My friend and I love history and have been touring historic sites together, and our recent visit to the Carter House in Franklin was incredible. If you're a Williamson County resident, be sure to check out the Community Passports available through the library for free admission opportunities. Our tour guide, David, was outstanding. He truly transported us back in time, bringing the people, stories, and events of the Civil War to life in a way that was engaging and memorable. Two moments especially stayed with me. First, seeing the bullet holes that remain in the property was a powerful reminder of just how intense the Battle of Franklin was. Second, standing in the basement where a diverse group of people gathered together seeking safety during the fighting was incredibly moving. It's one thing to read about history in a book and another to stand in the very place where people experienced it and recognize how little time has passed. Whether you're a local or just visiting Franklin, I highly recommend taking the tour. It's a meaningful and fascinating look into a pivotal moment in American history. read more

The Carter House - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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We got an amazing tour of the Carter House by Randy! He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and personable. Would highly recommend checking out the Carter House when in town. read more

The Carter House - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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We came here on and did the classic tour. We had a great time. Tour/Customer Service: 5/5 The tour we did was about an hour long. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave great insights about the property, battle and people. The customer service was very good. There are also other tours available such as the extended tour and the battlefield tour. Property: 5/5 The property is preserved very well and very interesting to explore. Several of the buildings have bullet holes in them from the Franklin battle that happened here. Very cool to see! Price: 4/5 The tour we did was $22 per adult and $14 per kid up to 15 years old. This was definitely a worthwhile tour to do if you are in the Franklin area. Highly enriched the experience of the area. read more

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You're going to get a first class tour when you pony up your $22 (as of the time of this writing). Fortunately for me and my gal, my daughter is a member of the Franklin Trust, and we toured for nada. You can become a member for $135 and get 3 passes. That's 3 passes for Carter House, 3 passes for Carnton Plantation, and 3 passes for Rippa Villa! Let's do the math shall we: 3x$22=$66 + 3×$22=66 + 3x22=$66. 3×$66=$198. In layman terms (and believe me, I'm a layman) you'll get three tours for three folks for $135, instead of the walk-up price of $198! Oh, and if you wanted to do it again, uh, that would be $0. And again $0. And again $0. Sorry for the soft sell, but for me, that's a bargain. A cheap price to pay for so much knowledge, and there's a lot of knowledge to be had. The tour guides words will paint a picture drawing you into the harsh reality of that horrific battle. You're standing on the exact spot, in the middle of the chaos. Are you Union, or Confederate? It doesn't matter, all were tossed into the meat grinder. What emerged was a message of futility. That message being, War is Hell. It was tranquil when strolling the grounds on this particular Summer afternoon. Not so during those hours in the late of 1864. You have time to reflect. Do so, and as you do, remember that what transpired on this ground those many years ago, was for a cause that made our country stronger, resilient, and the greatest place on Gods good Earth to thrive. Now that I'm off my soapbox, it's time for a...... Quick Tip: If during you visit, and they're still working on building the new visitors center, you might want to keep an eye on the ground. Who knows what may have been turned up as they were churning the soil. You can turn it (it being an artifact) over to the museum for display. Of course you'll want to do that...of course you would. read more

The Carter House - where the light showing through the holes is the brightest is the direction where the soldier shot their round. - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Willie is truly a world class tour guide. He is so knowledgeable, entertaining, approachable, and talented. It is worth taking a tour here. Especially with Willie. I would love to see Willie Johnson tours in other locations! read more

The Carter House - the bullet holes preserved from the war! - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

This was a home school history lesson for the students that I accompanied. The tour guide of Carter house narrated intriguingly of that time in history. He also took time to respectfully answer inquisitive questions while flowing throughout the home. The grounds also had reading props about historic areas surrounding the estate. The admission and time spent there was worth it. I recommend this learning experience. read more

Since we moved to the Nashville area, we were planning to visit these historic sites. IT didn't happen right away, but when you expect the least it happened. Being at right place at the right time, just at the time when the expanded tour was starting, is pure luck. It was fascinating to listen to a tour guide delivering all these historic details. Facts about historic events happened just about in our neighborhood. I wish that our Docent was more storyteller than straight fact delivery. Excellent news is that the historic site is expanding, acquiring more land. It's the place to see Franklin. read more

The Carter House - Start of guided tour - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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The tour was excellent. Our guide is a retired history teacher and told the story of the Carter House and its part in the Battle of Franklin as if he had been there. Prices are well worth the tour. read more

