Historic Travellers Rest Receives Award Of Merit

Originally published August 2016 · p. 13

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has selected Historic Travellers Rest as the 2016 Award of Merit winner. The Historic Plantation and Museum is recognized for its recent exhibit, called A Past Uncovered: The Story of the Enslaved people of Travellers Rest. “We are honored to receive this award and to be recognized by the American Association for State and Local History,” said Historic Travellers Rest Executive Director Mary Kerr.” A Past Uncovered tells a series of stories specific to Travellers Rest and the enslaved people who lived here. We are excited to continue to share that story.” The exhibit opened on Feb. 28, 2015 and utilizes recovered historical documents – such as letters, ledgers and advertisements – to paint a vivid picture of the individuals that once lived and worked at the home of Judge John Overton. The selection for this year’s Award of Merit was made by the Leadership in History awards committee for the AASLH. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards is the nation’s most prestigious competition for recognition of achievement in state and local history. For more than fifty years, Historic Travellers Rest has been an integral part of the Nashville community. The historic house, built originally in 1799, was restored by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Tennessee to interpret the early 19th century life of Judge John Overton, one of the state’s first Supreme Court Justices, the founder of Memphis and a close personal friend of Andrew Jackson. For more information about Historic Travellers Rest visit www.travellersrestplantation.org.