Cannonsburgh Village

Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village in Murfreesboro, Tennessee was
developed in 1975 as part of the national effort to celebrate our
Bicentennial in 1976. The Village attempts to recreate the
environment of an average rural village in the 1800’s. The
village contains a wide variety of the type of buildings found in
Murfreesboro (formerly called Cannonsburgh) in the early 1800’s
including a blacksmith shop, grist mill, school house, log house,
town hall, church, general store, etc.

In September, 1982 the Department of Agriculture at Middle
Tennesssee State University and the City of Murfreesboro began a
cooperative effort to collect and preserve agricultural relics
which have made a significant contribution to rural America namely
farm tractors and related equipment. Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village
seemed to be the ideal location with approximately 50,000 visitors
annually, an open shed partially filled with farm equipment, and
room for expansion. The city provides the facilities and the MTSU
Agriculture Department provides the overall development including
the collection, restoration, and display of the tractors.

An early 1900 Birdsell Clover Huller in excellent shape. Only
one steam engine is listed in the Cannonsburgh farm equipment
inventory, a 1915 Russell Portable.

There are several public agricultural museums in the South but
most of them emphasize the horse era. Our objective is to emphasize
the tractor era including steam and internal combustion engines up
to 1950. We are not planning to restore the tractors to running
condition although several do run. Our major effort is to clean and
paint them as close as possible to their original color. All
tractors are identified for visitors relative to type, year made
and the donor.

Neither the City of Murfreesboro nor Middle Tennesssee State
University provide financial support for the museum. Therefore, we
depend entirely on private donations of tractors and funds to
restore those donated. All donations are made through the MTSU
Foundation and are tax deductible.

The public response to the museum has been outstanding. We
started with about 40 items and now have over 100. In two years 23
tractors, a portable steam engine and numerous major pieces of
equipment have been donated. An additional shed has been added and
another one is planned for 1985. Currently, a 12′ by 24′
section is being enclosed display small tractor-related items such
as toy tractors, belt buckles, pictures, books, etc. This should
add a unique dimension to the museum.