School Group Tour Descriptions

Mansker's Fort is a replicated 18th century fort built near the original site of Kasper Mansker's fortified 1779 station. The fort allows a hands-on approach to educating visitors about the 18th century as it was in Middle Tennessee.

The Bowen Plantation House was built c.1787 by Revolutionary War veteran, Captain William Bowen. It is among the first brick structures built in Middle Tennessee and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours progress through three time periods of life and portray the lives of the home's first three owners.

Basic Tour (Up to 79 students - $8.00 per student, 80 or more students - $10.00 per student)                      
Visitors to the site will be guided through Mansker's Station and the Bowen Plantation by historical interpreters. The tour will address the aspects of early frontier life, ranging from the first Tennessee settlers at the station, to domestic life at the plantation. Groups may see daily chores done by the staff and volunteers that demonstrate the lives of early setters. Groups may also see a blacksmith working in his shop, ladies cooking on an open hearth, or a woodworker on his shave horse as living demonstrations of early settlers. Activities and demonstrations available may vary depending on weather, time of year, and volunteer availability. This tour is approximately 2 hours.

Frontier Life Focus Tour (Up to 79 students - $8.00 per student, 80 or more students - $10.00 per student) 
Travel back in time with a visit to North Carolina, untamed western frontier, with the Mansker's Station Focus Tour. This tour will make history come to life for school groups of all ages with live demonstrations and hands-on activities. In this tour, activities may include trading, woodworking, blacksmithing, an 18th century schoolhouse lesson, gardening, laundry, or games. Activities and demonstrations available may vary depending on weather, time of year, and volunteer availability. This tour is approximately 2 hours.

Plantation Life Tour (Up to 79 students - $8.00 per student, 80 or more students - $10.00 per student)
Step back into time and visit the Bowen Plantation House to explore Tennessee's colonial life. Students will visit a doctor's office and learn about medicine and tools for procedures from the 1800's. Students will also get to witness period weaving and spinning techniques used to make cloth. They will also have a chance to prepare the wool, cotton, or flax by picking and carding the harvested fibers.  This tour is approximately 2 hours.

Grades K-3 will have Tomie Depaola's book "Charlie Needs a Cloak" read to them as part of the program.

Groups of 50 or more will have an additional aspect of Toys from the 1700-1800's added to their tour.

Frontier and Plantation Combo Tour (Up to 79 students - $15 per student, 80 or more students $20 per student)     This tour includes both the Frontier Life Focus Tour and the Plantation Life Tour as described above.  The Frontier Life Tour will be scheduled before lunch and the Plantation Life Tour will be scheduled after lunch.  The group will provide their own lunch and eat at Moss-Wright Park for a one hour break between the two tours.  This total tour is approximately 5 hours which includes the lunch hour.

Moss-Wright Park Shelter Availability
An added bonus for school group tours is the availability of a large picnic shelter in Moss-Wright Park. This amenity is provided at no charge to groups who book tours and is an ideal place to have lunch after the tour. This shelter is adjacent to a large playground. Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this feature.

How To Make A Reservation
Please submit an online request to schedule a group tour. Please call Historic Mansker's Station at 615.859.3678 if you have any questions.

How To Adjust Or Cancel A Reservation
Please submit an online adjustment request if you need to make any adjustments to a tour or cancel an exisiting reservation.