Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Services - Carnton

    Venue rental

    Carnton Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Carnton

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Al B.

    Great place to learn about US history. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and was great at telling the story of the house and history connecting to it. You could tell she truly enjoyed what she was doing and was great at engaging our group! Tour is $20 which I felt was a little high.

    Slave quarters and garden
    Ellen B.

    The tour of the manor house give you an insight of life during the civil war was like as the confederate army took over the manor house as a field hospital. It brings up so many emotions. The hatred of chattel slavery, the wealth accumulated buy families who owned plantations. A wife and mother who had already lost 3 of her children and who's husband had sent all the slaves south to other properties and was elsewhere himself being confronted by a Confederate commander who commandeered her house as a hospital. The screams of men in pain, most of who were battle weary already in a war that was dragging on. The guide sugar coated nothing. So if you have a weak stomach you might want to pass on going upstairs. Thank you. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. So this Hoosier appreciated the candid telling of the story here.

    Vic C.

    Carnton Plantation served as one of the largest hospitals during the bloodiest battle in Tennessee's history, during the Battle of Franklin in 1864 (during the Civil War). The Battle of Franklin is know to be one of General John Bell Hood's (a Confederate general) catastrophic defeat in Tennessee. This antebellum mansion was owned originally by former mayor of Tennessee, Randal McGavock. His son, John McGavock, inherited the home and the grounds when he passed away. On November 30, 1864, John McGavock, his wife and family's lives forever changed. Soldiers knocked on John McGavock's door and said their home will be used as a hospital to house and care for wounded soldiers (they were ordered to do this and not given a choice). The battle itself took place a few miles away, at the Carter House, that lasted close to 5 hours. Most of the battle took place during night fall, in the dark. With about 9500 soldiers dead, 7000 of which were Confederate troops. At the end of this battle, four Confederate generals (Patrick R. Cleburne, Hiram B. Granbury, John Adams and Otho F. Strahl) were taken to the Carnton home, laying side by side on the back porch, in which they ended up dying. There are blood stains on the floor boards throughout the house, as a reminder of this bloody battle. The Carnton mansion is 2 stories with about 22 rooms. There are white columns with a front porch on both the first and second floor. There is a porch and verandah on the back side of the house. According to the docent led tour, most of the furniture in the home is original from 1820- 1860. In 1866, John and Carrie McGavock designated 2 acres of their land, next to their family cemetery, as a burial place for ~1500 Confederate soldiers that were killed. They maintained the cemetery until they had passed away. The cemetery is actually well laid out and organized by state where the soldiers are from and buried accordingly. Our docent told us that they are still forever trying to identify those that have been buried, as not all of the soldiers have been. But she did say that there have been many family members that are appreciative that they had discovered that their loved ones were buried here. Carnton Plantation was owned by the McGavock family until 1911, when Susie Lee McGavock had sold it. Susie Lee McGavock was the widow of Winder McGavock (one of John and Carrie McGavock's sons). Eventually in 1977, the home and 10 acres of land was donated to the Carnton Association. The association restored the home (even with the restoration, the blood stains still remained on the floor boards) and had been providing guided tours for the public ever since. To tour the home, it cost $18 per person. But if you wish to walk the grounds and visit the cemetery, that is free. But the tour does better enhance your knowledge of the Battle of Franklin. I would also highly recommend doing both the Carter House Tour and Carnton Plantation together, as you save a little bit of money. But if you do plan to do that (which you can purchase these discounted package at either site), you want to make sure you arrive early for the first place you visit so that there is enough time to visit the other. There is also a discounted package to also visit the home at Rippa Villa (but I believe this place is about an hour away). Please note that tickets do not expire on the same day so you could always tour this home on another day. At the visitor center, there is a small museum in which you can read some of the boards to learn about the battle. You can also purchase souvenirs (and the discount ticket packages that I had mentioned earlier). There are also clean restrooms right outside the visitor center (there are no restrooms available at the mansion so you are encouraged by the staff to use the restroom prior to taking the tour). I do want to mention that although the Lotz Home, which is across the street from the Carter Home, is not part of the package deal, it also played an essential role during the Battle of Franklin and is available for a tour. The Lotz home served as another hospital for the wounded. Albert Lotz, a German immigrant, and his family fled across the street to the Carter House during the battle. The 2 families took shelter in the basement during the battle.

