Nathanael Greene Museum
Greeneville Tennessee

All photos and illustrations by Pat Johns ©2008
All Rights Reserved
See links to article references at the end of the article.

March 2008

Greeneville Tennessee and Greene County were named for General Nathanael Greene (as were Greensboro North Carolina and Greenville South Carolina). He was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and rose to become one of General Washington's most trusted officers. (see Wikipedia.com link below)

Recommended Reading: "Nathanael Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution" by Gerald Carbone

"When the Revolutionary War began, Nathanael Greene was a private in the militia, the lowest rank possible, yet he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer--celebrated as one of three most important generals. Upon taking command of America's Southern Army in 1780, Nathanael Greene was handed troops that consisted of 1,500 starving, nearly naked men. Gerald Carbone explains how within a year, the small worn-out army ran the British troops out of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina and into the final trap at Yorktown. Despite his huge military successes and tactical genius Greene's story has a dark side. Using twenty-five years of original research, Gerald Carbone chronicles Greene's unlikely rise to success and his fall into debt and anonymity." ~ Amazon.com Book Description

The museum is divided into 10 galleries. The President's Gallery is about President Andrew Johnson and his family and includes many items and photos from the family.

The Early Agriculture Gallery focuses on the areas' farming roots before modern machinery was available. There is a considerable collection of farming tools.

The Veteran's Honor Gallery is a memorial to Greene County residents who fought and died in this country's wars. The gallery features Marine Corps Sergeant Elbert L. Kinser, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

The Civil War Gallery tells the story of how the Civil War affected Greene County. The gallery includes actual Greene County artifacts from the Civil War era.

The Elegant Home Gallery gives a view of 18th, 19th and 20th Century Greene County homes at a time when the area was considered the western frontier of the country.

The Community Gallery takes a look at education, medicine, music and sports in the area. There are items from Greene County hospitals, bands and schools.

The Children's Adventure Gallery and Learning Room is to help children see the joy of learning. The gallery includes a log cabin, covered wagon, Native American huts, stuffed animals, a bear's den, bonnets, coonskin caps and more.

The Early Home Gallery shows life in Greene County from 1900 - 1935. It focuses on the "Great Depression" and how neighbors helped neighbors during this times. It also shows the effects of inventions such as the telephone, radio, automobile and airplane on local citizens.

The Early Business Gallery gives a view of early businesses from 1880-1910. It features the A. H. Jenkins Shoe Shop (1880) and the Romeo Store, which served as Post Office, Seed Store, Pharmacy, Tobacco Shop, Hardware, Penny Candy Store and community center.

The African American Gallery highlights the development of the African American community of Greene County. It represents the home life, education, military and vocational artifacts of African American residents of Greene County.

After you visit the Nathanael Greene Museum you feel you know the community in a way that a more formal museum or a town tour could not offer. It shows that this town's history is much more than the history of its' famous citizens. There is no charge to tour the museum but they accept donations at the entrance.

Directions to Greeneville Tennessee from Watauga Lake:

Take Route 321 from the Lake through Elizabethton and Johnson City Go approximately 30 miles beyond Johnson City and follow the signs to the Historic Sites when you reach Greeneville.

Links to references in this article:

• NPS.gov info about Andrew Johnson sites
• Greeneville.com
• NathanaelGreeneMuseum.com
• Wikipedia.com - Nathanael Greene