Bulls Gap Historic District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bulls Gap Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Bulls Gap Historic District, Bulls Gap, Tennessee; looking south
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Location	S. Main, Church, McGregor, Price and Mill Sts., Bulls Gap, Tennessee
Area	24 acres (9.7 ha)
Architectural style	Bungalow/craftsman, Queen Anne
NRHP reference No.	87001232
Added to NRHP	July 30, 1987

The Bulls Gap Historic District is a special area in the town of Bulls Gap. This town is located in the southeastern part of Hawkins County in East Tennessee. Bulls Gap gets its name from a natural pass or "gap" in Bays Mountain.

Discovering Bulls Gap

Bulls Gap is a unique town because of its important location. Two main railway lines cross through the town. One line goes from northeast to southwest. The other runs from northwest to southeast. These two lines are connected by smaller tracks. They form a triangle shape. The oldest business area of Bulls Gap is found right in the middle of these railway tracks.

Streets and Buildings

Most of the historic buildings are along South Main Street. This street is long and winding. It mainly runs north and south. The northern end of South Main Street starts near U.S. Route 11E and Tennessee State Route 66. From there, it goes downhill.

The northern part of South Main Street has mostly homes. This residential area continues a short distance past a bridge. After a big turn in the road, the business area begins. Here, you'll find several stores. They are built around the railway tracks. This is also where the old train station used to be. After South Main Street crosses the tracks and Church Street, the area becomes residential again.

Historic Treasures

The Bulls Gap Historic District has many important buildings and structures. These are called "contributing resources." There are 48 buildings and 8 structures that help make the district special. The buildings include 22 homes, 2 churches, 10 business buildings, and 14 smaller outbuildings. The structures include 3 water towers, 2 bridges, and 3 other outbuildings.

The Story of Bulls Gap

The history of Bulls Gap goes back a long time. In 1792, a man named John Bull received a land grant. He was a gunsmith. His land was 55 acres on Bays Mountain. It was near an important path over the mountain. John Bull ran a stagecoach service through this path. Because of him, the path became known as Bull's Gap. We don't know much about the very first days of settlement here.

Bulls Gap and the Civil War

Bulls Gap became a very important place during the American Civil War. This was because of the crucial railway line through the mountains. Both sides in the war wanted to control the town. Bulls Gap became a fortified town. Many battles were fought here between 1863 and 1865. The goal was to gain control of the town and its railroad. For most of the war, the Union Army kept control of Bulls Gap and the railway.

Historic Buildings You Can See

Here are some of the notable buildings in the Bulls Gap National Historic District:

Notable buildings in Bulls Gap National Historic District

Name	Year Built	Architectural Style	Comments
Parley Quillen Residence 105 Church St., Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1880	Vernacular architecture
Marshall Residence 109 Church St., Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1895	Queen Anne
Methodist Church 113 Church Street, Bulls Gap, TN	1931	Vernacular architecture
Southern Railway Water Tower Church Street	c. 1910		Notice the large dentils over the door and near the top.
McCullough Residence 121 Church St., Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1870	Vernacular architecture	Also known as J. W. Blackburn House.
Miller House 124 Church Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1920	Vernacular architecture	This building does not contribute to the historic district.
Residence 125 Church St., Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1925	Vernacular architecture
Gilley Hotel 161 South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1895	Vernacular architecture	The Gilley Hotel has two stories. It is connected to the Smith Hotel, which has three stories.
Old Guima Hotel 100 South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1856	Vernacular architecture	Also known as Granny Feathers House. The back of the building is at 100 Church Street.
Smith Hotel South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1880	Vernacular architecture	This hotel is next to the Gilley Hotel, to the north.
York Quillen Building 139 South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1900	Vernacular architecture	Today, this building is used as a museum and the town hall.
York Quillen Store 141 South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1880	Vernacular architecture
Myers Residence 116 South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1895	Queen Anne Cottage
Moody Residence 110 Mill Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1900	American Craftsman
J. B. Willoughby Building 148 South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1910	Vernacular commercial	Also known as the Bulls Gap Citizen Union Bank.
Willoughby Residence 138 South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1905	Queen Anne and Colonial Revival architecture	Also known as Dr. W. Guy Justis House.
McCollom House 132 South Main Street, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1895	Gothic and Greek Revial elements, Vernacular
First Baptist Church 121 South Main St, Bulls Gap, TN	c. 1925	Vernacular Gothic architecture