Stewart County: Nature, History and Scenic Drives

Stewart County offers a range of experiences: Fort Donelson and the history of Dover, waterfowl habitat at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, and several self-guided driving routes. There is also a museum dedicated to the county’s history and a working farm that brings living history to life. When planning, it’s worth distinguishing between specific opening hours, historic sites and longer scenic drives.

Fort Donelson and Dover: History on Site

The capture of Fort Donelson was the North’s first major victory. The Dover Hotel was built between 1851 and 1853 to accommodate steamboat travelers before and after the Civil War. During the battle, General Buckner and his staff used the hotel as their headquarters. The building’s history thus connects river travel with the events surrounding Fort Donelson.

Fort Donelson National Cemetery also tells the story of the war’s toll: it is the final resting place of the remains of 670 United States soldiers and civilians from the Civil War. The cemetery covers 15 acres and is enclosed by a limestone wall. Its grounds are open to pedestrians from sunrise to sunset; temporary closures may affect access.

The temporary visitor center at Fort Donelson is located at 120 Fort Donelson Park Road in Dover. It is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST, except Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1. Hours may change, so check before your trip. The Fort Donelson NB Visitor Center has brochures, exhibits, National Park Pass stamps and restrooms.

For exploring on your own, try the Fort Donelson NB Auto Tour Route: this self-guided driving tour has 11 stops at Fort Donelson National Battlefield and in the town of Dover. It’s a way to explore the battlefield’s history along a route, while the Dover Hotel offers a tangible connection to the time of the battle.

Waterfowl and Outdoor Activities

Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge lies in the floodplain of the Cumberland River, which now forms Barkley Lake. The refuge provides wintering habitat and protection for large numbers of waterfowl, including 30 different species. This gives the site a different focus from the historic sites: here, habitat and waterfowl take center stage. Visitors can also kayak in the refuge.

Stewart State Forest also offers orienteering, where visitors can practice using a compass, pace count, GPS and maps. The activity combines exercise with the challenge of finding your way using different navigational aids. Those interested in the area’s history will also find historic and cultural sites in the state forest, including hundreds of charcoal-making sites and an iron ore mine.

Quilt Tour and Scenic Byways

The Quilt Tour is a self-guided driving tour of painted quilt blocks in Stewart County. It consists of four separate routes; allow at least three to four hours to see all the blocks. Many of the remaining 90 blocks on the Quilt Trail are at businesses, churches and private homes. The tour’s division into four routes makes it a dedicated block of time rather than a quick stop.

Two scenic byways also begin in Dover, but their routes are described differently. The Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway runs through Kentucky and Tennessee along the entire length of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The Tennessee River Trail Scenic Byway stretches for 440 miles along winding two-lane roads on both banks of the Tennessee River. Its length and the type of roads make it an extended route; by contrast, the Woodlands Trace is defined by its route through the entire recreation area.

Living History and County Museum

The Homeplace Working Farm brings living history to life on a working farm. Costumed interpreters perform daily tasks. This differs from an exhibit that presents history solely through objects or photographs: at the farm, the work itself is the focus.

The Stewart County Historical Museum, also called the W.D. Sykes Museum, displays artifacts, photographs and exhibits on the county’s history from early settlement through the Civil War. It is housed in the Brandau/Sykes House, a large historic wooden house modeled after a 19th-century steamboat. Together, the house and museum offer two perspectives on the past: the building’s architecture and the collections displayed inside.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Bumpus Mills, Maury County, Weakley County, Sequatchie County, Carter, Jackson County, Roane County, Mcnairy County.

Back to the main travel overview: Tennessee.