This small isolated village on Tennessee's rugged Cumberland Plateau was founded as the Rugby Colony in 1880, by famous British author, statesman and social reformer Thomas Hughes. He named the new town for his Alma Mater in England. Rugby was to be a cooperative class-free agricultural...

This small isolated village on Tennessee's rugged Cumberland Plateau was founded as the Rugby Colony in 1880, by famous British author, statesman and social reformer Thomas Hughes. He named the new town for his Alma Mater in England. Rugby was to be a cooperative class-free agricultural community for younger sons of English gentry and others wishing to 'begin live anew' in America.

Rugby both flourished and floundered in it's first decade before dwindling to a small unincorporated rural community that has always treasured its heritage. Of the original 66 Victorian structures built in Rugby in the late 1800s, 17 remain.

Non-profit Historic Rugby was formed in 1966 to begin restoring, preserving, protecting and interpreting the village as a living historic site. Rugby was named a National Register Historic District in 1972. Today in Rugby you will find five museum buildings, plus three historic buildings which are used for a restaurant, overnight lodging, and a museum/craft shop.

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