Everyone In Tennessee Should Visit These 20 Houses For Their Incredible Past
By Meghan Kraft|Published April 06, 2015
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
When it comes to the beauty and romance of a historical mansion, it doesn’t get much better than the Dixieland extravagance in Tennessee. From Civil War battlefields to the front porch steps of the president’s mansion, these gorgeous homes will make your jaw drop and get you to open a history book – maybe.
20) William Blount was the governor of the Southwest Terrirory , and his home is known as the, 'house with many eyes.' Having survived years of wear and tear, the house stands strong and open for tours in downtown Knoxville.
19) If you're looking for an infusion of history, then you need to visit the Historic Travellers Rest Plantation and Museum. The previous home of Judge John Overton, you can take a tour and learn all about its role in the Civil War. Built in 1799, this is also the oldest mansion open to the public in Nashville.
18) Columbia, Tennessee is where you'll find the ancestral home of James K. Polk. Interesting fact? It's the only home of his that has survived other than the White House.
17) The Battle of Franklin took place in Tennessee, with the Lotz House presiding over the whole of it. Take a tour to learn about the heartrending horrors this house witnessed, and the goosebump raising stories of wartime redemption.
16) If you ever find yourself in Elizabethton, you may want to pop into the John Carter Mansion for a tour. Built between 1775 and 1780, the house serves as a testament to Tennessee as the oldest frame house in the state. The interior design is so intricate and impressive, you'll simply have to take it in for yourself.
14) The Sam Davis home is a museum and special event venue in Smyrna, where you can tour the cotton farm grounds and learn about the Civil War soldier's home. Built in 1810, 'historic' hardly begins to describe it.
13) 'Old Hickory' Andrew Jackson served as President of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Although he hailed from South Carolina, Jackson made Nashville his home and presided at The Hermitage. You can tour the mansion and grounds on your own or choose the audio tour. Interesting fact? They film the hit television show, "Nashville" here from time to time.
12) The Tipton-Haynes House is made up of 45 acres, a cemetery, a nature trail, more than ten historic buildings and a wonderful tour to tell you about it all. Colonel John Tipton, the namesake and original owner of the property, helped with the development of Tennessee.
11) Carnton Plantation was used as a hospital following the Battle of Franklin, and remains one of the most impressive mansions in the Nashville area. The property even has a Confederate graveyard on the property that dates back to the great battle.
10) Eugene Magevney, the namesake and original owner of the Magevney House, was an Irish-Catholic man who immigrated to Memphis and served as a civic leader and teacher. The house is the location of the first Catholic mass held in Memphis as well as where the first Catholic wedding and baptism was officiated.
9) The Grassmere Zoo in Nashville has the Croft House sitting square in the center of it, one with the distinguished title as the second oldest home in Davidson County.
8) The historic Cragfont house was built in 1798 by James and George Winchester, finally completed in 1802. The beautiful home stands as a testament to the early days of Tennessee.
6) If you're ever anywhere near Hendersonville, TN you may want to take a peek at Rock Castle. This gorgeous settlement was began construction in 1784 and was completed in 1791. Owned by Daniel Smith, a Revolutionary War hero, the home has since become a museum and popular spot for weddings.
5) Goodlettsville boasts the Bowen-Campbell House, also known simply as the Bowen Plantation. The Federal style home was placed on the National Record of Historic Places in the late seventies and was restored for tours in the years following.
4) Belmont University is stuck straight in the heart of Nashville and it's where you will find the stunning Belmont mansion. Designed and modeled after an Italian villa, the mansion was originally owned by Adelicia Acklen Hayes.
3) You may know the Belle Meade plantation from its renowned spot as a premier wedding venue, but it currently functions as a museum and historical hotspot outside of Nashville. With a winery on the property and daily tours, this would make the perfect day trip.
2) Alex Haley may have been born in Ithaca, NY, but his childhood home is right here in Hennings, TN. The writer of, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family" is buried on the grounds.
1) Oaklawn is the name of Absalom Thompson's home in Maury County. As one of the top places for antebellum homes in Tennessee, Oaklawn is a stunningly original plantation home that will push you straight back into the Civil War era.
