Clement Railroad Hotel Museum-Hotel Halbrook Historic Site

10/09/2026

Our Executive Director Zach Kinslow spent the morning at the WKRN News 2 studios in Nashville recording a special segment highlighting our upcoming Legacy 2026 event on October 22!

🎥 Be sure to tune in on Tuesday, October 13, when the segment airs! We’re excited to share more about this special evening and the incredible individuals we will be honoring.

🎟️ Haven’t gotten your Legacy 2026 tickets yet? There’s still time! Join us on October 22 as we celebrate the legacies and impact of Sunita Mani, Steve Bass, and the late/great Phil Ponder.

🎫 Tickets are $100 per person. Click the link below to reserve yours today!

👉 https://clementrailroadmuseum.org/gift-shop/ols/products/2026-legacy-event-ticket

10/09/2026

Impact Spotlight: Clement Railroad Museum

The Community Foundation of Dickson County awarded the Clement Railroad Museum a grant to continue providing high-quality educational opportunities for Dickson County students.

We’re grateful to support programs that create meaningful experiences for students in our community.

10/08/2026

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

At the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum-Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site, we remember a remarkable Tennessee woman whose own personal battle with breast cancer inspired her to fight for the health and well-being of countless other Tennesseans.

State Senator Anna Belle Clement O’Brien, was herself a breast cancer survivor. Senator O’Brien personally understood the physical, emotional, and financial challenges that came with the disease. Rather than allowing her experience to define her, she used it to make a difference.

During her time in the Tennessee General Assembly (1975-1996), she took on insurance companies and worked to ensure that insurance policies covered annual breast cancer screenings, helping make early detection more accessible to Tennessee women.

Following her own breast cancer treatment, Senator O’Brien experienced a malfunction with her breast implant. Recognizing that other survivors could face similar hardships, she successfully advocated for extending the warranty on breast implants for breast cancer survivors from just one year to nine years.

Anna Belle Clement O’Brien was not only a dedicated public servant and advocate for women’s health, but also one of the founders of the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum. Her legacy remains an important part of our site and its history.

Throughout this October, we honor Senator O’Brien, celebrate breast cancer survivors, remember those we have lost, and recognize the importance of early detection and access to quality healthcare.

Senator O’Brien’s battle was personal and her advocacy made a difference for generations of Tennessee women. 🎀

10/07/2026

We were honored to welcome some very special visitors to the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum today: former U.S. Congressman Bob Clement and his wife, Mary Clement, along with Cal Turner Jr.

Cal Turner Jr. is the former Chairman and CEO of Dollar General and a noted Tennessee businessman and philanthropist. His connection to the Clement family is also a special one, his mother, Laura Goad Turner, was a first cousin of Governor Frank G. Clement.

Visits like today remind us that the history preserved at the Clement Museum is not only Tennessee history, but also a family story. We were very happy to have Bob, Mary, and Cal with us to share all the great work being done to preserve and interpret the Clement (and Goad/Turner) family’s remarkable legacy at our site.

📸 1) Bob Clement, Mary Clement, Cal Turner, Jr. 2) CRHM Executive Director Zach Kinslow and Cal Turner, Jr. 3) Mary Clement, Cal Turner, Jr., Zach Kinslow, & Bob Clement.

10/05/2026

🤠 WANTED AT THE HOTEL DICKSON! 🔎

There’s been a crime in the Wild West and we need YOU to figure out whodunnit!

Join us for our annual murder mystery night as we step back into the 1880s for “Wanted at the Hotel Dickson,” an interactive night of mystery and intrigue at the Clement Museum! Follow the clues, question the suspects, and put your detective skills to the test as you work to solve the mystery. 🐎

🌵 Dress in your best Western attire. We’ll have prizes for Best Costume and Best Sleuth of the Evening!

🎟️ Tickets are only $20 per person.

Round up your posse, dust off your boots, and get ready for a night of mystery, history, and fun at the Clement Museum!

