MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Murfreesboro’s earliest days will take center stage on Sunday (10/25/2026) afternoon when the Rutherford County Archaeological Society gathers for a special America 250 presentation. It begins at 2:00PM in Maney Hall at Oaklands Mansion, and if you enjoy local history, this one is worth circling on your calendar. Laura Bartel, Founder and Director of the Rutherford County Archaeological Society and the Old City Cemetery Preservation and Interpretation Project will guide attendees through the layered story of Murfreesboro’s oldest historic site — the Old First Presbyterian Church and the Old City Cemetery.

Bartel told NewsRadio WGNS that the archaeological remains of the church, its original burying ground, and the city cemetery together form what we now simply call the Old City Cemetery. Her slide presentation will offer an overview of the site, along with insights into the church’s early political significance and its role during the Civil War.

Visitors will also find several poster displays that walk through the site’s history, key events, and notable figures. Among them are Revolutionary War veterans who settled here and helped shape Murfreesboro’s earliest development. Adding to the experience, artifacts from the 2003 MTSU partial excavation of the old First Presbyterian Church will be on display — a rare chance to see tangible pieces of the city’s past.

This is a free, public event, and the doors open at 1:30PM with the talk at 2:00PM. After the presentation, guests will have time to browse the displays and artifacts at their own pace. It’s a relaxed, come‑and‑go opportunity to reconnect with the stories that built our community.

If you’ve ever walked past the Old City Cemetery and wondered what history rests there, Sunday’s gathering offers a friendly, informative way to learn more — and maybe discover something you didn’t know about the place we call home.