Early History

For millennia, Middle Tennessee has been a home to Indigenous peoples. No written records exist, but thanks to archaeologists, their histories can be traced through distinct eras. The first inhabitants were part of the Late Archaic period, which began more than 10,000 years ago. Within the bounds of Sevier Park, evidence of human habitation dates back to this period. That’s right, more than 3,000 years ago, there were people living in this area! By the 1500s, the main Indigenous peoples included groups like the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Chickasaw. These groups were drawn to the region's rich resources, such as natural springs and salt licks that attracted wildlife for hunting. What’s a salt lick you ask? It’s a deposit of salt and minerals that animals, like deer, consume to supplement their diets. 

After the Revolutionary War, many American veterans were granted land west of the Appalachian Mountains in exchange for their service. In 1788, the 640-acre tract that includes this area was awarded to Thomas Hardeman who sold it to another Revolutionary War officer named Edwin Hickman. Two years later, Hickman moved to Nashville—becoming the first American settler to live on this land. 

Several years after Hickman’s death, Thomas Shackleford purchased nearly 500 acres here in 1815. Over the years, as land changed hands, it was subdivided into smaller plots. In 1852, a woman named Mary Benton bought 38 acres, which included today’s Sevier Park. Fun fact: Mary’s cousin was First Lady Sarah Childress Polk, wife of President James Polk. And that’s not the only connection Mary had to an American president. From 1817 to 1843 Mary was the wife of Jesse Benton. Jesse had a wild past—including a fateful duel with Andrew Jackson. Jesse was shot, but luckily, he survived the injury. And what about Andrew Jackson? Well, he was elected the 7th president of the United States in 1828. 

Mary and Jesse lived in Texas and Louisiana until his death in 1843. Nearly a decade later, Mary returned to Nashville with her niece, Minerva Douglass, and two of her children, Mary and Henry. They all moved into a cabin already on the property while overseeing the construction of this iconic two-story Greek Revival house. Mary Douglass named the house “Sunnyside” because of its sunny hilltop perch. The original 1820s cabin was integrated into the back of the home. Around 1860, Mary Douglass married Thomas Francis Sevier—on the eve of the Civil War. Together, they continued the legacy of Sunnyside with their family.

Continue clockwise on the path around the house to the next interpretive panel.