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THE HISTORY OF THE MANSION

The Drouillard Mansion is steeped in the history of Middle Tennessee. The area that
was to become the village of Cumberland Furnace was settled in the late 18th century
by James Robertson, the “Father of Tennessee.” Robertson discovered iron ore in the
rocks of the Western Highland Rim and opened Cumberland Iron Works in 1796.

Through the years, Cumberland Furnace provided iron ore for the expanding industry, eventually comprising an iron plantation of 20,000 acres under the leadership of
Anthony Van Leer. Van Leer’s advancing age, and the advancing Union armies during
America’s Civil War, led to the temporary closing of the operations in 1862. Iron
production was to continue in Cumberland Furnace, however, when Van Leer’s
granddaughter, Mary Florence Kirkman, inherited the plantation.

Mary Florence had already made a name for herself – a scandalous one to post-war
Nashville society – when she married Captain James P. Drouillard, a West Point
graduate and officer of the Union occupation of Nashville. Together the Drouillards
moved to Cumberland Furnace, reopened the iron plantation and built the
Drouillard House Mansion.

Subsequent years brought several owners to the property and, eventually, saw
the abandonment of the iron industry in Cumberland Furnace. In the mid-1990s the
Drouillard House was purchased with the intent of developing a conference center for
group usage. After an extensive renovation and refurbishment of the Mansion, the
construction of the Carriage House meeting facility and four cabins for guest
accommodation, Drouillard House Retreat and Conference Center was opened in 1997.

Since that time, literally thousands of guests have added their footsteps to those of
this historical setting. Why not let yours be the next?



	LOCATION The hills of Middle Tennessee are lush and rolling, and provide the perfect backdrop for the historic Drouillard House. The Drouillard House Retreat and Conference Center is located in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee, about 50 miles from Nashville . Drouillard House is accessible from Interstates 24 and 40, and Nashville’s International Airport is just over an hour away.	THE HISTORY OF THE MANSION The Drouillard Mansion is steeped in the history of Middle Tennessee. The area that was to become the village of Cumberland Furnace was settled in the late 18th century by James Robertson, the “Father of Tennessee.” Robertson discovered iron ore in the rocks of the Western Highland Rim and opened Cumberland Iron Works in 1796. Through the years, Cumberland Furnace provided iron ore for the expanding industry, eventually comprising an iron plantation of 20,000 acres under the leadership of Anthony Van Leer. Van Leer’s advancing age, and the advancing Union armies during America’s Civil War, led to the temporary closing of the operations in 1862. Iron production was to continue in Cumberland Furnace, however, when Van Leer’s granddaughter, Mary Florence Kirkman, inherited the plantation. Mary Florence had already made a name for herself – a scandalous one to post-war Nashville society – when she married Captain James P. Drouillard, a West Point graduate and officer of the Union occupation of Nashville. Together the Drouillards moved to Cumberland Furnace, reopened the iron plantation and built the Drouillard House Mansion. Subsequent years brought several owners to the property and, eventually, saw the abandonment of the iron industry in Cumberland Furnace. In the mid-1990s the Drouillard House was purchased with the intent of developing a conference center for group usage. After an extensive renovation and refurbishment of the Mansion, the construction of the Carriage House meeting facility and four cabins for guest accommodation, Drouillard House Retreat and Conference Center was opened in 1997. Since that time, literally thousands of guests have added their footsteps to those of this historical setting. Why not let yours be the next?


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