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When I told my wife the story about the Carter House and the Battle of Franklin, she became agreeable to stopping at a few Battlefields during our Smoky Mountain vacation. I've forgotten what I once knew about the Battle of Franklin so it was a great stop for both of us. She appreciated learning about the Carter family and seeing the house and grounds while I was grateful to learn from our tour guide and another historian in our group about the battle, as well as the overall Civil War in Tennessee. The tour was fantastic and our tour guide was a very kind, funny and informative southern gentleman - unfortunately we forgot his name (white haired fella who was also a magician). They have a great little visitor center and museum (a much larger one currently being built next door) where I grabbed a very well organized and easy to read book to learn even more about and question all of the variables that led to the battle, as well as read the first-hand accounts of those who fought in it, written by James R. Knight (a big thanks to our tour guide for recommending it). read more

The guide we had, Drew, was excellent. He was a great storyteller and told us all about the house, the occupants, and the battle that happened there. I would strongly recommend that anybody interested in US history and are in Franklin Tennessee visit this site. read more

Our docent was extremely knowledgeable about the Battle of Franklin and the people that lived and worked on this farm. It's incredible to think a fierce battle took place on this property, but the bullet holes in the buildings speak to us today about how devastating war is. I highly recommend this tour! read more

The Carter House was in the heart of the Battle of Franklin, that occurred during the Civil War. For those of you that may have never heard of this battle (I only learned about it when I had visited Franklin, as there are numerous of historical sites in downtown which peaked my interest of reading about the battle before visiting this home), this was the bloodiest of battles that took place in Tennessee which was between the Confederate Army of Tennessee and the Federal Union army. The reason why it took place in Franklin was because this small city was right in the middle. General John Bell Hood (on the Confederate side) came marching with over 30,000 soldiers towards Nashville after he lost his battle in Atlanta. He was hoping to take over the state capital. General William Sherman (for the Federal Union side), sent Major General John Schofield to Nasvhille/ Franklin to slow General Hood's advances (General Sherman was in Middle Tennessee at the time). Federal troops started to form a line on the outskirts of Franklin around dawn on November 30, 1864. General Jacob Cox (Federal side) set up headquarters at the Carter House, after waking up the family at sunrise (talk about rude awaking....fun). By noon, the majority of the Federal army had organized a defense line, by General Schofield, about a mile in length and was anchored on the Harpeth River (2 important bridges over the river) to help aid in defense of the city of Franklin. General Hood decided to make the order to march to Franklin so that the Federal army would not get to Nashville, seeing his only opportunity to try to defeat their army. With about 20,000 Confederate soldiers, they began their first attack around 4 pm. Weapons were fired, screaming and killing occurred. This battle lasted ~ 5 hours. This battle took place mostly in the dark, with light only coming from the flash of a gun. During this time, the Carter family, the Lotz family (who lived across the street) and a few of the Carter family slaves took shelter in their small basement, housing ~ 2 dozen people. If you can imagine what that must have been like for those people, including children, to hear the cries of war just right outside their home. According to our docent, there were soldiers who died standing up because of the pile of dead bodies everywhere, they were unable to fall to the ground after being killed. During this time, the Carnton Plantation (which is only a few miles away) served as a hospital (the largest one for this battle) for the fallen troops and the Lotz family home also became a hospital for the wounded. When the war was all over, it is said that 9,500 soldiers had died, about 7,000 of them being from the Confederate side. On the grounds of the Carter Home, you can actually see the house with ~1000 bullet holes and also place your finger through them if that interest you (although when we had visited during December, our docent did tell us to do that at our own risk because sometimes hornets may make a home in those bullet holes to stay warm during the winter). It is interesting to see how this home has been well preserved, with the bullet holes still intact (you can also see other bullet homes inside the house as well. But photos of that home is prohibited and only allowed in the photos I included with my review). Unfortunately one of the casualties, Tod Carter, one of Mr. Carter's sons, was shot 9 times in battle. Tod Carter had fought for 2.5 years during the civil war, to only die 2 days later after the battle that had taken place in his backyard. He was 24 years old when he died. Our docent did a fantastic job retelling the history. She provided the facts and stories in a conversational tone and was very likable. Of all the docents that I had ever encountered at museums, historical sites, etc, I would have to say this docent was the best. She had a good pace and provided the most important details. She was also great at answering numerous of questions that we had in the group (including those from children). A docent lead tour is $18, but there is a small discount if you wish to visit both the Carnton Plantation and also another deal if you wish to also visit the home at Rippa Villa (which is about an hour away from here). You do not need to visit the home at Rippa Villa on the same day though. The Lotz Home does offer a tour but isn't part of the discounted ticket package. There's free parking available. You enter through the gift shop where you can read and view some of the information about Civil War. You can also use the clean restrooms while you wait for your tour to begin. Lastly, you can purchase souvenirs if interested. Overall, a great visit for the afternoon if you are ambitious and wish to visit the other sites mentioned above. But you are also just fine to only visit the Carter Home if you are short on time, as this really does serve as the main site for the Battle of Franklin. read more

