Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Grassmere

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 18, 2025

1. Grassmere Marker

Inscription. Michael Dunn had a brick house built on this site c. 1810. By 1839, the family enslaved at least 14 people. The house was renovated after the Civil War and named Grassmere by Dunn's grandson, William Dickson Shute. Shute's granddaughters Margaret and Elise Croft were the last private owners. Animal and nature lovers, they left the house and land as a “nature study center” for future generations. Fulfilling the sisters' wishes, Nashville Zoo began managing the property in 1997.

Erected 2001 by Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. (Marker Number 108.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the Tennessee, The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1810.

Location. 36° 5.392′ N, 86° 44.019′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is at the intersection of Nolensville Pike (Alternate U.S. 41) and Zoo Road, on the right when traveling south

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on Nolensville Pike. Marker is at main entrance road to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3777 Nolensville Pk, Nashville TN 37211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee.

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Kurdish Americans in Nashville (approx. 0.3 miles away); Radnor College (approx. 0.9 miles away); Lake Providence Community (approx. 1.4 miles away); Turner Grammar School (approx. 1.4 miles away); Smokehouse (approx. 1.9 miles away); Arabian Horses (approx. 1.9 miles away); Herb Garden (approx. 1.9 miles away); Historic Travellers Rest Herb Garden (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 18, 2025

2. Grassmere Marker

in Nashville.

Also see . . .
1. Grassmere Historic Home. The home was built by Col. Michael C. Dunn and was completed around 1810, making it the second oldest residence in Davidson County that is open to the public. (Nashville Zoo at Grassmere) (Submitted on May 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Grassmere Collection, 1786-1985. The Grassmere Collection, 1786-1985 (bulk 1880-1978), is centered around five generations of the same family that lived at Grassmere Farm, Nashville, Tennessee: Michael C. Dunn (1770-1853), Lee Shute (1797-1879), William Dickson Shute (1834-1916) and the Croft sisters, Margaret (1889-1974) and Elise (1894-1985). (Tennessee Virtual Archive) (Submitted on May 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Grassmere (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination and accompanying photographs of the house, which was listed in 1984. (Prepared by Shain Dennison, Metro Historical Commission; via National Park Service) (Submitted on May 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Grassmere House image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Tennessee State Library & Archives (Public Domain)

3. Grassmere House

The house was built in the Federal style, but Italianate touches – such as the front porch – were added during a post-Civil War renovation.

Col. Michael C. Dunn image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Tennessee State Library & Archives (Public Domain)

4. Col. Michael C. Dunn

In 1810, Dunn purchased land, later to become Grassmere, from Alex Simpson. Dunn and his family built a permanent home on the property in 1815 and was the first of five generations to farm and live there. (Tennessee Virtual Archive)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 230 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.