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Old Stone Fort

City: Manchester, TN
Region: Middle Tennessee
Subregion: Nashville & Surrounding Areas

Old Stone Fort is a special type of Native American site, a hilltop ceremonial enclosure begun 2000 years ago and used at least through the fifth century. It has been called the most spectacularly sited sacred area of its period in the United States. Two rivers drop off of the Highland Rim and plunge dramatically to the Central Basin, where the forks of the Duck River create a promontory. During the Woodland prehistoric period, Mound Builders constructed a set of parallel mound walls on this narrow neck of land. These walls orient to within one degree of the sunrise on summer solstice. Ancient societies often recognized this sunrise as a time to celebrate and reenact creation myths.

Old Stone Fort, now nearly 900 acres, was dedicated on April 23,1966 by Governor Frank Clement. Although the park’s purpose is the preservation, protection, study and interpretation of an ancient culture, many visitors come to the park for fishing, boating, hiking, museum, picnicking and camping.

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