Clarksville in Montgomery County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Roy Acuff

Dunbar Cave

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 4, 2023

1. Dunbar Cave Marker

Inscription. Roy Acuff, "The King of Country Music", is considered by many to be the father of the genre. Acuff and his band, the Smoky Mountain Boys, joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1938 and became one its most popular acts. They brought what was then known as "hillbilly music" into the mainstream. Acuff's popularity grew, and he even ran for governor of Tennessee in 1948. That same year, he planned to open a country music park near Nashville. He purchased the already popular Dunbar Cave resort and put his own spin on it. The 1,300 seat arena once stood in front of you and was the main venue of Roy Acuff's Dunbar Cave. Grand Ole Opry stars performed here on Sunday afternoons. Square dances were held in front of the cave on Tuesday and Friday nights with popular music dances on Saturdays.

Captions
Lower Left: Wooden benches provided seating for 1,300.
Upper Right: The natural slope of the hillside allowed everyone to have a view of the stage.
Lower Right: Trees were left to provide shade.

Erected by Tennessee State Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Environment

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• Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 36° 33.093′ N, 87° 18.266′ W. Marker is in Clarksville, Tennessee, in Montgomery County. It can be reached from the intersection of Old Dunbar Cave Road and Dunbar Cave Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Old Dunbar Cave Rd, Clarksville TN 37043, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Three Sisters Garden (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Affricanna Town (about 400 feet away); Dunbar Cave (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Dunbar Cave (about 400 feet away); Wetland (about

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 4, 2023

2. Dunbar Cave Marker

Marker is on the right side of the photo. Marker can be accessed after crossing the bridge across Swan Lake or by walking the trail from the area near the cave.

500 feet away); a different marker also named Dunbar Cave (about 600 feet away); 1933 Swimming Pool & Bathhouse (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Affricanna Town (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clarksville.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 326 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.