Quality of Life

Cultural Offerings

HISTORICAL SITES AND MUSEUMS

  • Stones River National Battlefield, operated by the National Park Service, is a major historical attraction. The battlefield is the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War. Living history presentations, encampments, tours, a museum and a national cemetery provide educational enjoyment over the 600-acre site.
  • Sam Davis Home and Museum in Smyrna is a state historic site dedicated to the Confederate hero, Sam Davis. Davis was executed for refusing to reveal information to Union forces in exchange for his life. The home is part of the 168-acre farm.
  • The Rutherford County Courthouse, built in 1813, is located in Murfreesboro’s Historic Downtown Square and District. The courthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is only one of six Pre-Civil War courthouses still in use in Tennessee today.
  • Bradley Academy was built in 1917 as a school for African Americans. President James K. Polk was a graduate of the original Bradley Academy in 1814. This National Register building serves as a multi-use cultural and heritage facility.
  • Oaklands Historic House Museum is a nationally registered landmark plantation home used by both the Union and Confederate armies. Oaklands was a headquarters for Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
  • Cannonsburgh Village is a reconstructed Southern pioneer village that includes a gristmill, working blacksmith’s shop, general store and museum.
  • Fortress Rosecrans, operated by the National Park Service, is the largest earthen fortification of its kind built during the Civil War.

Contact the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information.

 

ART GALLERIES

Area galleries have regular showings by local and national artists. Several professional artists maintain galleries and can be visited by appointment.

At Middle Tennessee State University, noted photographers’ work are displayed in a gallery in the Learning Resources Center. A visual arts gallery featuring regional and national art exhibits is located in the Todd Gallery on campus. Murfreesboro’s Center for the Arts features a variety of art exhibits each month in its permanent gallery.

 

LIBRARIES

The county has four public libraries and one university library open to Rutherford County residents. Libraries in La Vergne, Smyrna, Eagleville and Murfreesboro provide videos, large print books, weekly programs, children’s story hours and additional services.

Middle Tennessee State University’s James E. Walker Library includes a government document section, a genealogy collection, 35,000 periodicals and a microfilm collection.

 

PERFORMING ARTS

Rutherford County is home to the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. This symphony provides professional classical, pops, and youth education music programming for the Middle Tennessee area.

The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra is a unique opportunity that provides young musicians between the ages of 7 and 18 a chance to go beyond their school music program.

The Murfreesboro-Rutherford County Center for the Arts, housed in a restored 1909 building in downtown Murfreesboro, features a 168-seat performance hall and an art gallery. The Center for the Arts provides a performing arts venue for a variety of organizations, including its resident Murfreesboro Little Theatre and Stones River Chamber Players. The Center also hosts a variety of art and cultural exhibits.

In addition, Middle Tennessee State University sponsors numerous theatrical and entertainment events; orchestral, ballet and popular music concerts; and guest performers through its Tucker Theatre.

Murfreesboro is becoming a destination for live musical performances by local and regional bands.