A Little-Known Slice Of Tennessee History Can Be Found At This Railroad Hotel
By Chris Dodge|Published January 16, 2024
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
History can be fun to read and especially fun to see unfold in a documentary; however, nothing beats stepping into a preserved piece of our past. That is what you will find at Hotel Halbrook in Dickson, Tennessee, a time capsule that transports visitors back in time to the heyday of the railroad.
Hotel Halbrook is a simple brick building that housed traveling salesmen coming and going from the nearby train station. These salesmen had an exhibition space where they would set up a display to sell their wares to others visiting the hotel. It was a humble place in middle Tennessee, but in 1920 Frank Clement was born.
Frank Clement was the governor of Tennessee in the '50s and '60s and was known for his eloquent speeches and progressive politics. The birthplace of this leader started right in a small room at Hotel Halbrook where the bed he was born in *and* his original crib are still on display!
The hotel is a living museum now, with many artifacts depicting the railroad, life in the early 20th century, and, of course, the life of Frank Clement. Campaign posters and various artifacts offer bread crumbs about the political career of Frank Clement.
On the second story of the museum, you can walk into a replica of Clement’s political office and learn all about one of the most accomplished governors of the Volunteer State.
Many of the exhibits showcase what local life was like throughout the ages, including the iron industry and the railroad system which even has a model train. The hotel has been preserved and when you walk in you will be taking a journey through time to see what it looked like during the 1920s.
Tours of the museum are available for all ages and the friendly staff would be happy to take you on a journey through time to fully experience this delightful slice of history!
Hotel Halbrook in Dickson, Tennessee, is no longer a place to spend the night, but rather, a stop where you can learn all about the history of the land and a prominent political role in our state government. If you are looking for a place to spend the night, check out our friends are Hotels.com for an available room in town. If you want to learn more about this Tennessee museum, please visit the Hotel Halbrook website.
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