Historic Walking Tours

enjoy our self-guilded walking tours and 'the preservaton post' publication

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 1991 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.

ANGELA NEWMAN

My husband and I purchased a ca. 1915 home in the Pleasant Historic District in 2017 after discovering the city’s charm and historical buildings. Soon after moving to Mt. Pleasant, I fulfilled a personal dream of opening a small store, 1824 General Store, as a way to participate in the revitalization efforts of the community.

I hold a Master’s in Business Administration and have over 25 years of experience in leadership roles. I have a Certificate in Sustainable Preservation from Cornell University and currently studying at Boston Architectural College for a Certificate in Historic Preservation.

I enjoy spending time promoting communities and small businesses through my social media pages including designing the Historic District walking tours. In addition, I have the pleasure of sitting on the board at the Maury County Historical Society.

To bring homeowners of Mt. Pleasant's Historic Districts together for camaraderie and to learn about historic preservation and Maury County's resources, I held the first annual, "Community, Chat & Cheers' event in 2022. In 2023, we had Tom Price, Director of Maury County Archives present on the topic of historic preservation.

I invite you to come and visit our quaint, historic town, shop our small businesses, and dine in our restaurants. Who knows, you may find yourself wanting to move here or open a business like I did. 😊

Feel free to contact me with any comments or questions.

Angela Newman

Cell: 615-594-0542

Email: historicmtpleasanttenn@gmail.com