Statements
Mission
Rock Castle strives to educate through immersive, hands-on experiences; connect the community through meaningful, family-friendly events; and preserve the history and heritage of a Tennessee state treasure.
Background
In 1969, the descendants of General Daniel Smith and Sarah Michie Smith sold Historic Rock Castle to the State of Tennessee for restoration and preservation as a state historic site and house museum. Two years later, Sarah Crosby Berry, a direct Smith descendant, and other local community members created the Friends of Rock Castle, Inc. to manage and interpret the site. Historic Rock Castle stands today as a Tennessee heritage asset representing the state's history as a major frontier landscape and a testament to the lasting legacy of a man who played such a prominent role in that history. Daniel Smith was a Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War, US Senator for the State of Tennessee, Chair of the Tennessee State Constitution Committee, and Secretary of the Southwest Territory. He also laid the state line boundaries and named the State of Tennessee, derived from the Cherokee language.
Impact
In the last few years, Rock Castle has (1) partnered with the Nashville Symphony to present several admission-free, full symphony concerts for the families of Middle Tennessee; (2) planned and hosted one of the largest admission-free historically-immersive educational experiences for elementary students in Middle Tennessee (known as the Sumner Harvest Living History Festival); (3) introduced an annual series of Winter House Concerts where guests can learn the history of Middle Tennessee and enjoy performances by local musicians and songwriters; (4) developed and presented an annual summer songwriter series where families can gather to strengthen relationships and enjoy Middle Tennessee's incredible music heritage; (5) created and presented an annual Folk and Bluegrass Festival for the families of Middle Tennessee; (6) orchestrated the largest annual admission-free egg hunt in Tennessee just before Easter; (7) partnered with a local character company to present an annual one-of-a-kind Trick-or-Treating/Meet-and-Greet experience for children called the Castle of Villains just before Halloween; (8) established an annual admission-free Holiday Open House for families to enjoy the holiday traditions, music, and decor of the 18th century; (9) partnered with a professional theatre company to present a live "Shakespeare at the Castle" experience for the families of Middle Tennessee; (10) developed and run two distinctive summer day camp programs that focus on the history and skills of colonial-era life; and (11) developed a long range strategic plan that includes the on-going development of community outreach programs and educational experiences.
Needs
Our primary needs are (1) dependable volunteer docents to help to help facilitate and run the increasing number of educational and community events at our rapidly growing historic site, and (2) community partnerships with other Middle Tennessee organizations who share our goals of educating students, connecting the community, and preserving Middle Tennessee's vibrant history. (3) We would also like to to acquire and install several musem-quality display cases that would allow us to publicly share historical items from our archive that are too valuable or fragile for open display.
CEO Statement
When my family moved to Hendersonville in 2006, Rock Castle was an old house in relative obscurity. There was only one event at Rock Castle each year (Daniel Smith Days), and the annual traffic through its gates was fewer than 8,000 people. Since then, however, Rock Castle has steadily grown in service to the community around it. In 2010, Rock Castle committed itself to the substantial task of providing one educational or family-focused event for the people of Middle Tennessee each month of the year. In 2015, it surpassed even this goal. In 2022, Rock Castle organized and orchestrated 18 distinct events for the students and families of Middle Tennessee, and more than 40,000 unique visitors spent time at our site. In addition to those 18 events, Rock Castle also facilitated dozens of field trips, developed two successful summer camp programs (Frontier Camp & American Girl Camp), and assisted with several community partnership events that took place on its grounds.
Rock Castle is the heritage and possession of the people of Middle Tennessee. Its structures and grounds are assets that we will continue to leverage for the good of our state's students and families. We have stewarded our finances and responsibilities well, and we have remained faithfully committed to the three core missions listed below:
1. educate through immersive, hands-on experiences
2. connect the community through meaningful, family-friendly events
3. preserve the history and heritage of a Tennessee state treasure
We sincerely hope that Rock Castle's positive impact on the rapidly growing Middle Tennessee community has been profoundly felt, and-if it has been-we humbly invite you to help fulfill the missional goals listed above. Middle Tennessee is a wonderful place to live, work, and learn, and we are excited for every opportunity to gather together in pursuit of common goals.
Sam Gilbert
Executive Director
Historic Rock Castle
Service Categories |
|
| Primary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - History Museums |
| Secondary Category: | Education - Elementary & Secondary Schools |
| Tertiary Category: | Recreation & Sports - Community Recreational Centers |
Areas Served
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Wilson |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Macon |
