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

First Steam Locomotive

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 19, 2024

1. First Steam Locomotive Marker

Inscription. On December 13, 1850, the Tennessee No. 1, the first steam engine ordered by the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, arrived from Cincinnati at the Nashville wharf on the steamboat Beauty. The one-mile trip from the wharf to the crossing at S. Cherry Street (now 4th Ave. S.), pulled by mules over improvised tracks, took four days. The engine made a one-mile run from this point on December 27, 1850.

Erected 1971 by The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. (Marker Number 41.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee, The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 13, 1850.

Location. 36° 8.562′ N, 86° 45.905′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in South Nashville. It is at the intersection of 4th Avenue S and Hart Street on 4th Avenue S. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nashville TN 37210, 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 walking distance of this marker: Dudley Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Merritt House (about 800 feet away); St. Patrick Catholic Church

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Tom Wilson Park / Thomas T. Wilson (approx. 0.2 miles away); May Hosiery Mills (approx. ¼ mile away); Captain John Rains (approx. ¼ mile away); United Record Pressing (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hubbard House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

First Steam Locomotive Marker - old marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 18, 2014

2. First Steam Locomotive Marker - old marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 18, 2014

3. First Steam Locomotive Marker - old marker

First Steam Locomotive Marker and location where the Tennesse No. 1 began the one-mile run image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 19, 2024

4. First Steam Locomotive Marker and location where the Tennesse No. 1 began the one-mile run

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,205 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 19, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2, 3. submitted on June 12, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4. submitted on May 19, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.