurring annual programs include a Seed &amp; Plant Swap, speaker series, hands-on workshops, holiday programs, guided hikes, and more. Individual groups and schools are invited to book custom education programs and field trips. Wolf Gap's Education Center is open on weekends so that the public can view the educational exhibits on display. Wolf Gap leads community work in cemetery restoration, historic research, and native plant advocacy. Wolf Gap's 50 acres of outdoor spaces are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk, providing Giles County's only undeveloped public land. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the picnic areas, walk with leashed dogs, explore the walking paths, relax with birdwatching, or simply get a breath of fresh air. Visitors can access an abundance of materials about history &amp; nature in the area at wolfgaptn.com/discovery-trail.

Wolf Gap is a nonprofit history &amp; nature education center, located on 50 acres in southern Giles County. Wolf Gap's outdoor spaces are open to the public 7 days a week, with mowed paths around its open prairies. The site also features two historic log cabins and an Education Center which opened in 2021. Wolf Gap offers public educational programs throughout the year, displays educational exhibits, provides field trips to local schools, and is also offers its spaces for rental for private events.

Wolf Gap

This is recognized as the site where Confederate soldier Sam Davis was captured by two men of the 7th Kansas U.S. Cavalry on Nov. 19, 1863, when Sam stopped to rest on his way to Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg in AL.Sam had been in Campbellsville the night before and was traveling with information regarding the federal troops in the Pulaski area when captured.Due to the papers discovered, he was taken to Pulaski where he was found guilty of spying. Federal Gen Grenville N. Dodge offered him a pardon if he would reveal the source of the papers, and his superior officer. Davis refused, saying, "If I had a thousand lives to live, I would give them all rather than betray a friend or the confidence of my informer.Sam Davis was executed in Pulaski on November 27th, 1863, in Pulaski, TN. A stone monument was erected on this site just south of Minor Hill, TN and dedicated on July 22, 1926.There is a historic marker on-site, which you can also view at https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=75197.

This is recognized as the site where Confederate soldier Sam Davis was captured by two men of the 7th Kansas U.S. Cavalry on Nov. 19, 1863, when Sam stopped to rest on his way to Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg in AL.

Sam Davis Capture Site

Learn more about recent work to maintain the site as a community center here https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/lifestyles-pulaskicitizen/work-begins-for-bodenham-community-center-2/

This rural high school was started in 1928 and closed 50 years later in 1978 as part of the consolidation of schools in Giles County, TN. What still stands today of the school has been converted into a Head Start Center with the street address of 21142 Hwy 64 W., Pulaski, TN.A park is next door that also talks about the Cherokee group that passed here on the Trail of Tears.

Bodenham School

See Campbellsville Cafe on Tennessee Crossroads at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXYXFwZDxXM

In 2019, sisters Dolly McConnell and Judy Garrett reopened this historic cafe, which provides a place to have hot Southern style meals served most days of the week for breakfast and lunch. The walls are covered with historical photographs and clippings of Campbellsville, TN and its people, especially of the high school that closed in 1978. Locals like to look at the images and reminisce and they also help visitors learn more about this old unincorporated community.

Campbellsville Cafe

See Col. Littleton's on Tennessee Crossroads at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceg_oVBmGb0

This business, aka The Great American Leather Company, is named after the founder, Colonel Gary Allen Littleton and is primarily known today for its leather products. It is in downtown Lynnville, TN. The gift shops are on Mill Street, Lynnville, TN. Items include portfolios, journals, belts, and travel accessories made from American Steer Hide, Alligator or American Buffalo. He started the business in 1987 selling cufflinks and pocketknives and expanded into leather goods. The attention to details and customer service has made this one of the most popular leather goods companies in the U.S.A. It has become a tourist destination in Giles County.

Colonel Littleton's Leather Goods

See an article about the history of the Brick Church community at https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/lifestyles-pulaskicitizen/giles-paths-brick-church-then-and-now/

Brick Church is a historic Presbyterian church, located in the community of Brick Church in the Northeast Giles County. It was organized in 1840 and built on land deeded to the church association in 1820 by settler Robert Gordon. Originally located in a brick building, the present frame structure was constructed after the Civil War. This site has served as both a well-known school and church, with the school being one of the best in the state. The cemetery associated with the church holds many unmarked graves and many of Giles County’s earliest residents. The congregation is still running.Brick Church Meats &amp; More is a new meat processing center that also sells meats and other items in their gift shop in the neighborhood. Owned by Brad &amp; Brooklynn Young, they provide custom processing and USDA inspected processing for Giles, Marshall, Lawrence, Lincoln, and surrounding counties. While the address is 3865 Blackburn Hollow Road, it is located at the intersection of Hwy 31A (Lewisburg Hwy) &amp; Buford Station Road. It is adjacent to the Old Brick Church Cemetery &amp; Presbyterian Church.

Giles County Public Library's Giles Hunt

Old Elkton Bridge

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context