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We did the 1 hour guided tour of the Carter House and thought it was amazing! At first, the $20 per ticket felt steep, but now it feels like a great value. I'm so happy to support this important slice of American history. Our guide, Bill Clark, was an incredible storyteller, fully bringing to life the history of the Carter family, the enslaved people, and the Battle of Franklin. Must visit on a trip to Franklin! I now look forward to listening to their podcast, The Dispatch. read more

If you have any interest in the Battle of Franklin, this tour is mandatory. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable starting with explaining the events leading up to the battle, to setting the scene of the battle itself. Of course, buildings riddled with original bullet holes confirms the intensity of the day and night. Must follow up with visit to Carnton House. This plantation house served as hospital for the confederate wounded. Historic cemetery on site. Completes the picture. read more

The Carter house is the most bullet-damaged building that remains standing from the entire Civil War. Before the battle of Franklin, Union General Jacob D. Cox set up his headquarters in the parlor of the Carter House. When the Carter family inquired if they should leave, Cox told them of the unlikely possibility of a battle and suggested that they remain to protect the property. The Carter family stayed, but then the battle of Franklin came to their front door and the family sought shelter in their basement. After the battle, the parlor of the Carter House became a Confederate field hospital. The 1,000 bullet holes that today remain in the side of the house testify to the ferocity of the fighting. In an amazing coincidence, one of the casualties was Tod Carter, one of Fountain Branch Carter's sons. Tod Carter had survived two and half years of fighting in the Civil War, only to be shot nine times in a battle that was fought in his own backyard. Tod's family found his body and helped carry it into the very house in which he had been born 24 years earlier. He died two days later. read more

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Our tour guid did an amazing job describing every detail of what was going on at the time with the Carter family, the confederacy and union armies. You get incredible insight to the events leading up to the Battle of Franklin and the days after. The guided tour was a great experience as you walk to each house and hear the accounts from the journals of family members or solders who fought here. I felt like the tour was about 30 minutes long. Every bit of it was packed full of information. I recommend this for any history buff. Our guide recognized that there were two types of people; those who wanted to come and those who were dragged... They do a good job to keep everyone entertained. If you're looking to make your trip to Franklin educational, this is a great stop that can last anywhere from 30minutes to an hour or longer. We loved our visit. Great gift shop too, lots of period literature available for sale, tshirts, etc. read more

The Carter House - Cater house's famous wall - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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The guided tour given by Joseph is a must for anyone, agreed that it seemed steep at first but at the end of the tour it was worth every penny. He should have a PBS Special about this battle. We gained so much insight into the state of mind of the people in that era. read more

This tour is a must to understand the Battle of Franklin Trust. Our tour guide was so thorough in explaining the events that transpired on November 30, 1864. You also need to tour the Carnton House. read more

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Walker was our tour guide on the extended tour and he did an amazing job. This is an impactful, educational and interesting Civil War history spot and I have gone multiple times! Highly recommend taking an hour/two to explore this! read more

I can't count how many house tours I've done, it's a lot. Our tour guide, Joseph, was incredible and absolutely made this tour stand out from the others I've done. He had a way of making you feel immersed in the history of the Carter House. His story telling was vivid. His attention to detail was impeccable. You can tell this is his passion and he loves what he does. Highly recommend! read more

The Carter House - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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Honestly, I did not expect to enjoy this stop as much as I did, and that is 100% thanks to our enthusiastic tour guide. Her passion for the subject and ability to tell the stories with empathy was phenomenal. The history here can be felt - it is sometimes hard to believe. The house is beautifully preserved with stunning examples of what life was like back in the 1800s and of course more notably during the Civil War. I now certainly think you are missing out on a trip to the Franklin area if you do not stop at these historic Civil War homes (we also visited Carnton for an exceptional experience). read more

The Carter House - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Great Civil war museum!!! Learned a lot about the Battle at Franklin.. Thanks Will for an amazing informative tour!

My husband and I were recently in Franklin and took the Classic House Tour at Carter House and Carnton. As avid history buffs, we thoroughly enjoyed both tours. Our tour guide at the Carter House, Sheila, was one of the best storytellers imparting an incredible amount of historical detail that I have ever had the pleasure to hear. Her presentation was well organized, logical and exciting. As she unfolded the events that took place she clearly described both sides of the battle, where and how the Carter families/neighbors/slaves were affected and the tragic story of Todd Carter. My emotions rose and fell in the story sequence due to her riveting narrative. We will treasure our experience at the Carter House as it so clearly and graphically told the story of conflict in the Civil War and the tragic effects it had on everyone involved. Thank you, read more

Nicely laid out. Everything is a nice comfortable walking distance. Must go to spot on the outskirts of Nashville

