LIFE IN THE 1800s
Historic Collinsville is a rural pioneer settlement featuring authentically restored log houses and outbuildings dating from 1803 to the turn of the century. The settlement takes visitors from the earliest “first home” to the expansive big house on the hill with separate kitchen, living and sleeping areas. Each home and outbuilding has been painstakingly restored to its original condition and furnished authentically.
Enter into our history and see how life was then lived. Learn what made us “people of strength.” Enjoy the rolling hills of Tennessee, quiet walks or a picnic under the trees while exploring one of the log homes.
SETTLER LIFE
This area once served as a travel corridor for the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Iroquois, and Shawnee nations, whose movements shaped the region’s early cultural landscape. During the Civil War, it became a strategic crossroads for Union and Confederate forces; Fort Donelson National Battlefield, located 45 miles to the northwest, marks the site of a pivotal engagement that influenced the course of the war. Early European-American settlers cultivated cotton, raised sheep, and grew tobacco, transporting these goods overland and along the Cumberland River, which flows just two miles away. Today, the Cumberland continues its historic role as a vital waterway, carrying commercial barges and river cruises south toward Nashville and north to the Ohio River.
THE WEAKLEY FAMILY
In 1974, JoAnn Weakley and her husband Glenn began working on their dream of rebuilding the settlement of Collinsville. They wanted to establish an area where people of all ages could come and see how our ancestors lived in the 1800s and how these pioneers passed on to us many lessons and values to be treasured. Being a former school teacher, JoAnn believed that children, especially, should be exposed to these values with a “hands-on” approach. They opened “Historic Collinsville” to the public in 1997 as a 501(c)3 organization. In 2018, to ensure that Collinsville is preserved and the work continues, the Weakleys sold Collinsville to Montgomery County Government. The property is maintained and operated by Visit Clarksville.
Sadly, Glenn and JoAnn passed away within days of each other in September 2021. They were adored by their community, and we are honored to carry on their passion for both history and sharing it with children.