Hundreds Spend Rainy Sunday Touring Historic Brentwood Sites

Published on August 03, 2026

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – A light rain fell Sunday afternoon as Brentwood Historic Commission member Nicole Smith drove down Moores Lane. The weather bothered her because the Historic Commission was hosting several open houses that day, and Smith figured the rain would keep people away.

She left early to unlock the 200-year-old Boiling Spring Academy schoolhouse, but then she hit some traffic. A moment later, she realized the vehicles were waiting for her to unlock the Primm Park Gates, where the schoolhouse sits.

“Wow,” she wrote in an email to her fellow historic commissioners. “We easily had 300 people come to Boiling Spring Academy this afternoon. Many I spoke to said they were visiting all four sites today.”

The Brentwood Historic Commission hosted guided and self-paced tours Aug. 2 at Ravenswood Mansion, the enslaved cabins at Ravenswood, the Cool Springs House, the Boiling Spring Academy, and the restored enslaved Primm Cabins.

Historic Commission members were stationed at each of the sites – representing some of Brentwood’s most significant historic landmarks – to answer questions and provide insights about these properties.

“The Primm Cabins had an excellent turnout too,” Historic Commission member Inetta Bishop said. “So many people expressed how much they enjoyed going to all the sites.”

Visitors came from all over Middle Tennessee, along with a few Las Vegas residents who heard about the free open houses.  The event’s success, particularly on a rainy Sunday afternoon, has prompted the Historic Commission to consider hosting more similar events in the future.

The Brentwood Historic Commission works to preserve, protect, and promote the city's historic resources while increasing public awareness and appreciation of Brentwood's rich heritage.

For more information about Brentwood's historic properties and preservation efforts, visit the Historic Commission’s website.