    Spent a wonderful afternoon at Carnton. The home is beautiful and the grounds stunning. The tour guide was friendly and informative. I enjoyed learning a bit of TN civil war history while on vacation here. The museum and gift store are clean and well stocked. The restrooms were as well. Unfortunately, the water fountains do not work, so that's a strike against them. Also, the gardens were not as glamorous as we'd been led to believe, but maybe that was the time of year. I think the ghost stories that are found online should also be part of the walking tour, but others may disagree.

    Julie T.

    Well worth visiting and learning about the history of this place. The docent was kind enough to provide a private tour as I couldn't wait until the next scheduled tour.

    Jeremy L.

    KUDOS and thanks to Chelsea and Walker for providing quality supreme guest service! Chelsea providing me a military discount on the tour. She was super friendly and mighty courteous. Ms. Sherry provided a thorough tour of the Carnton House. She had a nice storytelling voice which covered the history of the place during the Civil War. I highly recommend all to experience tour and walk the hallowed grounds...The cemetery is definitely worth the walk and pay your respects....

    Pamphlet
    Paulette C.

    AMANDA-historian extraordinaire! She has tons of other titles. You HAVE to get her to give you your tour. It's not about the facts, it's about sharing the human aspect of The Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864. She actually goes home and studies, daily, all the events and people from this battle. When your tour is done, go to the Carter house. Both are a must!

    Danielle G.

    Amazingly sad, yet a real part of Civil War history. The docent and staff working at the museum are quite knowledgeable about that time in civil war history of the south, and I was blown away at the physical evidence of the tragedy and mayhem that happened on the grounds. Surreal to learn about. Definitely recommend if you're into history and want to look at how ignorance and hate almost divided the country.

    Dani C.

    The Carnton Plantation This 1826 Antebellum mansion became the largest temporary field hospital during the Battle of Franklin, and its wood floors still show blood stains from the more than 300 soldiers brought in that day. After the Battle of Franklin on Carnton's back porch, 4 Confederate generals' bodies were laid out (Patrick R. Cleburne, Hiram B. Granbury, John Adams, and Otho F. Strahl). Following the battle, the people of Franklin were tasked with burying the dead. Over the next 18 months, the markers rotted and the writing disappeared. Many of the Union soldiers were re-interred in 1865 at the Stones River National Cemetery in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The McGavocks wanted to do something more formal. In 1866, they set aside 2 acres of their land for a cemetery. The citizens of Franklin raised the funds that would be needed for the intense process of exhuming and reburying the soldiers. A man named George Cuppett led a team that moved the 1,481 soldiers. One civilian was buried in the cemetery as well. This was George's brother Marcellus, who had died during the process of reburials. The graveyard is called the McGavock Confederate Cemetery and remains the United States largest privately owned military cemetery.

    Smoke house in Franklin
    Linda C.

    This Civil War Tour was amazing, very much enjoyed the genealogy researcher and her stories of the people in Franklin and Carnton!!

    Alexis B.

