Oaklawn Garden facts for kids
A 1944 Norfolk & Western caboose at Oaklawn Garden
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| Established | ca. 1975, indoor museum ca. 1987 |
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| Location | 7831 Old Poplar Pike, Germantown, Tennessee |
| Type | Botanical garden, park, local history museum |
Oaklawn Garden is a special place in Germantown, Tennessee. It's a beautiful botanical garden, a fun park, and an interesting museum all in one! You can find it at 7831 Old Poplar Pike. On the property, there's also an old house built way back in 1854.
The garden covers about 20 acres (that's like 15 football fields!). You'll see lots of pretty daffodils, colorful azaleas, and other native flowers. About 2 acres are just for daffodils, with over 300 different kinds! There are also many oak, birch, and other native trees and shrubs. You might even spot some small local wildlife living there.
The museum at Oaklawn Garden shows off cool items from local history. It also has old railroad and traffic items. The museum has two parts: an outdoor collection and an indoor exhibit. The outdoor part started around 1975 and is spread throughout the garden. The indoor part opened around 1987 in a building that used to be a flower shop.
Oaklawn Garden is privately owned, but it's open for everyone to visit. Harry and Becky Cloyes, who own the property, gave it to the city of Germantown. This means it will stay a public park, garden, and history museum for a long time. When the azaleas bloom in April, it's a popular spot for families to take pictures, even wedding photos! It's free to visit, but donations are always welcome. In 2018, Oaklawn Garden was added to the National Register of Historic Places because of its importance.
The Story of Oaklawn Garden
The old house on the property was built in 1854 by William Carter. He owned a huge piece of land, about 493 acres! In 1872, his land was divided up. Later, in 1918, Fritz Hussy and Mamie Cloyes bought 20 acres of that land. They named it Oaklawn Garden. The 1854 house was part of their purchase. Mamie Cloyes loved flowers and started growing daffodils in 1924.
Mamie's son, Harry Cloyes, and his wife, Becky, continued her work. They created the botanical garden, park, and museum we see today. The outdoor museum collection began around 1975. Many items were given by the City of Germantown, railroad companies, schools, and local people. The indoor museum is in a separate building. This building was first built in 1957 as a shop to sell flowers grown at Oaklawn Garden. It was a flower shop until about 1987. After that, it became home to the indoor history exhibits.
Exploring the Park and Museum
The botanical garden and park at Oaklawn Garden are full of different plants and small animals. You'll see many kinds of native daffodils, bright azaleas, and other local flowers. About 2 acres of the garden are just for daffodils, with over 300 types growing there. You can also find boxwood, oak, and birch trees, along with other native shrubs. Many trees have tags to help you identify them. The park is also home to various native birds and small wildlife, like squirrels.
The outdoor museum has many interesting items from Germantown's past. Each item is numbered, and you can use a special brochure to learn about them on a self-guided tour. Some cool outdoor exhibits include a 1942 fire truck from the Germantown Fire Department. There's also the very first Germantown jail, which was just one small cell! You can see an old Southern Railway boxcar from 1889 or 1891. A 1944 Norfolk and Western Railway caboose is also on display. Other items include old pumps, farm tools, traffic lights, street signs, and even old gravestones. There are almost eighty items in the outdoor collection! The indoor museum is in the building that used to be a flower shop. It shows historical items that tell stories about local life and history.
Oaklawn Garden is a private property, but it's open for everyone to enjoy. There's some parking available, and it's completely free to get in. You can pick up a free museum brochure. This brochure tells you about the history of the property and helps you understand all the numbered exhibits in both the outdoor and indoor collections.
See also
