Fort Houston sits 3/4 way up on the southside of the summitt of Todd's Knob in Donelson. Todd's Knob is a towering landmark of unusual proportions and history, overshadows the Donelson Plaza and marks the place where Donelson had its beginning as "McWhirtersville". The name is is likely for an early owner of the property James Todd. The Knob is 780 feet high and 250 feet above surrounding businesses and residential areas. The bluff rises 300 feet above the river. The peak is not the highest in Davidson County but is claimed to be steepest and most interesting from a geological point of view. Viewed from the air, the Knob has four distinct strata and is called "Cuesta".

Andrew Jackson once owned the site as a grant from the War of 1812 and record of his deed is on file in Murfreesboro. Governor Albert Houston Roberts purchased the land from Alec Perry and Robert's son built "Fort Houston" on Knob Hill. The stone house was constructed in 1937 and was designed by McKissack Brothers, Archietects. The name was derived from war hero Same Houston who was an ancestor of Governor Albert Houston Roberts.

Part of the base of the Knob was on the wagon trail which led from from The Hermitage to Nashville. The trail forded Stones River below the Knob and came up over that part. Outcroppings of rocks still show the wear of iron wheels which must have included Andrew Jackson's buggy. During the Civil War, Todd's Knob was the site for Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his troops as they crippled Federal boats with a  cannon forcing them back to Nashville. 

Ascent to the summit of the Knob is well worth while and readily possible from every side  except that facing the river which is nearly perpendicular. Some of the best views are  are available part of the way up, especially in climbing from the side which ends in the Cliffdale subdivision. The high elevation on a clear day gives a rare view of the entire area and a spectator armed with a telescope or binoculars could probably see into many counties. Murfreesboro Road and the layout of Berry Field is readily distinguished. Old Hickory takes a good part of the northern view while the Capital and downtown Nashvile buildings stand out in clear view to the west. Trees and the curving the curving of the Stones River present a view of its junction with the Cumberland. At the absolute peak of the Knob is a marker of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Station.

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