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 special historic house museum located in Kingsport, Tennessee, United States. It was first built in 1802. Back then, it was a place where boats were built and loaded with salt to be shipped. Later, in 1818, it became the Netherland Inn. This inn was a popular stop for travelers going between Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. It's the only place on the National Register of Historic Places that was both a boatyard and a stop for stagecoaches.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How the Inn Began
The main building was first built in 1802 by a man named William King. He made it bigger in 1808. William King's main goal was to create a boatyard. This boatyard would help him ship the salt he produced to other places.
From Boatyard to Busy Inn
In 1818, William King sold the building to Richard Netherland. Richard Netherland turned it into the Netherland Inn we know today. It became a three-story building with an inn and a tavern. It was located right on the Great Old Stage Road, which was the main travel route between Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. Many important people stayed at the inn, including future presidents like Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, and James Polk. Richard Netherland's son, John Netherland, who later became a well-known state legislator, grew up right there at the inn.
Preserving History
The Netherland family owned the inn until 1906. Then, H.C. and Nettie Cloud bought it. They used it as their home and also as a boarding house, where people could rent rooms. In 1968, the Netherland Inn Association bought the property. They wanted to protect this important piece of history. They turned it into a historic house museum. On December 23, 1969, the inn and boatyard were officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. It remains the only place on the Register that served as both a boatyard and a stagecoach stop.
What You See Today
Exploring the Museum
Today, the Netherland Inn is a great example of what life was like for early American settlers. The museum uses old journals from Richard Netherland and other records to show how people lived in the early 1800s.
Inside the Inn
When you visit, you can see how the inn was set up. The first floor has a tavern, which was a common gathering place. The second floor shows the family's living quarters. The third floor has guest rooms, just as they would have looked when travelers stayed there. Most of the original items from the inn were lost during the American Civil War. However, the museum has some special pieces that are original to the inn.
