Wynnewood State Historic Area

UPDATE :
Once again, it is my pleasure to give you an update on Wynnewood. 2012 was a very exciting year! First of all, I wanted to thank all of the volunteers who helped make our Grand Re-Opening and Christmas Open House a great success. I couldn’t have done it  without you. All of our visitors this season seemed to be very pleased with the restoration and the museum itself.

The work to the Visitor Center and new parking lot is complete. Consequently, we are now in the process of setting up our gift shop in this new space. The Tennessee Historical Commission will also be providing new site signage, making this operational change easier for visitors to navigate. Work on the Wynne Family/Slave Life exhibit is still underway. When completed, this exhibit will be a great learning tool and also help tell a better story of the family and what life was like during the nineteenth century. It will be one more way for us to educate the visiting public. 2013 promises to be a year of continued, positive growth. I look forward to serving as the site director during this exciting time in the history of Wynnewood.

Rick Hendrix
Wynnewood Site Director

  This handsome log inn was erected in 1828 by A.R. Wynne, William Cage, and Stephen Roberts on land owned by Wynne's wife, Almira Winchester Wynne, to serve as a stagecoach inn and mineral springs resort. A log cabin attached to the rear of the inn was erected by Isaac Bledsoe during the period of 1772-1780 when he came to this area as a longhunter. 

 In 1834, Wynne purchased the interest of his two partners. He and his family moved into the inn and resided there until his death in 1893. Ownership of Wynnewood remained in the family until 1971 when George Winchester Wynne, grandson of the builder, conveyed it to the State of Tennessee for  preservation as a historic site.   

  A.R. Wynne received guests at Wynnewood throughout his lifetime. By the 1840s he had built a row of cottages on the lawn east of the inn and set up a race course in the bottom near Lick Creek. Most guests were attracted by the medicinal qualities of the mineral waters but one frequent visitor, Andrew Jackson, was attracted by the race course and he usually brought a favorite thoroughbred to run against one of Wynne's horses. 

  During the Civil War Wynnewood was not molested although both Union and Confederate armies passed by its front doors as they hastened along the road between engagements at Hartsville and Gallatin. During the years of Union army occupation, there was a fortified camp complete with earthworks located on Wynne's place about one half mile southwest of the inn. 

  Wynnewood may have been the largest log structure ever erected in Tennessee.  Certainly, it is the largest to survive to the time. The main house is 142 feet long with an open hallway or dogtrot through the center. Some of the logs composing the walls, which are set firmly on a stone foundation, are thirty-two feet long. Most of them are oak, some walnut, and others ash, but none of the original logs are poplar. All rooms have outside doors and are entered frmo the gallery that extends 110 feet across the back of the building. An outside stairway rises to the upstairs room from the dog-trot. 

Note: Our newly designed, full-color brochures are now available.  Please look for them in tourism racks.  You may also contact us if you would like one sent to you.

Our GIFT SHOP is pleased to announce that we will now accept mail orders for our merchandise.  We are still working on  our web site store.  Some of the items available are listed below.

1.      Tee shirts- white, with BLHA logo on front and Bledsoe’s Lick facts on back (S, M,  XXL & XXXL).  Regular $10 & $12...Now $5 & $6.

2.      Books- Wynnewood: The History of Wynnewood and it’s Families, and A Guide to Bledsoe’s Lick Historical Park.

3.      Note cards- Doctor’s Office, Parker Cabin, Wynnewood (all suitable for framing).

4.      Post cards- Line drawing of Wynnewood.

5.      Medallions- engraved pure silver coin, Sumner County’s only Tennessee Bicentennial Commemorative item, limited edition.

For prices and placing an order, contact:
Bledsoe’s Lick Historical Association, Inc.
info@bledsoeslick.com

Closed - Monday, Tuesday and Major Holidays 
Opened - Wednesday thru Sunday - 10:am to 4:00pm 

Closed December, January and February except for special events or by appointment 

Admission: 

Adults - $5.00 
Sr Adults - $4.00 
Children (6-12) - $3.00 
Children under 6 - no charge 

   Notice: This agency is a recipient of taxpayer funding. If you observe an agency director or employee engaging in any activity which you consider to be illegal or wasteful, please call the state comptrollers toll free hotline 1-800-232-5454.

This project is funded under an agreement with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Historical Commission.

Bledsoe’s Lick Historical Association Inc. (BLHA), will not exclude any person from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in the performance of this grant or in the employment practices of BLHA on the grounds of: disability, age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other classification protected by Federal, Tennessee State constitutional or statutory law. BLHA will, upon request, show proof of such nondiscrimination and will post in conspicuous places, available to all employees, volunteers, members, and visitors, notices of nondiscrimination.