Carnton is an interesting historical spot. The property is well maintained with options for walking…read morethe property and/or touring the home. A small museum is in the Visitor's Center. A paved parking lot is available near the Visitor's Center. In that building you can buy tickets and tour the museum. The shop has some souvenirs as well as some packaged snacks and bottled water. Restrooms are nearby. Adult admission for the one hour house tour and grounds is $22 per person. Children under six are free. The museum was small, but worth looking at before heading off on the tour. The one hour home tour was interesting and offered plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The guide seemed knowledgeable and enjoyed answering questions.

The staff here is really the hidden gem on Carnton house. They are conversational in the gift shop…read moreand the tour guides are wonderful. Full of energy and information. And every tour helps preserve a piece of history. So take the time out, visit the grounds and take a tour. You will not be disappointed.

4.5 Stars On our…read morelast day in Nashville, my brother and I spent time on the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol. It was incorporated in a walk that took us from the Downtown Embassy Suites across from Music City Center to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. It was my second time seeing the Tennessee State Capitol Building on my vacation. The first was from the Gray Line Tour. The Tennessee State Capitol Building with the Capitol District added a different dimension to the Nashville vacation. Once we got to Union Street, even though we were less than a mile from Broadway, Music City USA seemed miles away. It felt like we were now in a city celebrating the state of Tennessee. We entered from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and 6th Avenue. The first thing I noticed is how high up it is. We climbed steps to enter the grounds. The Tennessee State Capitol Building is at the highest elevation in Downtown Nashville. It is remarkably noticeable from the Northside view along US 31/41, where it looks like it is on top of a small green mountain where a trail of steps carry people up. Not to be political (pardon the pun) the best spots to see The Tennessee State Capitol Building up close was from the east side. The second best spot to see it is from the north side either from US 31/41 or Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park where you get the awesome hill view. The Supreme Court Building blocks the west side. And during our visit, the reconstruction at Legislative Plaza prevented us from taking prime views at the south side. With that said we spent quality time on the east side. Being up on the higher elevation with mature trees, the weather felt better. When we ascended the southeast corner steps I took in the Alvin York statue. When we got to the top of the hill I took in the statue of President Andrew Jackson on his horse Cincinnati with the State Capitol behind it. Walking along the shaded walking paths, I took in the Tennessee Capitol Bell which is a replica of the Liberty Bell. Rising above Downtown Tennessee, my eyes took in a distant east view and past the Capitol an impressive view of Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park where we were headed next. I stopped to take in the pond. In the shadow of the State Capitol, my brother and I spent time on a bench overlooking the Tomb of President James Knox Polk and his wife Sarah. The majority of my attention was on the State Capitol Building. Designed by William Strickland, it was completed in 1859 when Tennessee decided that Nashville was going to be the state capitol. The architecture is Greek Revival. William Strickland based it on a Greek Iconic Temple. It stands 206.6 feet tall. It is one of twelve state capitols without a dome. While I was looking at it and taking pictures I was aware that the Tennessee State Senate and Governor could be behind the wall. I was certain that it was the second state capitol building that I spent time outside of (I also reviewed the Colorado State Capitol). Deciding to walk to the Tennessee State Capitol Building and ultimately Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park was a very good move. They added another dimension to the Nashville, Tennessee vacation where we got to celebrate the State of Tennessee. Being that this review focuses on the Tennessee State Capitol Building, I feel that my experience on its grounds admiring the beautiful Greek Revival architecture with the statues, mature trees, views, and burial spot of President James Knox Polk and his wife Sarah minus an inside tour makes it worthy of 4.5 stars

I liked the grounds, although I didn't go inside, as a visitor from out of state, I enjoyed…read morewandering around the green spaces here and at the attached WW2 memorial and Bicentennial Park. It was the perfect size for a quick morning walk. The grounds are well maintained and no signs of homeless encampments or litter like most cities tend to have, at least not on these grounds. Overall I enjoyed the tour of the Tennessee capitol building.

My daughter's first grade class recently visited for a field trip. I was impressed by the…read moreorganization and what was covered as part of the field trip. The location was easy to find and a quick drive from Franklin. Plenty of parking was available for our group. The lot was gravel which I usually hate, but I didn't mind their lot. The field trip was well organized and had three parts. It was a great mix of being educational and entertaining. The kids started in the barn area and ate lunch (that they brought) at the tables in there. Bathrooms were available in that building. The guide there (a taller gentleman) taught the kids dances and etiquette. He was great with the kids. Next, we moved to the home tour. The guide there obviously did not like kids and was on the dry side. It was still educational and interesting to see the house. Lastly, the kids made cards using feathers and "ink" for writing. It was a nice variety of activities. Travellers Rest is a good spot to check out for people with an interest in history.

