Rock Castle

Rock Castle is an 18th-century mansion in Sumner County built from local limestone and timber in an inverted L-shape. The residence contains four ground-floor rooms and displays Federal-period construction techniques and interior finishes.

The house was built between 1784 and 1797 by General Daniel Smith, who received the land as compensation for his Revolutionary War service. The construction reflects how military veterans invested their wealth into establishing estates after the war.

The Smith Family Cemetery on the grounds displays gravestones cut from the same limestone used to build the house. This connection between residence and burial place reflects how the family's roots ran deep into the land.

The property is accessible to visitors today with guided tours through the house and grounds where you can see the original rooms and features. The tours provide context about the estate and its role in the region's early development.

The house sits on property that now overlooks Old Hickory Lake, an artificial reservoir created in 1954 by a dam built by the US Army Corps of Engineers. This modern reshaping of the landscape happened generations after the original estate was established.

Location: Sumner County

GPS coordinates: 36.27930,-86.59640

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42