The Mary Kate Patterson House in La Vergne features a Tennessee Civil War Trails marker.

Looking to take some day trips this summer? Take along some of the driving tours that the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area has created over the years with partners from across the state. You can access these via the Heritage Area Web site’s Civil War Trails & Tours link. That link will also take you to more information about the statewide Tennessee Civil War Trails program, and you can download a map to find trail signs across the state. If you are in the Murfreesboro area, stop by at the Heritage Center (225 West College St.), where you can learn about local Civil War and Reconstruction history, plus pick up brochures and maps, including the booklet “The Country All Around Was Laid Desolate: Rutherford County’s Civil War Battles.”