Didn't know what to expect other than a small town museum walk thru. I was pleasantly surprised with our visit here. We chose to take the guided tour, which was fabulous. (You can walk it on your own, just cannot get an inside view of the home and the office) Jim, our guide, is in my humble opinion, the best at telling the story of The Battle of Franklin. He provided great detail from the environment, the people, their surroundings and the hour by hour activity of said battle. He really is very knowledgeable and puts so much heart into what and how he shares the encounters and the fall of thousands of soldiers lost during the 5hour battle. Touring the home of the Carters (kitchen is barricaded) gives off such energy, complimenting the story as told by our guide. Be sure the follow the "trench" to get a feeling of how little acreage was covered and to see the former site of the cotton gin mill. Puts everything into perspective! I highly recommend taking the 2-for-1 tickets price to visit Carter House and Carnton. Its a savings of $6 but worth it. read more

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The Carter House was an absolute must-stop tour. The Carter House was purchased by the State in the 1950's. Our docent Randy was an animated storyteller that had our party of four, plus a fifth grader, sucked into the history. The display personalized the civilians, including enslaved people, Federalist and Confederate soldiers. read more

The Civil War came alive in the Carter House. We visited the place after the Lotz House across the street. The guided tour was excellent (ah, I wish I remembered our guide's name to thank him!). The stories of the battle of Franklin and the Carters who found themselves in the middle of it, all made me feel transplanted to that time in history. A must see if you ever visit Franklin. Suggested order: Lotz House, Carter House, Carnton plantation. Or, Carnton plantation, Lotz House, Carter House. read more

We did both Carnton and Carter in the same day and I would recommend doing both as it provides a different perspective for the same battle (Battle of Franklin). Here the family hid in the cellar and there was damage to the property. Lots of bullet holes to see. An excellent guide also helped bring the battle to life. read more

The Carter House - Bullet holes in one of the exterior buildings. - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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This is a small location, but nevertheless appears to be significant in the events of the Revolutionary War, as well as telling of life in the 18th century. The guide proved to be animated and highly informed although I admit to a great deal of exhaustion of US history, this was certainly worth the time. We had previously visit Belle Meade nearby, and that was very disappointing in comparison. You want to go here instead. read more

The Civil War tour here at the Carter House was also educational and interesting. Very realistic and period appropriate

A wonderful experience that mixed the nuances of both sides of the civil war. Great guide.

Excellent tour, very knowledgeable guides. Every attention to detail. Great museum of artifacts.

Had a great tour today. Good option if it's raining since it is mostly indoors. Joseph was very informative and gave great perspective on the Civil War. read more

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This was the highlight of our visit to Franklin from California. Kristi was our guide and did an absolutely remarkable job sharing her vast knowledge and expertise in a way that everyone could understand. Racism and slavery can be a difficult subject and Kristi did a wonderful job in framing these subjects in a way to understand their impacts on the Civil War, community, and the world as a whole. read more

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Tre our tour guide was GREAT. He is very knowledgable on what happened, the people and of the war. He made you feel as you were there. He kept it toned down cuz of children but still made ya feel. This site really will show you what hell can be. Excellent tour. read more

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Our guide I believe was joseph. He was knowledgeable and passionate about the History of The Battle of Franklin Trust. We were extremely impressed with him. It was the by far the best tour (and guide) we've ever encountered! This tour is a must if you want to hear more about civil war battles . read more

Wow. What an amazing tour of the Carter house and oral history of the civil war. Joseph Ricci's enthusiasm for U.S. History is infectious. We stood spellbound as he entwined the Carter Family history with the civil war. His story telling dispels destructive myths of our shared history and paints an honest picture of warfare, of slavery and of this families experience like that of so many across the United States during the Civil War. This tour is fascinating, informative and important. A must "experience" if you are in the area. read more

The Carter House - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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My wife and I were on vacation in Nashville and we love historical spots. Civil War battleground. Check! So this was where the Battle of Franklin was fought https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Franklin_(1864) The Confederates screwed up and let 20,000 Union troops slip past them while they were asleep. The Union said to the Carter House home owner, "This is our headquarters now" They dug in and the South attacked. The south had 7,500 casualties and the north had 2,500. The house is still standing with its 1,500 bullet holes still in it. Great tour and very interesting to hear the history. One of the Carter boys were actually killed during the battle at his own house. read more

I am kicking myself for not remembering our guide's name, but he is a retired history teacher. I felt like I was watching a Ken Burns documentary. Our guide was so emotionally descriptive, I felt like I was there. I had no idea that little Franklin, TN was the site of such a pivotal Civil War battle. Thank you for doing a great job. I highly recommend taking this tour. read more

This was an awesome experience because of our first-rate tour guide Adam. That dude knew so much and talked fast enough to share most of it with us. This wasn't just a job for him, he was very passionate and demonstrative keeping our attention every minute. A must visit. read more

The Carter House - Museums Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee