historic carnton plantation

38debrab

Great tour. Our guide Rusty was very knowledgable. His tour was more like the telling of a story of the battle of Franklin while walking through the home.

8randym

This is the famous Carnton Plantation where a famous Civil War Battle was fought where ten generals were wounded from both sides. It's the basis of the best seller book The Widow of the South. If you're visiting Franklin, this is a must see for it's history..one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War and it was basically set up as a hospital for all the wounded.. sad but a part of our history.

DanE191

A visit to this Plantation is worth every minute - especially if you are interested in the history of the Civil War and how the plantation owner and his family helped the Confederacy during the Battle of Franklin in late 1864. Our tour guide took us through the plantation and included many details of how that battle affected the McGavock family that lived there. The McGavocks voluntarily allowed their plantation home to become a field hospital for the Confederate army and you can see the blood-stained floors from the many operations and amputations that occurred there. John McGavock then personally paid for the internment of many of the confederate soldiers making this cemetery the largest privately owned Confederate cemetery in the country. The tour takes about an hour and is worth every minute of it.

marilynm725

Amazing to visit this homestead and learn of the families plights during the Battle of Franklin. A real look into a most significant timein our country's history.

TONY263

The enormity of it, and realizing that everything was done by hand by people just like you and me. The travails of the slaves was omnipresent, along with absence of things that we take for granted in our daily lives, such as mass communication devices, and cooking utensils, just to name a couple. See it. You won't forget it.

DavidT780

The history surrounding this place is incredible. From the house, with the blood stained floors, to the surroundings, including the confederate cemetery, is all just breath taking, and so awe inspiring to think of all that happened on November 30, 1864.

Writerwife

It is amazing to walk thru the home and the grounds. You can feel the history all around. We have also attended a wedding on the grounds. Just beautiful. The home has been well preserved and Is an important piece of american history

Lasseter4242

It's even better than the famous bloodstains on the floors upstairs. They have done a wonderful job investing in this extremely historical home, grounds and confederate cemetery. Don't miss this for the historical home and historical interpretation.

849lydiam

Excellent place to bring children to share history. They can see the blood-stained floors from where this plantation home became a hospital during the Battle of Franklin. Then walk to Confederate Cemetary to see where members of the family who lived here, as well as, hundreds of Confederate soldiers who died here are buried. The gardens on the property are beautiful.

sherrybpab

Really enjoyed this tour! Be warned, you will be standing for over an hour, there is no place to sit at all. If you leave during the tour, you are not allowed back in. We were warned, so no big deal, might be a problem with young children. Our tour guide definitely knew his history. The grounds and cemetery are well maintained and moving. Definitely a must see while in the area!

N2296PLkathys

Very much enjoyed the tour with Rich - my 15 year old enjoyed it but it was our third tour of the day so he was wearing out - he said he wished we had saved it for the next day when we wasn't so tired. Allow an hour for the house tour and then more time to tour the grounds and the Confederate Cemetery on your way out.

SBW83

This place is beautiful but I recommend coming on a warmer day so you can enjoy the grounds and looking at cemetery. It was later in the day and getting very cold so we did not look at the cemetery. I love history and our guide was very good at relaying the history of the Battle of Franklin and the plantation. I want to go back and see what I missed along with seeing the Carter House and the Lotz House. I also want to spend more time in historic downtown.

AFM33

Unfortunately we did not know that the one-hour tour was only offered during set times and we weren't able to participate. We did pay for ground passes and enjoyed looking at the estate, the out buildings, the cemetary and the impressive garden. The map/booklet gave us lots of information, however without the tour you can't get into the home which is a highlight of the tour. Next time we will plan better. If you go - be sure to wear comfortable shoes or boots if ground is soggy - you do a lot of 'off-path' walking.

WorryFreePhilly

The Historic Carnton Plantation was a stop during our tour with the Tennessee Motor Coach Association. We were all together for our 2015 Convention here in Franklin, TN. I studied the area before I came but there was nothing like hearing the history of this Plantation from our house tour guide, Lisa. The home is beautiful, but haunting. The tour was extremely helpful in putting together the experience of this family as the Battle of Franklin exploded. It's one of those places when you leave you wish you never had to. To know that I walked and stood where all of happened - I will simply never forget. We visited all 3 historic houses which made it even more real. People have a lot of passion in Franklin. Thank you Lisa for all of your knowledge, smiles and great tour.

658aprilb

I usually dislike tours, but this one was the best I've experienced. The tour guide did not shy away from the harsh truth (I've heard guides before gloss over slavery and battlefield medicine), but did not go into gory details sorely for dramatic effect. The house and adjoining cemetery are beautiful and sad at the same time. If a Franklin visitor only has time for one Civil War destination, this should be it.