Bluegrass music is often played at the grist mill in Cannonsburg. Murfreesboro's Cannonsburg represents approximately 100 years of early Tennessee life from the 1830s to the 1930s. Within the Village is a gristmill, school house, telephone operator's house, the University House, the Leeman House, a museum, a caboose, the Wedding Chapel, a doctor's office, a general store, a blacksmith's shop, a well and other points of pioneering interest.Chattanoogans who travel to Nashville know that Murfreesboro is almost there. Many people over the years have chosen to stop and put down roots there in recent years, however, as the city has been one of the fastest growing in the country over the last several years.
Located in the center of the state, it has become home to the Spring Fling, the annual event that helps determine high school champions in all spring sports.
-- Compiled by staff writer Barry Courter
Musical memories
Main Street Jazzfest. Local, regional and international jazz musicians perform.
Uncle Dave Macon Days. Three days of old-time music and dance named after Grand Ole Opry star.
International FolkFest. It's a weeklong festival held in June that features dance groups from around the world, as well as ethnic foods and arts and crafts.
Source: www.murfreesboro-tn.com, www.murfreesboro-tn.worldweb.com/Events/Festivals
Best kept Secret
A Shopping Smorgasbord -- The Avenue Murfreesboro is the largest outdoor lifestyle center -- each store has its own outside entrance -- in the state. Everything from craft to sports to toy stores is on site.
Source: Wendy Bryant, media specialist with the Rutherford County Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Best things to do
History and Sports -- You can see the world's largest cedar bucket, which is 1,556 imperial gallons. It is 6 feet tall, has a 6-foot diameter at the base and a 9-foot diameter at the top. Built in 1887 by the Tennessee Red Cedar Woodenworks Co., the bucket was displayed at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It is on display in Cannonsburg Village.
Old Fort Park is a 50-acre park that is home to baseball fields, tennis courts, a large playground, bike trails and an 18-hole golf course.
Barfield-Crescent Park is a 430-acre park with baseball fields, miles of bike trails, an 18-hole disc-golf course and picnic shelters.
Source: www.murfreesboro-tn.com
Inside Murfreesboro
• Population: 108,755
• Biggest employers: Rutherford County government, MTSU, State Farm Operations Center, Alvin C. York • Veterans Administration Medical Center, Verizon Wireless Call Center.
• Landmarks or geographic features: Middle Tennessee State University, which has the state's highest number of undergraduates with more than 26,000 students.
• Date founded: 1817
• History: Murfreesboro was named in honor of Col. Hardy Murfree at the request of Capt. William Lytle. Lytle owned the 60 acres of land that the General Assembly chose to be the new county seat of Rutherford County. It served as the state capital from 1818 to 1826.
• Most famous residents: Jean Marie Faircloth (Mrs. Douglas MacArthur), "Uncle Dave" Macon, sports writer Grantland Rice and astronaut Rhea Seddon.
• Unique characteristic: Rutherford County is the exact geographic center of Tennessee. An obelisk just outside of Murfreesboro marks the spot. Seventy-five percent of the country's entire population is within a day's drive.
Source: www.murfreesborotn.gov
THIS TOWN'S CHOO-CHOO
History On Display -- The Stones River National Battlefield is the largest local attraction for visitors; the Historic Cannonsburgh Village is a popular spot for visitors as well.
• Stones River was the site of one of the bloodiest Civil War battles in the Western theater.
• Cannonsburgh was the original name of the city. The village represents about 100 years of life before 1930. Visitors can tour a gristmill, schoolhouse, general store, blacksmith shop and more.
Source: Wendy Bryant, media specialist with the Rutherford County Convention & Visitor's Bureau