    So, I've had visiting Carnton on my Nashville bucket list for a while. This past weekend, my friend and I decided to check it off. What's good? There's no self-guided tour option, but the 60-minute guided tour was really interesting. This is more than just an old house. Carnton was used as a hospital during the Battle of Franklin during the Civil War (the tour guide will be sure to point out all the bloodstains around the house from those days). The tour guide also made a point to discuss slavery and the slaves that were owned by the family until the end of the war - something that many Civil War era properties often skip. What's not so good? $18 is steep. The tour is an hour, but $18 is about the highest I've paid for a house that you're in and out of in an hour. But what really kind of bugged me is that they don't have set tour times. We showed up around 12:30, and they said they weren't doing a tour until 1:45, since that was when a Gray Line bus tour was due to be there. We didn't want to hang out in the shop that long, so we decided to go do something else and come back - so we asked when the next tour would be. They said they weren't sure, that they don't have set tour times, but just start a tour when people were there for one. (They did say their last tour is always at 4:00.) However, this makes it hard to plan a visit to Carnton. You could definitely wait around a while. The tour was interesting. I recommend it to anyone that wants to fit a little bit of history into a day trip to Franklin.

    Lindsay D.

    So glad we decide to stop here and do the tour. California guy from Downey tour guide was so informative you would think he was a history professor. The history that lies in Carnton and on the grounds was something to see first hand. Walk the grounds and garden and don't forget to pay your respect at the cemetery of the family and the confederate soldiers.

    Carton Plantation
    Heather W.

    Attended my first summer concert series at the Carton Plantation in Franklin. The setting was absolutely perfect for a summertime experience with wonderful music, outstanding food, and scenic views. The cover band Johnny Cash now was lively and fun. It was so enjoyable to listen to some of my favorite songs. If you attend an event I would pack a picnic and relax before the music (doors opened 2 hours prior to the show) I brought a Coleman chair with a built in cooler. I'm glad I remembered to bring the Altar bug spray. The show was great for the price- $12 Bathroom was clean and well stocked (so nice not having to use a port a potty) I will definitely be back to do the historic tour.

    Beautiful historical home.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joe B.
    1
    352
    373

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Julie T.
    19
    150
    380

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Beautiful grounds and our guide was great! It was the end of the day so she tailored our tour to be the experience we wanted!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Linda C.
    104
    38
    22

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shannon M.
    182
    26
    10

    5 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Paisley T.
    932
    1162
    14935

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rebekah T.
    4928
    2666
    15164

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Olivia N.
    174
    38
    20

    7 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jodi W.
    130
    502
    1310

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michael H.
    49
    463
    2678

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Carnton

    Review Highlights - Carnton

    The passion he has for the history of the Civil War and The Battle of Franklin especially were so impressive.

    Mentioned in 36 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Landmarks & Historical Buildings 124 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Confederate Soldiers Monument - Confederate

    Confederate Soldiers Monument

    (4 reviews)

    While I'm about as Yankee as they come, I do understand that there's a certain appeal about the…read moreSouth and the Confederacy that's more than just what many people think. And so I believe that there is nothing wrong with honoring people who fought and died valiantly and with honor. That's what this monument is about. Located in the middle of a two-lane traffic circle on Main Street in Franklin, this Confederate soldier, like many of these monuments, faces south with his back to the Union. He is "protected" by four cannon facing in each direction. And the caption reads that he was erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy in 1899. It is a nice monument and a fitting tribute.

    I've previously photographed and written about 122 veteran's memorials…read more Everything from King Phillip's War and the French and Indian War through Iraq and the War on Terror. But review number 123 will be a little different -it's the first monument I have ever seen dedicated to the Confederate Soldiers of the Civil War. It's right in the center of lovely Franklin Tennessee, in a small rotary park where Main Street hits 3rd Avenue. It's monolithic column rises an impressive 38 feet into the air. On top of the column is a mustachioed Confederate soldier standing tall and holding onto his rifle. Check out the detail on him - you'll see a long sleeved coat, a large brimmed hat, a holster and a belt. There are four cannons at the corners of the traffic circle, as if defending the statue. There are inscriptions everywhere. Here are the flowery highlights: Erected to Confederate Soldiers By Franklin Chapter No. 14 Daughters of The Confederacy Nov. 30, A. D, 1899 We who saw And knew them well Are witnesses To coming ages Of their valor And fidelity. Tried and true. Glory crowned. 1861 - 1865 In honor and memory Of our heroes Both private and chief Of the Southern Confederacy. No country ever had Truer sons, No cause Nobler champions, No people Bolder defenders, Than the brave soldiers To whose memory This stone is erected. Would not it be A blame for us If their memory part From our land and hearts And a wrong to them And a shame to us. The glories they won Shall not wane from us. In legend and lay, Our heroes in gray Shall ever live Over again for us.

