Historic Mt. Pleasant, Tenn

Thank you for interest in our Historic District Walking Tours. We hope you enjoy.

WALKING TOURS IN MT. PLEASANT'S HISTORIC DISTRICTS

TOUR INFORMATION

HISTORIC MT. PLEASANT, TENNESSEE'S SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOURS

We are so fortunate to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places in three historic districts; two residential and one commercial. These districts are listed on the Register both for their history pertaining to the phosphate industry as well as the variety of architectural styles of homes and commercial buildings.

Many owners of historic homes purchase these treasures because they appreciate the historical value, uniqueness and architectural features they offer. They understand the importance of preserving the city's and the home's history and to protect and maintain these special homes for future generations to enjoy. Some are fully restored and others need some love, but all are very special and important in our community. As Mt. Pleasant continues with its revitalization efforts, more historical homes are being restored and preserved.

There are TWO self-guided historic walking tours available below. Both are focused on the residential districts and include areas of the commercial district as well. We hope you will enjoy the tours. Be sure to stop in at the local shops and dining establishments along the way.

Mt. Pleasant's History

Mt. Pleasant was incorporated as a City in 1824. It was primarily an agricultural town until the discovery of phosphate. Phosphate was discovered in the town limits in 1895 and had a major impact on the growth and wealth within the city.

In 1890 the city's population was only 466 but quickly grew to 2,007 in 1896, just one year after the discovery of phosphate. The phosphate mining continued through 1939 in Maury County, TN where Mt. Pleasant is located. Mt. Pleasant was known as the 'Phosphate Capital of the World' and at one time there was talk about changing the name of the City to Phosphate City.

Shortly after the discovery of phosphate, several companies set up businesses to mine phosphate within a 12 square mile area. By 1898, it is estimated that Mt. Pleasant had 7,000 acres of workable phosphate with 60-70% of phosphate mined going into fertilizer.

In 1899, Herman D. Ruhm a civil engineer organized the Mt. Pleasant Land and Improvement Company and made plans to develop a subdivision for residential homes due to the housing demand. This area is now part of the Pleasant Historic District. It was considered to be a desirable area for residential housing with restrictions placed on the types of homes permitted to be built. By 1915 there were approximately 20 new homes built primarily for the management and business owners of the phosphate industry.

After the boom of the phosphate mining ended and later in years when it was no longer necessary for people to drive through Main Street but rather utilize highways, it was no longer the thriving community it once was. Much effort has been given to the city over the years to restore downtown buildings, preserve its history and reinvent itself in other ways.

Today, we continue our efforts for revitalization and year after year, it just keeps getting better. We now have approximately 5,000 residents living both in the downtown and outlining areas, wonderful shops, eateries, a brewery, museum and more.

About Me

My name is Angela Newman. My husband Matt and I moved to Mt. Pleasant, Tenn in 2017 after falling in love with the city's charm and historical buildings.

We purchased a ca.1915 home in the Pleasant Historic District and like other owners of historic homes, see ourselves as the 'caretakers' of our home and someday will pass it onto another 'caretaker' to love and cherish.

My career has primarily been in healthcare business operations and I hold a Master's in Business Administration. Once moving here, I decided to open a business on Main Street, 1824 General Store, from 2017-2020 to fulfill a dream of mine and to contribute in some small way to the revitalization efforts. In addition, I provided oversight and consulting services to a local restaurant and shared information about vacant commercial buildings to attract entrepreneurs interested in occupying them.

I have since decided to focus my efforts in marketing our city in general and set up social media pages and this website to have a platform to share with people around the country what a great place Mt. Pleasant is to live, work and visit. I have always been involved in the community in one way or another and enjoy doing whatever I can to promote our community such as these walking tours.

I invite entrepreneurs and visitors to visit our city, take the walking/driving tour and shop our small businesses and dining establishments. You are sure to enjoy their Southern small town hospitality.

Thanks to so many people in the community and their efforts, we are experiencing growth and a renewed energy and interest in the city.

Thank you for visiting Historic Mt. Pleasant, Tenn website. Feel free to reach out via email with any questions or comments.