William Rea of Boston, was the first of five brothers to make their home in Murfreesboro and vicinity. Arriving here in the 1790's, he became a successful merchant ship owner and, with his brother Joseph, operated astore in the red brick building which now serves as a museum. The only surviving eighteenth century brick commercial structure in North Carolina, the museum features exhibits on local native American tribes, agriculture, and river transportation. A room interior moved from the Gatling plantation to the museum houses a large collection of Gatling family memorabilia and an authentic Gatling Gun.