    The Franklin Riot of 1867 - The Franklin Riot of 1867 Marker, Franklin TN

    The Franklin Riot of 1867

    (1 review)

    This marker stands in front of the Williamson County and opposite Franklin City Hall. As with many…read moremarkers, it provides some context to other statues and monuments in public squares across the south. It is worth reading to remember the struggles that people went though for equal rights and to show the struggles that some exhibited to prevent them. The marker reads, "The Franklin Riot of 1867. Carnival of Blood. Several armed clashes occurred among political groups and the white and black populations after the Civil War. In May 1866, Memphis rioters killed about fifty. In July, a riot engulfed New Orleans, killing almost 240 including more than 200 U.S. Colored Troops veterans. Fortunately, Franklin did not experience such levels of violence, but on July 6, 1867, an incident in this square reflected the boiling tensions in the post-war South. On that day, several Republican candidates (called Radicals) made speeches in the courthouse without incident. Later, Joe Williams, an African American aligned with the Democrats (conservatives), spoke there. Some Radicals clashed with Conservatives, John L. Houseformer Confederate officer, struck J.C. Bliss, a white merchant aligned with the Radicals. Members of the Union League (a bi-racial group affiliated with the Republican Party) also were present, and tempers flared. The League members left after firing a few shots into the air, and the tension increased through the late afternoon, as Conservatives (also a bi-racial group) gathered in the public square and near John House's store. Just after 8 P.M., the Union League marched into the square, heavily armed. According to A.N.C. Williams, the Leaguers had informed House they would lay down their arms, but as they passed the Conservatives, a white Conservative fired two pistol shots into the Leaguers, who returned fire. White Conservative Michael Cody was killed, and six white and several black members were wounded. Twenty-seven Leaguers were wounded; most had been shot in the back. Dr. Daniel B. Cliffe, a Unionist, helped treat the wounded. United States soldiers arrived from Nashville the next day to restore order." The marker includes three photographs. There is parking in the square. [Review 20066 overall - 422 in Tennessee - 1042 of 2023.]

    Main Street Festival - Street musicians

    Main Street Festival

    (9 reviews)

    $$

    Fun for Everyone! We…read morearrived after lunch and the parking garages were full. We found a church that was allowing people to park for $7 a vehicle. They were raising money for travel expenses to send kids and chaperones to places for charity work. This festival seems to get bigger every year. There were many more arts and crafts booths than the last time I attended. These included pottery, paintings, art, accessories, clothing, and much more. Plenty of fun things for kids. There were inflatable obstacle courses, a climbing wall, and an inflatable slide for kids of all ages. There was also a carnival with rides for everyone. Gourmet food trucks and food stands were present to satisfy your hunger. You could find gyros, asian cuisine, mexican cuisine, and american favorites such as hot dogs, kettle corn and glazed nuts. The best booth at the festival was of course the "Yelp" booth. They had a spinning wheel that you could spin for cool prizes.

    I'm writing this from an artist's perspective. I participated in this show years ago, and at one…read moretime it was truly excellent. Local residents showed up in droves and genuinely valued -- and purchased -- handmade work. I made five to $7000 twenty years ago. Unfortunately, the show has changed significantly. It now draws large crowds, many of whom appear to be bused in from outside the area. While attendance is high, sales are not. The loyal local audience seems to have been pushed out by the increased congestion, and many no longer attend. Equally disappointing is the noticeable decline in handmade goods. Walking the show this year, I spoke with several talented artists who shared that they struggled to cover even their basic expenses and do not plan to return. It's a real shame that the show has declined like it has. It used to be a beautiful show and Franklin is a nice town.

