Franklin TN is home to a vibrant downtown, top-rated schools, and major employers. Health care companies like Community Health Systems and Acadia Healthcare as well as Nissan, CKE Restaurants, and World Christian Broadcasting have their headquarters in Franklin TN.
A unique project on Public Square has replaced the Confederate Monument with a monument that tells the full story of African American History in Williamson County. The Lotz House and Carnton Plantation, as well as the Carter House, offer tours that give a glimpse of life in Franklin at the time of the Civil War.
Downtown Franklin
Franklin has a small-town atmosphere and focuses on the Community. Historic downtown Franklin is home to beautiful Victorian single family homes and farmhouses that cover multiple acres. It is also a great place for families, with top-notch Williamson County schools and many parks.
Main Street USA, the main street in New York City, is lined with restaurants and trendy boutiques. Shoppers can browse antiques at Scarlett Scales and Franklin Antique Mall or grab a bite to eat at Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, where diners enjoy classic Southern cooking.
Downtown Franklin Association received a Great American Main Street Award recently, and their commitment to revitalization can be seen in the downtown district. The Factory is a unique shopping center that offers shops not found in your typical mall. And, of course, no trip to Downtown Franklin is complete without visiting Frothy Monkey, which has a large wraparound porch and welcomes visitors from all over the country. Guests can dine-in with full-service at indoor tables and on the porch.
Carnton Plantation
Carnton Plantation is a historic home and museum in Williamson County, Tennessee. It was originally built in 1826 by Randal McGavock, a former mayor of Nashville. In order to make money, he moved his family out of the city and into the country. McGavock renamed his property Carnton after an ancestral home in Ireland and invited guests, including President Andrew Jackson, to spend time on his estate. The estate passed through the family after his death until 1911. The home was then sold out of the McGavock family.
During the Civil War, Carnton served as a hospital and Confederate cemetery. Carnton is a popular tourist destination. Visitors from all over the country and even the world come to see the site. Carnton hosts events all year long, from Civil War Trails and Sunset Concerts in the lawn to Civil War Trails. Visitors can explore the house and grounds with guided tours or on their own.
McGavock Confederate Cemetery
Civilians buried Confederate soldiers on the battlefield after the battle and placed wooden markers above their graves. Over time, the markers began to deteriorate and animals began to dig up the remains. Then John and Carrie McGavock donated two acres to create a proper cemetery where they reinterred the fallen soldiers in 1866.
The largest private Confederate graveyard in the United States is now located behind Carnton. When you visit Carnton, be sure to look behind the house for this unique site.
Here you’ll find the grave of Toussaint l’Ouverture and a former slave named Mariah. Upon emancipation, Mariah worked as a midwife and eventually became the favored midwife for Franklin’s society women. It was said that she admired Toussaint, and purchased a portrait to hang in her house. In addition, you’ll see the grave of Allen Nevils Crutcher “A.N.C.” Williams, a black community leader and business owner who opened Franklin’s first shoe repair shop.
Franklin Park
Whether you’re training for a 5k, watching your kids play little league baseball or picnicking in the heart of an historic battle site, Franklin has something for every kind of outdoor adventurer. Franklin has many parks that include walking trails, playgrounds and sports fields. There are also picnic areas and fishing ponds.
Aspen Grove Park is a great option for hikers, with a nicely paved 0.8-mile path that loops around the park and takes you near Spencer Creek at one point. {It also connects with the three-mile Ruby Lynch Riverwalk trail, making it easy to extend your walk as long as you like.|The trail connects to the Ruby Lynch Riverwalk Trail, a three-mile hike that allows you to take as much time as you want.
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