Oaklawn Garden facts for kids
1944 Norfolk & Western caboose at Oaklawn Garden
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | ca. 1975, indoor museum ca. 1987 |
|---|---|
| Location | 7831 Old Poplar Pike, Germantown, Tennessee |
| Type | Botanical garden, park, local history museum |
Oaklawn Garden is a special place in Germantown, Tennessee, United States. It's a mix of a beautiful botanical garden, a fun park, and an interesting museum. You can find it at 7831 Old Poplar Pike.
A historic house built in 1854 stands on the property. This house was built by the first owner of the land.
The garden is famous for its many flowers. You can see lots of daffodils and azaleas. There are also other native flowers. About 2 acres (0.81 ha) of Oaklawn Garden are just for daffodils. People started growing them here in 1924.
You will also find many different woody plants. These include boxwood, oak, and birch trees. There are other native trees and shrubs too. Small native wildlife also lives at Oaklawn Garden.
The museum part of Oaklawn Garden shows items from local history. It also has things about railroads and old traffic in the area. The museum has an outdoor part and an indoor part. The outdoor collection started around 1975. It is spread out in the garden and park. The indoor museum opened around 1987. It is in a building that used to be a florist shop. That building was built in 1957.
Oaklawn Garden is owned by a family, but it is open to everyone. Harry and Becky Cloyes, the owners, gave the property to the city of Germantown. They wanted it to stay a public park, garden, and history museum.
When the azaleas are blooming, usually in early April, many families come to take pictures. It's a popular spot for wedding photos too.
Visiting Oaklawn Garden is free for everyone. However, donations are always welcome. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. This means it is a very important historic site.
Contents
The Story of Oaklawn Garden
The main house at Oaklawn Garden was built in 1854. A man named William Carter built it. He owned a very large piece of land, about 493 acres (200 ha). In 1872, his land was divided into smaller parts.
In 1918, a 20-acre (8.1 ha) piece of land was bought by Fritz Hussy and Mamie Cloyes. They named it Oaklawn Garden. The old 1854 house was part of this purchase. Mamie Cloyes started growing daffodils in 1924. This was the beginning of the beautiful flower displays.
Mamie Cloyes' son, Harry Cloyes, and his wife Becky, created the botanical garden, park, and museum. The outdoor museum collection began around 1975. Many items were given by the City of Germantown. Railroad companies, local schools, businesses, and people also donated things.
The indoor museum is in a separate building. This building was built in 1957. It was first used as a florist shop. They sold flowers grown right there at Oaklawn Garden. The shop closed around 1987. After that, the building became home to the indoor history collection.
Exploring the Park and Museum
Oaklawn Garden is a wonderful place to explore nature and history. It has a park-like feel with many plants and small animals.
Plants and Wildlife
The garden is full of different flora (plants). You will see many kinds of native daffodils. There are also beautiful azaleas and other native flowers. About 2 acres (0.81 ha) of the garden are just for daffodils. In 2009, there were more than 300 types of daffodils here!
The park also has many woody plants. These include boxwood, oak, and birch trees. You will find other native shrubs and trees too. Many trees have markers that tell you their species.
The fauna (animals) at Oaklawn Garden includes different kinds of native birds. You might also spot smaller wildlife, like squirrels.
Outdoor Museum Collection
The outdoor museum shows many historic items from Germantown's past. These items are numbered. You can use a museum brochure to learn about each one on a self-guided tour.
Some cool outdoor exhibits include:
- A 1942 fire truck from the Germantown Fire Department.
- The first Germantown jail, which was just one small cell.
- An old Southern Railway boxcar from 1889 or 1891.
- A 1944 Norfolk and Western Railway caboose.
- Old pumps, farm tools, traffic lights, and street signs.
- Even some old gravestones that were moved here.
There are almost eighty items in the outdoor collection!
Indoor Museum Exhibits
The indoor museum is in the building that used to be a florist shop. It has historical items that tell stories about local life and history in Germantown.
Visiting Oaklawn Garden
Oaklawn Garden is on private property, but it is open to the public. There is some parking available. The best part is that admission to the garden, park, and museum is completely free! You can get a free museum brochure. It tells you about the history of the property and explains all the numbered exhibits.
