Statements

Mission

The Organization has been organized to protect, preserve, restore and promote Two Rivers Mansion. The mission of the Organization is to engage in and/or support activities of and/or fundraising for the protection, preservation, restoration and promotion of Two Rivers Mansion, in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and policies of the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation and the Historical Commission of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.The Organization shall use its assets primarily to support those programs, services, projects and capital purchases of Two Rivers Mansion which are not normally funded by appropriations from governmental agencies or for which funding or financing is not otherwise readily available or forthcoming, but shall not provide funds which can be substituted for the traditional tax-based funding of the Metropolitan Government or any other government agency.

Background

Two Rivers Mansion , one of the last of the elaborate antebellum country homes built in the Nashville area and one of the earliest and best preserved of the ornate Italianate houses in Middle Tennessee, was once part of an 1100 acre plantation located on fertile, rolling land between the Stones and Cumberland rivers. The junction of the two rivers suggested the name given to the property by its first owner, William Harding whose family built the Belle Meade plantation in west Nashville.The mansion, built by David McGavock in 1859 on the eve of the Civil War for his bride,William (Willie) Elizabeth Harding but not finished until the 1870's, was inhabited by the McGavock family for three generations until 1965, when the last heir died and the property was purchased by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Today the fourteen acre tract, which includes the mansion and one of Nashville's oldest brick houses built in 1802, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Upon acquiring the 447 acre property, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville in addition to the fourteen acre historic site, developed two schools, a golf course, park greenway, water park (Wave Country), skate park, frisbie golf course, picnic, etc.; many recreational activities for families to enjoy. Restored to the stately architectural splendor of the mansions' early days, Two Rivers mansion reflects the taste, textures and colors of the post-war era and today remains a centerpiece for gatherings of all kinds of social occasions as well - weddings, parties, anniversaries, birthdays and special events for future generations to enjoy.The Friends of Two Rivers Mansion was incorporated on August 20, 2010 and granted federal recognition as a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt community charity on November 22, 2010. The organization was organized to protect, preserve, restore and promote the use of the Mansion in a manner that is consistent with the policies of the Metro Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the Metro Historic Commission. Our primary mission is to engage in activities and fundraising that will assist in the protection, preservation and promotion of the property as a historic venue.

Impact

2015 saw significant milestones in our efforts at continued preservation and raising awareness of the 1859 Mansion, 1802 House and beautiful 14-acre property, such as opening our Music at the Mansion series with the second annual visit from The Nashville Symphony and the restoration of the boxwood gardens and fountain.Our summer tours brought both brand new visitors and those who hadn't been back in years.All our visitors were amazed at the beauty of the mansion and wonderful restorationprogress. These personal stories of thanks along with hearing about new memories created from the numerous weddings and events held at the mansion speaks to the success our Friends group has achieved in making the Two Rivers Mansion "a crown jewel of the Donelson community.' 2016 Goals: Our goals for 2016 are broken into three main categories:Restoration and Preservation, Community Outreach and education and long-term planning. Restoration and Preservation: Our work continues on the exterior of the Mansion, grounds and 1802 House, one of Nashville's oldest brick homes. Our signature restoration milestone last year was the completion of our boxwood garden restoration, one of the Mansion ground's most striking features. We have also begun to a long-range maintenance planning process to ensure we have the funds to been the ongoing major maintenance needs of the interior and exterior of the facility in partnership with Metro Nashville Parks. Community Outreach: For 2016, our goal is to expand our summer tour times and offerings even further with the help of paid docents from Metro Nashville Parks. This investment is a continued step forward in our eventual goal to have the Mansion open for tours at regular hours year-round. Long-term Planning: In Partnership with Metro Parks, we are at the beginning phases of a larger strategic planning process. This represents a major milestone in our organization's genesis as we seek to ensure proper investments are made in order to preserve, protect and share the Mansion with the community into perpetuity.2017 Goals - The primary goal of 2017 will be the completion of a Master Plan process to guide the future growth and development of the Mansion and surrounding grounds. A new sign is planned for near the entrance to the property on McGavock Pike as well as the addition of a 3 panel farm fence reflective of the 1880s period2018 Goals - There are numerous ruins of outbuilding in the wooded areas surrounding the Mansion and one of the 2018 goals is to create trails and signage to allow visitors to experience these stone ruins. A major goal for 2018 is the planning and design for an event center behind the Mansion. This will allow the Mansion to be fully developed as a house museum and create space for a broader range of events that can be hosted. With the completion of renovation and staging of the 1802 House (Buchannan-Harding House) the Mansion tours will have a historic beginning due to the fact that this was the first structure on the property that became the Two Rivers Plantation and was the home of Willie Harding McGavock's mother and father when they were married. It's significant that the Friends group has received 3 Metro Historic Commission Awards in the last 4 years; one for restoration of the Mansion, one for restoration of the 1802 House, and one for the work of the preservation work of Friends group 2019 plans are to introduce educational field trip tours for area elementary schools to learn of the Mississippian Indian Culture that existed in the Pennington Bend area (specifically on the grounds of the Two Rivers Plantation