I had the pleasure of visiting Traveller's Rest on a sunny October afternoon. There are layers of…read morehistory here, with very knowledgeable guides. Our guide, Hannah, was an personable, engaging storyteller who could answer any questions. I appreciated that the tour gave a full picture of the history--good, bad and ugly. Recommended!

Statue of Thomas Green Ryaman is a public art sculpture located in nashville Tennessee. My buddy…read moreand I were in town during the summer of 2022 and decided discover the downtown, music row, and east Nashville portions of the city for public art when we came across this piece. The man behind the grand ole opry ryman auditorium is honored with a statue just outside of the famed building in downtown nashville. Overall a cool gesture and honor. And they're are several of country musics biggest icons honored in bronze as well around the same area. So he is in company with some legends.

Here's another statue outside the Ryman Auditorium about Thomas Green Ramen. It looks like this…read moretheater was named after him and they decide to dedicate a nice statue to him right outside of it

This marker is located at an entrance to the Collins' Farm Historical Park and points out one of…read morethe battles from the Civil War. The Nashville battlefields were some of the most intense outside of the Virginia/Maryland area and this marker points out some of that history. The marker reads, "Confederate Regiments from Brig. Gen. Thomas Scott's, Brig. Gen. John Adams', and Brig. Gen. Winfield Featherstons's Brigades of Maj. Gen. William Loring's Division advanced under artillery fire through this northwestern parcel of Carnton across the Nashville and Decatur Railroad tracks to face Osage Orange abatis and entrenched Federal Forces equipped, in part, with repeating rifles. The troops made the final 60 yards with fixed bayonets to face withering rifle fire that "swept our ranks like hail." To escape the enfilading rifle fire, survivors fell back to the ravine on Carnton, still under artillery fire. Wheeling his troops west, reportedly, Gen. Adams rode into this ravine, his horse nearly stepping on Cpl. Joseph Thompson, 35th Alabama, wounded by cannon shot." The first paragraph of the nearby caption reads, "In September 1864, after Union Gen. William T. Sherman defeated Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood at Atlanta, Hood led the Army of Tennessee northwest against Sherman's supply lines. Rather than contest Sherman's "March to the Sea," Hood moved north into Tennessee. Gen. John M. Schofield, detached from Sherman's army, delayed Hood at Columbia and Spring Hill before falling back to Franklin. The bloodbath here on November 30 crippled the Confederates, but they followed Schofield to the outskirts of Nashville and Union Gen. George H. Thomas's strong defenses. Hood's campaign ended when Thomas crushed his army on December 15-16." Agree or disagree with the reasoning behind the Civil War, there is certainly no doubt that these men fought valiantly and that sacrifice should be remembered. [Review 20064 overall - 420 in Tennessee - 1040 of 2023.]

We stopped by the Customs House in downtown Nashville over Labor Day weekend while I was in town…read morewith some friends for a football game. We had some free time to explore the city between everything we had planned, and this was one of the landmarks we made a point to check out. The Customs House is a really impressive building. The Victorian Gothic architecture immediately catches your attention, especially the huge central clock tower, the detailed stonework, and the large arched entrance. It has a completely different look from a lot of the buildings you see around downtown Nashville, which made it a cool place to stop and take a closer look. I thought the history behind it was really interesting too. Construction started in the 1870s, and President Rutherford B. Hayes actually came to Nashville in 1877 to lay the cornerstone. The building originally served as a post office, customs house, and federal courthouse, so it played a pretty important role in Nashville's history. We were already downtown enjoying the weekend with friends and getting ready for the football game, so stopping at places like this made the trip more than just a football weekend. It was fun getting out and seeing some of the history and architecture that makes Nashville such an interesting city. Definitely glad we took the time to stop and see the Customs House. It is a beautiful historic building and a great reminder that there is a lot more to Nashville than Broadway and the music scene. Five stars from me for being such a unique and interesting piece of Nashville history.

