Located in the geographic middle of the Volunteer State and boasting rich Southern history, Murfreesboro is rightfully known as the “heart of Tennessee.”
Originally called Cannonsburgh, the town was then named in tribute to Colonel Hardy Murfree, a Revolutionary War hero, and was recognized as a city in 1817. Affectionately nicknamed the ‘Boro by locals, the city was the state capital from 1818 to 1826 due in part to its central location. As the sixth largest city in Tennessee with more than 117,000 residents, Murfreesboro is bustling with life and culture.
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Music Festivals• Uncle Dave Macon DaysFor those who want to hear some old-time bluegrass and dance to banjo picking competitions, the three-day annual Uncle Dave Macon Days festival in July is the place to be. The festival is named after the Grand Ole Opry’s first superstar and legendary banjo picker, Uncle Dave Macon and takes place in Cannonsburgh Village.• Main Street JazzFestA Murfreesboro tradition, JazzFest was named one of the Top 20 Events for May in the Southeast two years in a row by the Southeast Tourism Society. This annual festival is free and headlines well-loved jazz artists.
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Excellent Eats• B. McNeel’s Restaurant: Right in historic downtown Murfreesboro, B. McNeel’s sits in a renovated office building with old wood floors and exposed brick throughout the two-story dining areas. It’s known for a legendary Sunday brunch and has southern favorites like country fried steak and corn pudding.• O’Possum’s Irish Pub and Brewery: This family-owned, traditional Irish pub brews unique craft beers in-house. The name is derived from a lesser-known but one of the oldest Irish clans, the O’Possum clan. Customers rave about the classic Irish dishes such as corned beef and bangers and mash.• Toot’s Restaurant: Most famous for fried dill pickles, Toot’s has everything from ribs and chicken wings to oysters and even frog legs.
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Active AthleticsMurfreesboro and surrounding Rutherford County are rightfully called the sports capital of Tennessee. Here’s why:• Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University, which holds the largest undergraduate enrollment in the state. MTSU has a Division I program in Conference USA. The MTSU Blue Raiders football team has made bowl appearances in recent years and is known to draw huge crowds of cheering fans.• The Tennessee Scholastic Sports Athletic Association holds championships in volleyball, cheerleading/dance, bowling and basketball in Murfreesboro. In addition, the TSSAA holds the Spring Fling in May, which crowns state champs in high school baseball, softball, tennis, boys’ soccer and track and field.• One of the state’s few footgolf courses is in Murfreesboro at the VA Golf Course. A combination of soccer and golf, footgolf is rising in popularity.• For those looking to cast a line, Stones River runs through Murfreesboro and offers great fishing spots.
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A Rich HeritageVisitors can travel through time and learn about the history of Tennessee at these historical sites:• Stones River National Battlefield: The 650-acre battlefield preserves the site of the Battle of Stones River. The bloody Civil War battle between Union and Confederate forces became known as one of the deadliest battles of the war, with approximately 23,000 casualties. The interactive and educational visitor center is free to visit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the year, except on Christmas and Thanksgiving.• Oaklands Historical House Museum: The Oaklands antebellum mansion and plantation stood during the hardships of the Civil War and is now a nationally registered historic landmark and museum. Visitors can tour the 8,000-square-foot home that was constructed in the early 1800s and owned by Sally Murfree Maney, daughter of Murfreesboro’s namesake.• Cannonsburgh Village: This historic village takes visitors back in time to early Tennessee life from the 1830s to the 1930s. The pioneer village features a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, general store, gristmill and more.