Dover, Tennessee

Remember! Your vacation, your choices. Visit as many or few of the included attractions in Dover listed below at no cost. Learn about Fort Donelson and it’s role in the Civil War and uncover the history of the area!

STEWART COUNTY VISITOR CENTER

Enjoy a short orientation film presentation, Fort Donelson: Gateway to the Confederate Heartland, which engages visitors with a storyline that draws on the lifelong friendship between Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Simon B. Buckner. Explore the facility’s many showcases, artifacts, and the Eastern National bookstore and learn some rare and interesting facts about the battlefield!

FORT DONELSON LOWER RIVER BATTERY

The construction of Fort Donelson started in the year 1861 by Daniel S. Donelson and was named after him. During the Civil War, the Union forces were heading south to fight the Confederacy. Fort Donelson was key because of its location on the Cumberland River. At Fort Donelson, visitors can learn about the battle, view the earthworks and cannons, and take a walk through the area on one of two trails.

FORT DONELSON NATIONAL CEMETERY

The Fort Donelson National Cemetery in Dover, Tennessee was established in 1867 as a burial ground for Union soldiers killed in the significant early Civil War battle. Today, the cemetery contains the graves of veterans representing the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, as well as the wars in Korea and Vietnam.

W.D. SKYES HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The W.D Sykes Historical Museum is in the heart of Dover. The museum houses an abundant collection of rich information on the county’s history, culture, and customs. While visiting the Historical Society Museum, guests have the opportunity to explore the county’s one-room schoolhouse, the beautiful Stewart County quilt showcased for all to see, and many more displays that demonstrate the local history.

THE SURRENDER HOUSE/DOVER HOTEL

Built between 1851 and 1853, the Dover Hotel accommodated riverboat travelers before and after the Civil War. The Dover Hotel was the site of the “unconditional surrender” of General Buckner to General Grant, on February 16, 1862. Grant’s terms of “unconditional and immediate surrender” were described by Buckner as “ungenerous and unchivalrous.” This was the Union Army’s first major victory of the Civil War, setting the stage for invasion of the south and eventual capture of the Mississippi River Valley. The structure was originally, built in 1851, served as General Buckner’s headquarters during the battle. The Fort Donelson House Historical Association and the National Park Service restored the house in the 1970s, and today the exterior looks much as it did at the time of the surrender.