Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Rawlins Tractor Shed

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 25, 2015

1. Rawlins Tractor Shed Marker

Inscription. The first steam traction engine for farm use was made in 1869 by J.I. Case Company. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s tractors gradually replaced the mules and horses in Middle Tennessee as the primary instruments for everyday farm work. Early tractors had iron or steel wheels until Allis Chalmers Company introduced the first tractor with rubber tires in 1932. The shift from gasoline to diesel as the major source of fuel occurred during the 1960s,

This tractor exhibit is designed to illustrate the types of power that farmers used in Middle Tennessee between 1920 and 1950.

This collection began in 1982 as a cooperative effort between Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department and Middle Tennessee State University under the direction of Dr. Omri Rawlins, Professor of Agribusiness at MTSU. Fascinated by antique tractors, Dr. Rawlins was commonly referred to as "the tractor man" because of his extensive collection of over 500 replicas of farm tractors.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 35° 50.614′ N, 86° 23.823′ W. Marker is in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in Rutherford County. It is on 312 South Front Street. This marker is located at the entrance

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to the Rawlins Tractor Shed in the Cannonsburgh Village. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Murfreesboro TN 37129, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in Greater Nashville.

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: Stones River Region Car Club, AACA (a few steps from this marker); L & N Caboose (within shouting distance of this marker); Haynes Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Williamson Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); Rio Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Leeman House (within shouting distance of this marker); One-Room Schoolhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); University House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murfreesboro.

Additional commentary.
1. Farmall Tractor photo taken by Sandra from Alabama.
Thank you very much for the photo of the Farmall tractor. I’ve been searching for a photo of a tractor in my possession that belonged to my grandfather. This model is very similar. I will plan to visit the Rawlings Tractor Shed at some point. —David

— Submitted December 14, 2024.

Rawlins Tractor Shed Tractors image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 25, 2015

2. Rawlins Tractor Shed Tractors

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 25, 2015

3. Rawlins Tractor Shed Tractors

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 25, 2015

4. Rawlins Tractor Shed Tractors

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 25, 2015

5. Rawlins Tractor Shed Tractors

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 528 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 16, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.