Historic Sites, Museums, and Other Attractions

Belle Meade Plantation. With 5,400 acres, Belle Meade was the largest horse breeding farm at its sale in 1904. The 1820s house was altered in 1853 with an addition and Greek revival facade. 5025 Harding Road. Open M-Sa 9-5, Su 1-5, admission fee. Historic marker

Belmont Mansion. This opulent 1850 Italianate house was a summer home for Joseph and Adelicia Acklen. Mrs. Acklen was reputed to be the wealthiest American woman of her time. 1900 Belmont Blvd. Sept.-May: Open T-Sa 10-4, June-Aug: M-Sa 10-4, Su 2-5, admission fee. Historic marker.

Bowen-Campbell House. Located in Moss-Wright Park at the Mansker"s Station Living History Museum, this 1780s brick home is one of the oldest in Tennessee. Open T-Sa 9-4:15, admission fee. Historic marker.

Carl Van Vechten Gallery, Fisk University. Originally functioning as a gymnasium, the first on an African-American university campus, this building was completed in 1888. It was renovated to house the art collection given by Georgia O"Keefe. 18th Avenue North and Jackson Street. Open T-F 10-5, Sa-Su 1-4, admission by donation. Historic marker.

Carnton Plantation. The center of a vast farm in Williamson County, the plantation house was built in 1820. It served as a Confederate hospital during the Battle of Franklin and now has a Confederate Cemetery on its grounds. 1345 Carnton Lane, Franklin. Open Nov-Mar: M-Sa 9-4, Su 1-4; Apr-Oct: M-Sa 9-5, Su 1-5, admission fee.

Carter House. This 1830s farm house was the epicenter of the Battle of Franklin. The museum houses a fine collection of Tennessee crafts. 1140 Columbia Hwy., Franklin. Open Oct-Apr: M-Sa 9-4, Su 1-4; May-Sept: M-Sa 9-5, Su 1-5, admission fee.

Cheekwood/Tennessee Botanical Gardens & Fine Arts Gallery. This Georgian mansion, built in 1929 for Leslie Cheek, was given to the state in 1959. Today it is a non-profit organization housing a collection of 19th- and 20th-century works. 1200 Forest Park Drive. Open Oct 15-May: M-Sa 9-5, Su 11-5; June-Oct 14: M-Th 9-8, F-Sa 9-5, Su 11-5; admission fee.

Clover Bottom Mansion. This Italianate house was built in 1858 by James Hoggatt. It currently houses the Tennessee Historical Commission. 2941 Lebanon Road. Open M-F 8-4:30, no tours, no admission fee. Historic marker.

Country Music Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame opened in 1967. It is operated by the Country Music Foundation, which also operates RCA"s historic studio B, which can be toured by museum visitors at no extra charge. 4 Music Square East. Open Nov-Apr: M-Su 9-5; May-Sept: F-Sa 8-6, admission fee.

Cumberland Science Museum. This museum opened in 1973 and contains exhibits on cultural history, the natural world, the universe, and health. It also has a planetarium. 800 Fort Negley Blvd. Open School Year: T-Sa 9:30-5, Summer: M-Sa 9:30-5, Su 12:30-5:30, admission fee.

Fort Nashboro. 170 First Avenue North. Open 9-5, admission is free. Historic marker.

Grassmere Wildlife Park. Grassmere Mansion was originally an 1815 Federal style building which was embellished with Italianate details in the 1870s. Located in a pristine woodland, it remained in the hands of the original family until 1986. 5700 Nolensville Road.

Hatch Showprint. This "working" museum features an extensive collection of wood printing blocks and presses. 316 Broadway, Open M-Sa 9-5:30, no admission fee.

The Hermitage. The home of President Andrew Jackson, this house has been restored to the period of his retirement (1837-45). The site also contains the original log Hermitage, Jackson"s tomb, and the mansion garden. 4580 Rachel"s Lane. Open M-Su 9-5, admission fee. Historic marker.

 

Mansker's Station. Kaspar Mansker established this station of the Cumberland Settlements in 1780. Moss-Wright Park, Goodlettsville. Open T-Sa 9-4:45, admission fee.

Museum of Beverage Containers & Advertising. 1055 Ridgecrest Drive, Millersville. Open M-Sa 9-5, Su 1-5, admission fee.

Music Valley Car Museum. 2611 McGavock Pike. Open Winter: M-Th 9-8, F-Su 8:30-8, Summer: 8-10, admission fee.

Nashville Toy Museum. 2613-B McGavock Pike. Open 9-5 except holidays, admission fee.

Oscar Farris Agricultural Museum. This museum features a collection of 19th century farm and home implements housed in a 24,500 square foot horse barn. Also in the museum is the Tennessee Agricultural Hall of Fame. Ellington Agricultural Center, Hogan Road. Open M-F 9-4, admission is free.

