This next location at milepost 407 point 7 is one of the highlights of the parkway. The brick home of Captain John Gordon and his family, built in 1818, was one of the impressive homes in the area. It was a landmark for travelers of the Old Trace, letting them know that soon they would be in Nashville, Tennessee. The Gordon family called it home, but it was a business as well. A ferry provided a safe way for travelers and locals alike to cross the Duck River. This is one of the locations that you can tour a section of the original trace. And this is one of several spots you might do some fishing on the Duck River. Somewhat stark and a little imposing, the Gordon House you see today masks the welcome it once gave to travelers and locals alike.
In the early eighteen hundreds, this site was just inside Chickasaw Territory, and any business needed a Chickasaw representative. In 1802, a partnership formed between Gordon and Chickasaw Chief William Colbert.
Even though you cannot enter the Gordon House today due to safety concerns, you can imagine a large, vibrant family filling the home. If we could pull back the curtains, we may see a well-worn floor from children playing. Through one front door, you may imagine seeing the family gathered around the fireplace—a room where many daily activities took place. The narrow staircase leads upstairs to two bedrooms. Through the other front door, you would see the formal parlor, where guests would visit during the day, or where people would sleep at night.
As for as amenities go, there are restrooms and picnic tables at this stop.