    Franklin Public Square During The Battle - U.S. Model 1841 6-Pounder Field Guns, Franklin

    Franklin Public Square During The Battle

    (1 review)

    The two-sided marker is located along the Public Square in downtown Franklin. As with many of the…read moremarkers in Tennessee, it points out some of the Civil War history that happened through here as various battles took place and armies passed through. On the front of the marker, it reads, "Franklin Public Square During The Battle. At dawn on November 30, 1864, the Federal army under Maj Gen John M Schofield began streaming into Franklin after marching from Spring Hill in pitch darkness. The wagon bridges over the Harpeth River were out. Schofield ordered the intact railroad bridge planked over and temporary bridges built. All morning long, the Federal train of an estimated 800 wagons and 3,500 draft animals were coming into Franklin and jamming this Square, every side street, alley and woodlot. By noon, just as the last Federal wagon came past the Carter House, the bridges were ready and the wagon train began untangling itself. As the Confederate Army, commanded by Lt Gen John B Hood, began their assault at 4:00 PM, the entire Federal wagon train was safely across the river and the Federal army was waiting for darkness to conceal their planned retreat to Nashville." On the reverse, "U.S. Model 1841 6-Pounder Field Guns. In 1908, the U.S. War Dept. loaned the four bronze gun tubes on the Square to Franklin. The N.P. Ames Co. and Cyrus Alger & Co. in Mass. cast the guns between 1847 and 1861. These guns were among the last to display the decorative features found on early artillery pieces. Widely used during the Mexican War, they were considered obsolete by the onset of the Civil War. Effective range was 1,500 yards. Usually smoothbore, these four guns were rifled at some point during their service. Each gun tube, weighing 884 lbs., was mounted on a No. 1 Field Carriage that requires a six-horse team. In 2014, the cannons were transferred from concrete stands to replica gun carriages using grants from the Tennessee Historical Commission, Tennessee Wars Commission, the City of Franklin and donations from civic organizations, local businesses and citizens." It is helpful to have the field guns to better appreciate what it must have been like. There is street parking all around plus stores and restaurants and a really nice hotel. [Review 2009 of 2024 - 540 in Tennessee - 23031 overall]

    Franklin Walking Tours - Our biggest night of the year. TOMBSTONE TALES! The Saturday before Halloween. History comes alive when told from the grave.

    Franklin Walking Tours

    (30 reviews)

    The Franklin Haunted Walking Tour is an absolute MUST DO! When it started to sprinkle, the others…read morewho had booked ended up canceling. Instead of calling off the tour, Alicia gave me a private one. She was a phenomenal guide--her passion for Franklin, its rich history, and its community was obvious from the start. The tour was fun, dynamic, and incredibly insightful. Alicia shared each encounter with such historical accuracy and animated storytelling that I literally felt chills, all while feeding my love of learning about history and culture. Her reputation in the community is undeniable. Before, during, and after the tour, so many people spoke highly of both the quality of her tours and of her as a person. I originally found Franklin Walking Tours online, but once I arrived in town, every local I asked pointed me straight to Alicia--often described as "the tours with the lanterns." While we walked, it was clear how well-known and well-loved she is. Watching her interact with the community made the whole experience feel warm and welcoming, almost like being at home. Later, when I went to dinner, everyone who asked about my day lit up when I mentioned her tour and immediately started raving about it. Franklin Walking Tours are hands down a must when visiting. I will definitely be back to try the other tours--and I'm hoping to bring my family and maybe even redo this one. :)

    Spontaneously decided to take the Grim and Ghostly tour last night. Alicia, our guide, is a…read morerelentless researcher of Franklin's history and I always learn something new. She's also a great speaker and delivers history with wit and charm! If you've never done a Franklin walking tour, you should definitely book one! If you have done a Franklin walking tour, you should go again because they always keep it fresh and fun.

    Carnton - landmarks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...