A modest two-room hall and parlor brick cabin was constructed here around 1818 on land inherited by Sallie Maney from her father, and Murfreesboro's namesake, Col. Hardee Murfree. In the 1820s, Sallie Maney and her husband, Dr. James Maney began initiating improvements to their home with a refined two-story Federal addition. Further additions of a second floor, over the cabin, and a back wing were made in the 1830s. In his will, Dr. Maney deeded his "mansion, homestead and spring" to his daughter-in-law Rachel Adaline Cannon Maney. On the eve of the Civil War, Adaline, daughter of Gov. Newton Cannon, along with her ailing husband Lewis, commissioned the final addition of the impressive Italianate façade reflecting the great prosperity of their combined families. It was their enslaved population who made their lifestyle possible. Today, Oaklands is restored to provide a glimpse into the lives of all the many individuals who lived, loved and toiled here. (Please no food or drinks inside Oaklands Mansion.)

Oaklands' Cottage was constructed in 1967 in order to further complete the interior restoration of the mansion. Previously, a caretaker lived inside the northeast wing of Oaklands. Later an addition was made to the rear of the cottage giving the quaint brick building nearly 1,000 total square feet. A major renovation of the cottage completed in 2017, allows community members to rent this unique space for small parties and private functions. Visit the Cottage tonight and enjoy The Art Showcase hosted by the Murfreesboro Art League.

Great holiday shopping is back for a third year! A selection of local artisans and craftspeople will feature their wares including handmade soaps and bath products, home fragrance, holiday décor, jewelry, paintings, and boutique clothing for holiday shoppers. It's the perfect opportunity to shop local, make holiday purchases for friends and family, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season at the historic Oaklands mansion. Look for our special guest, Sandy Claus! Admission to the marketplace is included with tickets to the Oaklands Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes.

This modest white Gothic stucco cottage did not start its life as a private residence, but rather as a carriage house built behind a lavish Second Empire mansion begun on East Main Street in 1878 by Ingram Banks Collier, prominent local entrepreneur, and politician. The juxtaposition of different architectural styles on the same property was common at the time. Miss Frances Murfree, a local authoress, and sister of the nationally acclaimed authoress Mary Noailes Murfree (AKA Charles Egbert Craddock) bought the carriage house in 1926, and converted the structure into a private residence for herself. Miss Murfree lived in the house until the mid-1930's when she sold the house to the Misses Spain. The Spain sisters lived in the house with their niece, Miss Elizabeth Applegate Spain, who they had helped raise until 1946. It is believed that the house was then converted into apartments until 1961, when Elizabeth Spain likely returned the structure to a single family home for herself and a studio for her prolific interior design business. Unfortunately, by the mid 1980's Miss Spain had left the house, using it primarily as a home for her large family of cats. Vandals and the elements took their toll on the abandoned structure over the next two decades. Then the cottage was purchased from the estate of Miss Spain by the current owner, John Murphy and a slow and ongoing renovation began.

In 1920, William Thomas Gerhardt and his wife, Mary Minter Richardson Gerhardt commissioned the Bell Brothers to build the 3600 square foot home at 525 E. College Street. WT, a merchant and tailor, operated a shop on the square at 122 N Church. He served as mayor of Murfreesboro from 1934 to 1936. It is said that Mrs. Gerhardt watched every nail and plank be placed in the new home and insisted that the home have a staircase off the kitchen so that she could escape upstairs without being seen from the front door. William and Mary raised their two children, Frances Elizabeth (Clayton) and Martha Warren (Butler, Walker) in the home. Frances and Martha often recanted stories of receiving their beaus on the screened porch under the watchful eye of their parents. In 1938, the Gerhardt's built a home at 133 Cherry Lane and sold the house on College Street to their daughter, Frances and her husband, James (Cap) Clayton. The Clayton's raised their three children, Judge James K. Clayton, Jr., Elizabeth Frances (Bettie, Cook) and Kibby (Clayton-Sanders) in the home. Upon Frances Clayton's death in 1987, Judge James K. Clayton, Jr. and his wife, Betty Cooper, moved in. The back addition was built in 1988, originally as a master bedroom. In anticipation of hosting their daughter, Maredith's wedding to Tom Metier in 1993, renovations were made to the kitchen and the stately ornate fountain on the side lot was constructed in addition to the planting of several Southern Magnolia trees. After the death of his wife, Betty, the Judge married his best friend's widow, Lynn Stevenson in 2000. The Judge died suddenly at the Cannon County Court House in 2011. His widow, Lynn Stevenson Clayton now resides in the family home which remains in the Clayton Family.

Built in 1929 by architect William Bell, co-owner of Bell Brothers Lumber, this beautiful Georgian house at 205 North University Avenue was purchased in 2019 by Lacey and Kirk Garrett. Large windows fill the house with light, creating a cheerful atmosphere. The Garrett's have filled the home with beautiful mid-century modern furniture. The walls are lined with a variety of pieces, from tasteful black and white prints to framed family heirlooms, including a whimsical painting of entertainer Engelbert Humperdinck. The backyard is a showplace for those passionate about landscaping. This cozy area is perfect for all kinds of events, from a small wine and cheese to family swimming parties. The Garrett house promises to deliver all of the elegance and beauty for which our downtown in know.

Long a Murfreesboro icon, the beautiful English Tudor-style house on the corner of East Main and University has a history as unique as the building's imprint on the East Main landscape. The structure was the first in Murfreesboro to be constructed specifically as an apartment building. Designed in 1935 by noted architect C.K. Colley (MTSU's Kirksey Old Main), Rosa Cannon had the house constructed in the backyard of the Cannon's old home, a property bounded at that time by E. Main and College St. After construction, the Cannons were also the building's first tenants. Rosa and son, Tom, lived in an upstairs apartment while daughter Juliet shared a downstairs apartment with her husband, Riley Clark, Jr., and her father, Rosa's estranged husband, Tom Cannon. To name the new house, Rosa sponsored a contest in the newspaper promising $5 to the best entry. The winning name? Gladstone. The house is currently owned by the Rutherford County Historian, Greg Tucker and Minhtriet Tucker.

This Queen Anne style home, circa 1905, with its balloon framework and 12 foot ceilings downstairs was originally built as a single family home. However, throughout its history it has served as apartments and a fraternity house before once again returning to a single family home. The current owners undertook an exterior renovation recently and have loved rediscovering their home's exterior architectural details. A real treat was the discovery of the original band of dog-eared shingles found in excellent condition beneath the siding.