👉 Get your tickets here: https://clementrailroadmuseum.org/gift-shop/ols/products/murder-mystery-ticket

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum mourns the passing of celebrated Tennessee artist, public servant, and one of our 2026 Legacy honorees, Phil Ponder

For more than four decades, Phil used pen, ink, and watercolor to capture the places that tell the story of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. What began as a hobby in 1979 became an extraordinary second career, producing hundreds of original works and some of the most recognizable images of Tennessee landmarks and skylines. His work earned him numerous honors, including the Tennessee Outstanding Achievement Award and the Metropolitan Historical Commission’s Achievement Award for his contributions to preserving Nashville’s visual history.

There was a time when it seemed that you could hardly walk into a home, office, bank, restaurant, or public building in Middle Tennessee without finding a Phil Ponder print hanging somewhere on the property. His artwork meant so much to so many because he did more than paint buildings and landmarks, he captured memories.

Phil Ponder’s legacy extended far beyond art. A U.S. Navy veteran, longtime businessman, community leader, and public servant, he served two terms on the Metropolitan Nashville Council, twelve years on the Metro Planning Commission, and ten years on the staff of Congressman Jim Cooper. Throughout his life, he gave generously of his time and talents to countless civic, charitable, religious, and community organizations.

Our deepest condolences go out to Phil Ponder’s family and friends, and to the countless people whose lives were touched by his art, friendship, generosity, and service.

On October 22, at the Clement Museum’s annual Legacy Event, we will continue to honor and celebrate Phil Ponder as one of our 2026 Legacy honorees. While we are heartbroken that he will not be there to receive this recognition in person, we are more determined than ever to ensure that the evening celebrates the immeasurable legacy he leaves behind.

Phil Ponder spent a lifetime preserving the places and memories of Tennessee through his art. Now it is our privilege to help preserve the memory of the man behind that art.

09/30/2026

🚂 We’re open and ready to give you a tour!

We’ve been busy updating exhibits throughout the building, adding new stories, and putting new historic artifacts on display.

Even if you’ve toured the museum before, there’s always more to see! Come explore our updated exhibits, discover artifacts you may have never seen before, and experience the stories of Tennessee, Dickson County, and the people who shaped our history.

🏨 Stop by, take a tour from 9 am - 5 pm (Tuesday-Friday) or 9 am - 4 pm (Saturday), and see what’s new at the Clement Museum.

We’re open and ready to welcome you!

09/19/2026

Join us Thursday, October 22, for the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum’s Annual Legacy Event!

Each year, the Legacy Event recognizes individuals whose lives, leadership, creativity, and service have made a lasting impact on our community, state, and/or nation. This year, we are proud to honor:

⭐ Sunita Mani: acclaimed actress, comedian, and performer whose career has taken her from Dickson, Tennessee to stages and screens across the globe.

⭐ Phil Ponder: beloved Tennessee artist, architect, and public servant whose iconic drawings have captured the landmarks and character of our state for generations.

⭐ Steve Bass: Dickson County native, founder of Bass Tire Company, and dedicated philanthropist whose generosity and commitment to his community have touched countless lives.

The Legacy Event is about more than recognizing remarkable individuals. It is about celebrating the difference one person can make, and ensuring that the stories, history, and heritage of our community continue to be preserved for generations to come.

🎟️ Tickets are $100 per person and include the Legacy program, heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and receptions before and after the awards ceremony.

Your support directly benefits the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum and helps us continue our work in historic preservation, education, exhibitions, and community programming.

📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026
📍 Clement Railroad Hotel Museum – Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site
🎟️ $100 per person (tickets can be purchased through the link below)

➡️ https://clementrailroadmuseum.org/gift-shop/ols/products/2026-legacy-event-ticket

09/16/2026

🥃 What a great Pouring Over the Past!

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night at the Clement Museum for another fantastic evening of history programming!

A special thank you to Blake Jones of Nashville Drinks for sharing his expertise and helping make the evening both informative and entertaining. We’re grateful to everyone who came out and continues to support the Clement Museum and programs like Pouring Over the Past.

And mark your calendars for our next Pouring Over the Past on December 3, when we’ll explore “Christmas During Wartime.” 🎄🇺🇸

Tickets will go on sale in November, so stay tuned for more information!