The Parthenon. A full-scale representation of the Athenian Parthenon was built for the 1897 Centennial Exposition. After falling into decay, it was rebuilt in reinforced concrete between 1920 and 1931. Inside is a 42-foot high statue of Athena. Centennial Park. Open T-Sa 9-4:30, Su 12:30-4:30 (1 Apr - 30 Sept. only) admission fee. Historic marker.

Rock Castle. Sitting on 18 acres of a formerly 3,140 acre plantation, Rock Castle was built in the late 1780s by Daniel Smith. It is a two-story stone structure of seven rooms featuring handsome interior millwork. Indian Lake Road, Hendersonville. Open Feb-Dec: W-Sa 10-5, Su 1-5, admission fee.

Sam Davis Home. This two story wood frame house, built in 1810, is the boyhood home of Sam Davis, who was hung as a Confederate spy during the Civil War. The site is typical of a Southern middle-class family farm of the period. Sam Davis Hwy., Smyrna. Open Nov-Feb: 10-5; Mar-Oct: 9-5, admission fee.

Scarritt-Bennett Center. Formerly Scarritt-Bennett College, a Methodist school,this handsome 1920s Collegiate Gothic campus now functions as a conference center. Also located in the Lasker Library is the Hartzler-Towener Multi-Cultural Museum. 1008 19th Avenue South. Campus tours by appointment only (340-7500), museum open to the public, no admission fee.

Tennessee State Museum. Starting from prehistoric Native American and continuing up to the New Deal, the museum has exhibits on all periods of Tennessee History. There is also Military Branch located in the War Memorial Building. 505 Deadrick Street. Open T-Sa 10-5, Su 1-5; Military Branch: T-Sa 10-4, Su 1-4), admission is free.

Travellers Rest. Judge John Overton built his four-room frame house in 1799 on the burial mound of a Native American settlement. By the time of his death in 1833, the house had been expanded into a 12-room plantation house. 636 Farrell Pkwy. Open T-Sa 10-4:30, Su 1-4:30, admission fee. Historic marker.

Tulip Grove. Tulip Grove is the 1836 home of Andrew Jackson Donelson, nephew of President Andrew Jackson. It is an elegant Greek Revival structure that is part of The Hermitage, along with the Old Hermitage Presbyterian Church. Historic marker. See The Hermitage for admission information.

Two Rivers Mansion. David McGavock built this Italianate house in 1859. It was the jewel of a large plantation and remained in the family until 1956. 3130 McGavock Pike. The site is not open to the public on a regular basis, available for function rental. Historic marker.

Parks and Cemeteries:

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Developed in honor of Tennessee"s 200th anniversary of statehood, the site was chosen to preserve the view of the State Capitol. Located between Sixth and Seventh Avenues North from James Robertson Pkwy. To Jefferson St. Guided tours by appointment, admission is free.

Centennial Park. The site of the Tennessee Centennial Expo-sition, this park contains a full-size representation of the Parthenon (now a museum). West End and 25th Ave. N. Park open 6am-11 pm.

City Cemetery. Founded in 1822, this is the oldest Nashville cemetery open for interment and includes such notable Nashvillians as Gen. James Robertson and Capt. William Driver (who nicknamed the US flag "Old Glory"). 1001 4th Ave. South. Open dawn to dusk.

The Jewish Cemeteries. Nashville"s Jewish community began in 1851 with a small group of European immigrants. Their first official act was the purchase of land for a cemetery. Three synagogues (Sherith Israel, The Temple, and West End Synagogue) now have adjoining cemeteries. 2001 15th Ave. N. Open 8am-5pm weekdays.

Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Established in 1855, this cemetery hosts a wealth of Victorian tombs. In addition, there are the Con-federate Memorial, a pyramid designed for E.C. Lewis and a Gothic vault for Adelicia Acklen. 1101 Lebanon Rd. Open dawn to dusk.

Narrows of the Harpeth State Park. The site of an extra-ordinary 100-yard hand-cut rock tunnel (part of the Montgomery Bell ironworks) the park includes Newsom"s Mill and the Mound Bottom sites. Newsom Station Rd. near Kingston Springs. Admission is free.

Sevier Park/Sunnyside Mansion. Sevier Park is the site of several early log structures, as well as the ca1850 Sunnyside Mansion. Clayton Ave. and Leland Lane. Open by appointment. 

Spring Hill Cemetery. Established c1785, this cemetery is the oldest in Nashville. Buried here is Rev. Thomas Craighead, the founder of Davidson Academy. 5110 Gallatin Road. Open 8-dark.

Warner Parks. With 2,664 acres, this complex is one of the largest municipal parks in the U.S. The stone gates at the Belle Meade Blvd. entrance and stone walls were constructed by the WPA. On site are the Nature Center and the C.E. Farrell Natural History Museum and Gardens. Open 6:30 am - 11 pm. Historic marker.