Chickasaw District
Rutherford, TN
The West Tennessee Historic Site is a recreation of Davy Crockett’s last home in Tennessee. It was restored from the timbers of his actual home and contains furniture, tools, and other items from the early 1800s, as well as pictures, books, and letters related to Colonel David Crockett’s life here. It was here that he famously hunted and killed 105 bears. This is also the site of his mother’s grave.
David Crockett was born in Greene County, Tennessee in 1786 and lived in Tennessee all but the last few months of his life. He married Mary “Polly” Finley in 1806 in Jefferson County, then moved to Lincoln County in 1811 with their two young sons, John Wesley and William. They moved to Franklin County in 1813 and Davy enlisted as a volunteer in the Indian Wars. After his discharge their daughter, Margaret, was born, soon followed by Polly’s death. The following year, Davy married Elizabeth Patton, a widow with two children and in 1817 they moved to Lawrence County.
During the next few years, Davy was a town and county leader, serving as justice of the peace, a commissioner, a colonel in the militia, and elected to represent the citizens of Lawrence and Hickman counties in the State legislature. After his 1822 move to West Tennessee, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served three terms there.
His political split with Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk cost Crockett his seat in Congress in 1831, and he was defeated again in 1835, prompting his remark: “…you may all go to hell and I will go to Texas.” His enlistment with Colonel William B. Travis in 1836, took him to the Alamo where for 13 days he encouraged the men and fought valiantly against Santa Anna’s forces until March 6, 1836, when the Mexican troops overran the Alamo. Crockett and a few other men were ordered by Santa Anna to be bayoneted and shot.
The Tennessee Society DAR makes annual contributions to the Museum, and the area chapters visit the site from time to time. Davy Crockett Days are held here in early October with activities, including a parade held during the week.
Visit the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development site for more information.
More Information
For information about the Davy Crockett Cabin Museum, contact davidcrocketthouse@tndar.org.