Murfreesboro was laid out in 1811, chartered in 1817 and was Tennessee's capital from 1818 to 1826. Its 30 National Register sites, museums and hours.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. The founding story comes from the city’s History of Murfreesboro page; National Register listings from the National Park Service’s National Register data download (file dated May 22, 2026); hours from each site’s own page.

Murfreesboro was laid out in 1811 as the new seat of Rutherford County, recognized as a city in 1817 and served as Tennessee’s capital from 1818 to 1826. Today 30 properties with a Murfreesboro address are on the National Register of Historic Places, led by Stones River National Battlefield.

Who to call

  • Stones River National Battlefield: 615-893-9501
  • Oaklands Mansion: 615-893-0022
  • Bradley Academy Museum: 615-962-8773
  • Cannonsburgh Village: 615-890-0355

How Murfreesboro began

According to the city’s history:

  • 1811: The Tennessee legislature appointed a committee to choose a new site for the Rutherford County seat. It picked 60 acres belonging to Capt. William Lytle.
  • The name: The General Assembly first called the town Cannonsburgh, for Newton Cannon, a young Williamson County politician. A month later, at Lytle’s request, it became Murfreesboro, in memory of his friend Col. Hardy Murfree.
  • 1817: The legislature recognized Murfreesboro as an official city.
  • 1818 to 1826: Murfreesboro was the capital of Tennessee, chosen for its central location, until Nashville regained the title in 1826.
  • By 1853: Three colleges and several academies earned it the nickname “Athens of Tennessee.”
  • 1907 and 1911: Tennessee College for Women opened in 1907; Middle Tennessee State Normal School, for training teachers, opened in 1911. It is now Middle Tennessee State University.
  • After World War II: The economy shifted from farming to industry and manufacturing. The population grew from 44,922 in 1990 to 68,816 in 2000; the city puts it at more than 157,000 today. See our population guide.

The city’s pioneer village is named for that first name: Cannonsburgh Village.

The Civil War

The National Park Service says the Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War, with important military and political gains for the Union. After it, Union troops built Fortress Rosecrans between January and June 1863, which the city calls the largest enclosed earthen fortification built during the war. A 0.9-mile greenway loop passes its remaining earthworks. See our parks and trails guide.

Historic districts

  • East Main Street Historic District (listed 1985): roughly East Main, East Lytle, College, University and East Vine streets, 41 acres.
  • North Maney Avenue Historic District (1985): bounded roughly by North Maney and North Highland avenues, East College Street and North Academy Avenue, 43 acres.
  • The Public Square, around the 1859 Rutherford County Courthouse (listed 1973), is the heart of downtown, run as a Main Street district by Main Street Murfreesboro, 615-895-1887.

National Register of Historic Places in Murfreesboro

Every listing in the National Park Service’s data with a Murfreesboro address, by the year it was listed. Some are in the countryside outside the city limits.

Listed Property Address (as listed)
1966 Stones River National Battlefield 3501 Old Nashville Highway
1970 Oaklands North Maney Avenue
1973 Collier-Crichlow House 511 E. Main St.
1973 Elmwood (boundary enlarged in 2007) 5722 Old Nashville Highway
1973 Marymont 1126 Rucker Lane
1973 Gen. Joseph B. Palmer House 434 E. Main St.
1973 Rutherford County Courthouse Public Square
1974 Fortress Rosecrans Site west of town at the Stones River
1979 Childress-Ray House 225 N. Academy St.
1984 Boxwood (Thomas J.B. Turner House) Old Salem Pike
1985 East Main Street Historic District East Main and nearby streets
1985 North Maney Avenue Historic District North Maney and nearby streets
1990 Bradley Academy 415 S. Academy St.
1990 Walter Hill Hydroelectric Station U.S. 231 at the Stones River
1992 Arnold-Harrell House (Daffodil Hill) 1710 E. Main St.
1992 Rutherford Health Department 303 N. Church St.
1993 First Presbyterian Church 210 N. Spring St.
1993 Landsberger-Gerhardt House 435 N. Spring St.
1993 Middle Tennessee State Teachers College Training School 923 E. Lytle St.
1993 Robert Andrew Smith Farm 2568 Armstrong Valley Road
1995 Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church 224 S. Maney Ave.
1995 Enoch H. Jones House 6339 Halls Hill Pike
1996 Thomas C. Black House (Evergreen) 4431 Lebanon Road
1999 Beesley Primitive Baptist Church 461 Beesley Road
2003 Logan Henderson Farm 3600 Manchester Pike
2004 John C. Spence House 503 N. Maple St.
2012 Murfreesboro Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District 3400 Lebanon Pike
2012 Old First Presbyterian Church and Old City Cemetery 390 E. Vine St.
2022 Benevolent Cemetery Park Avenue
2022 Cemetery School Mount Olive Road

Museums and sites you can visit

  • Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway: battlefield, visitor center and Stones River National Cemetery. Call 615-893-9501 for hours.
  • Oaklands Mansion, 901 N. Maney Ave., in Oaklands Park: self-guided tours Tuesday through Friday; reservations recommended, walk-ins accepted; check its calendar for weekends. 615-893-0022.
  • Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center, 415 S. Academy St.: the city says the academy began in 1806 as a school for white boys, admitted African American students from 1884, and moved into the current building, which opened in 1918 as the school for African American students. It has an original classroom and an early settlers exhibit. Open Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 615-962-8773.
  • Cannonsburgh Village, 312 S. Front St.: about 100 years of Tennessee life, from the 1830s to the 1930s, with a gristmill, schoolhouse, general store, blacksmith shop, museum and the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket. Self-guided tours are free; call ahead, since the village may be closed for a private rental. 615-890-0355.
  • Old City Cemetery, 390 E. Vine St., on the grounds of the Old First Presbyterian Church.
  • Benevolent Cemetery, Park Avenue, listed in 2022 for its Black heritage.

Learn more

The Rutherford County Historical Society publishes research on county people, places and stories, including the Ransom School House.

More guides: parks and trails, things to do and population and growth.

Frequently asked questions

When was Murfreesboro founded?

In 1811 the Tennessee legislature appointed a committee to pick a new county seat, which chose 60 acres owned by Capt. William Lytle. The state recognized Murfreesboro as a city in 1817.

Was Murfreesboro the capital of Tennessee?

Yes. The city says Murfreesboro was named the state capital in 1818 because of its central location, and Nashville regained the title in 1826.

Who is Murfreesboro named after?

Col. Hardy Murfree, a friend of William Lytle. The town was first named Cannonsburgh, after Newton Cannon, and renamed Murfreesboro a month later at Lytle’s request.

How many National Register sites are in Murfreesboro?

The National Park Service’s May 2026 data lists 30 National Register of Historic Places properties with a Murfreesboro address, from Stones River National Battlefield (1966) to the Benevolent Cemetery and Cemetery School (both 2022).