Needs

We are carefully and thoughtfully planning our growth as an organization and constantly assessing our current and emerging needs. Currently we have need to develop and install way finding signage around the property. We would also like to be able to provide transportation dollars to teachers wishing to bring their classes to the Mansion for an educational field trip tour Here's how you can help: Support us by becoming a MemberBasic Membership for Friends of Two Rivers Mansion includes:I. Senior citizen or Student - $20 annual or $55 for 3 yearsII. Individual - $25 annual or $65 for 3 yearsIII. Family - $50 or $125 for 3 years Support us with an Event Membership or a Corporate Partnership. Please visit our website for more details on these opportunities. Become a volunteer. We are always looking for volunteers as a volunteer organization. Attend an event check our website for a list of our upcoming events. Way finding and interpretative signage for both inside and outside purposes

CEO Statement

2017-2018 are pivotal times for Two Rivers as we move from an events based site to a more education/museum location. We currently have two education programs related to the Mississippian Indian Culture. that once occupied the lands that became the Two Rivers Stock Farm/Plantation and Plantation Life and Slave Culture at The Two Rivers Plantation. We have just. completed an extensive effort to catalogue our entire collection using Past Perfect Software and we are poised to furnish more rooms in the 1880's time period once an new events center is in place

Board Chair Statement

Message from Friends Founder, - Standing on the threshold of our 11th year as a Friends group, it's hard to believe that I first sat down at the Mansion on February 4, 2010 for a conversation with Tommy Lynch, Parks Director; Tim Walker, Robin Zeigler and Tara Mielnik, Metro Historic; Dot Hunter and Carolyn Sullivan, Stones River Woman's Club, to review an assessment of the exterior of the Mansion that had just been completed by Historic Commission staffers and to discuss the advantages of forming a 501 organization to help with addressing the detonation and other needs of the Mansion. Now, eleven years later, the Mansion is in better condition than it's been in since the late 1800's and thousands of people have had to opportunity to come to the Mansion to enjoy its beauty, learn of its history and experience the varied entertainment options that have become part of our annual calendar of events. This level of accomplishment could not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of a tremendous Board of Directors and the support of the Mayor's Office, the Parks Director and Parks Board, the Director of the Historic Commission and staff and a loyal membership to support our efforts as a young and growing organization. In 2016 a 20 year Master Plan was completed for the Mansion and future development of the property. Now that this strong base is in place, the next five to 10 years hold unlimited potential for making Two Rivers Mansion a premier destination in Metro Nashville.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Arts, Culture & Humanities  - Historical Societies & Historic Preservation
Secondary Category:	Education  - Elementary & Secondary Schools
Tertiary Category:	Social Science  - Black Studies

Areas Served

Greater Nashville Area including areas abutting the Metro-Davidson County line

TN - Davidson