3. Ramble along Main Street in Franklin’s Historic Downtown
Apart from visiting Civil War mansions and museums, ramble down Main Street, the origins of which date back to 1799. Catch the artistic flair and chic vibe, from bakeries to boutiques, antique shops to hair salons. Browse bookstores, admire art in galleries, ogle Victorian architecture, splurge on vintage fashion, catch a show at the Franklin Theatre, and savor a pint of artisanal espresso gelato. If the timing is right, participate in a Franklin festival.
The magic of Franklin’s Main Street will reveal itself during your stroll past old buildings that have been renovated and repurposed. Let the magic come to you while sitting on a bench and watching the world walk by. You might see cool hipsters in cowboy boots, possibly famous. It might seem like an incongruous pairing, yet yesteryear seamlessly merges with modern times on Main Street.
4. Imagine Hiding in the Basement of Carter House
At Carter House, about a mile from the Carnton mansion, a once-in-a-lifetime event unfolded on November 30, 1864. While bullets and cannonballs pummeled their home, the Carter family hid in the cellar waiting for the gunfire to stop.
If it’s hard to imagine what this was like for Fountain Branch Carter, the businessman who owned the home; his wife; and their 12 children, all is revealed during a tour of the Carter House State Historic Site. The bullet holes are still here, along with open spaces pierced by cannonballs. The battle was short, but the casualties were significant, numbering 10,000 dead and wounded. One of the Carter boys was a soldier who succumbed to his injuries in the house where he grew up.