Great building with tons of history and character.... also where I had to go to court.....This…read morebuilding is AMAZING...I had to go here today for court..so I was so excited to able to enter the building. There is a historical market: The cornerstone was laid Sept. 19, 1877, by President Rutherford B. Hayes on the first visit of a president to the South since the Civil War. Opened in 1882 at 701 Broadway, it originally housed the city's post office on the ground floor. The federal Treasury Department offices were on the second, and Justice Department and courtrooms on the third I went a little early so I could walk around the building and take some really nice photos of this building..The character of the Architecture reminds me of Victorian Artistry.. Additional Historical information I found on the internet about this building: A beautiful, stately, ornate building that served the Nashville area for almost a century before being cast aside, the Customs House is a reminder of what government can do right with architecture. It is one of the finest pieces of Victorian architecture in Tennessee and was abuzz with activity until the late 20th century when the United States government decided it didn't want the building anymore. Fortunately, the Nashville Metropolitan Government did, and took possession of the building for redevelopment. 1877 - The cornerstone of this building is laid by President Hayes. 1882 - The clock tower is completed. 1903 - The rear portion of the building is completed. 1916 - The wings of the building are completed. 1972 - The building is added to the National Register of Historic Places. 1979 - Ownership is transferred from the federal government to the local government. When President Rutherford B. Hayes laid the cornerstone of the Customs House on September 19, 1877, it symbolized the end of Southern Reconstruction after the Civil War. Approval for a federal building dates to 1856, but construction delays and the Civil War caused Nashville to wait for more than twenty years for a facility to house federal courts, customs, and post office. Treasury architect William Appleton Potter designed this grand example of the Victorian Gothic style. From its massive yet ornate stone block a central clock tower soars. The many rich details, such as the Gothic lancet windows and a deeply inset triple-arch entrance, make this an exceptional example of Victorian Gothic architecture. In the 1990s the Customs House was declared surplus property by the federal government and was turned over to Metro Nashville government which worked toward its renovation and reuse. The building is now leased from the city by a private firm which renovated its interior and leases the space to office tenants - a significant milestone in historic preservation in Nashville. I am not sure if everyone is interested in the historical aspect of the building, this surplus Federal Property is now owned by Nashville Metro. I hope it is NEVER DESTROYED...

If you have ever driven down Briley Parkway, there is a good chance you have seen the Cumberland…read moreRiver Pedestrian Bridge, which is situated just beyond or before Opry Mills, depending on which way you are headed. The bridge connects Two Rivers Park to the Nashville Greenway, and offers gorgeous views of the Cumberland River no matter the season. The bridge also provides a great backdrop for photo ops of all kinds. Every time I am on the bridge, there is some sort of photo shoot going on whether it be amateur or professional, and I bet the photos turn out amazing! Getting to the bridge can seem tricky, but best bet is Two Rivers Park, which leads you right to the bridge from their main lot just off of Briley Parkway. It's a landmark of the start and end of all my walks from Two Rivers onto the Greenway, and I enjoy crossing it any chance I get!

We went Walking the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge and it was one of the most memorable parts…read moreof my Nashville trip. From the moment you step onto it, the view of the river and skyline is breathtaking especially at sunset when the lights start to dance off the water. The bridge itself feels open and welcoming, perfect for a leisurely stroll, a thoughtful moment, or an iconic photo op. It's peaceful yet energized, a great way to experience the city from a fresh perspective and soak in those Nashville vibes. Whether you're there in the early morning calm or with the city lights aglow at night, this bridge is a must see and absolutely earns five stars. Take your family and go get some fun photos and memories.

Public art monument for woman's suffrage located on the grounds of Centennial Park and the…read moreParthenon in Nashville, Tennessee. In the summer of 2022 me and my buddy Jeremy visited downtown Nashville for and event. While in the downtown and surrounding areas we explored the numerous offerings that Nashville has to offer. Centennial Park had numerous great works inlcluding this piece While this park features and boasts many statues and public art works this piece is the crown jewel. By far the most detailed and well done piece that attracts the photo ops and pictures of tourists. Overall a great piece and awesome public art statue that honors some important American history.

As I was trying to find the main entrance to the Parthenon, I deviated a bit by checking out the…read morevarious statues and monuments in Centennial Park. One of them was the women's suffrage monument. The monument was unveiled on August 26th, 2016, on Women's Equality Day. It was commissioned by Tennessee Woman Suffrage Monument Inc. The monument features five key suffragists in Nashville who contributed to the battle of ratifying the 19th amendment: - Anne Dallas Dudley - founded the Nashville Equal Suffrage League - Abby Crawford Milton - last president of the Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association - Frankie Pierce - founder of the City Federation of Colored Women's Clubs in Nashville - Sue Shelton White - feminist leader and one of the national suffrage movement leaders - Carrie Chapman Catt - national suffrage leader who traveled to Nashville to guide the suffragists during the last crucial battle The monument was created by Nashville-based sculptor Alan LeQuire. He also designed the Suffrage Bas Relief sculpture hanging in the State Capitol between the House and Senate chambers. I like how he captured the suffragists marching. They looked like they were in motion. It was a lovely tribute to them and their contributions. Every year on Women's Equality Day, an event commemorating this day is held at the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Monument. It's the perfect place to gather here each year. I appreciated a brief biography of each suffragist. I learned so much about them and this monument. If you happen to be in Centennial Park, check out this monument. I'm glad that I did. (278)