Netherland Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Netherland Inn and Complex
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Netherland Inn, 1964
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 Location in Tennessee
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| Location | 2144 Netherland Inn Road, Kingsport, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1802 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000182 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 1969 |
The Netherland Inn and Complex is a really old building in Kingsport, Tennessee, United States. It was built way back in 1802! At first, it was a place where boats were built and loaded with salt to be shipped. Later, in 1818, it became a famous inn called the Netherland Inn. This inn was a popular stop for people traveling between Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. It's special because it's the only place on the National Register of Historic Places that was both a boatyard and a place where stagecoaches stopped!
Contents
The Netherland Inn: A Historic Stop
Building a Boatyard and Inn
The building we now know as the Netherland Inn was first built in 1802 by a man named William King. He added more to it in 1808. William King's main idea was to create a boatyard. This was a place where boats could be built and loaded with salt that he produced. He needed a way to ship his salt to other places.
In 1818, William King sold the building to Richard Netherland. Richard Netherland made the building even bigger, turning it into the three-story inn you see today. It had an inn for travelers and a tavern for food and drinks. It was located on the "Great Old Stage Road," which was a very important route connecting Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.
Famous Visitors and Family Life
Many important people stayed at the Netherland Inn. These included future presidents like Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, and James Polk. Imagine them stopping there on their journeys! Richard Netherland's son, John Netherland, who later became a well-known state politician, grew up right there at the inn.
The inn stayed in the Netherland family for a long time, until 1906. Then, a couple named H.C. and Nettie Cloud bought it. They used it as their home and also as a boarding house, where people could rent rooms for a longer stay.
Becoming a Museum
In 1968, the Netherland Inn Association bought the building. Their goal was to protect this important piece of history. They turned it into a historic house museum. This means it's a place where you can visit and learn what life was like there long ago.
The inn and boatyard was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 23, 1969. It's still the only place on that list that served as both a boatyard and a stagecoach stop!
Visiting the Inn Today
The Netherland Inn is a great example of what life was like on the American frontier. The museum uses old journals from Richard Netherland and other records to show how people lived.
When you visit, you can see how each floor was used in the early 1800s. The first floor was a tavern, where people ate and drank. The second floor was where the family lived. The third floor had rooms for guests who were staying at the inn.
Most of the original items from the inn were lost during the American Civil War. However, the museum has some special pieces in its collection that are truly original to the inn. It's a fascinating place to explore and learn about the past!
