History

The Fascinating Civil War History of Homestead Manor

The American Civil War is at the center of Franklin’s story. In fact, the November 30, 1864, Battle of Franklin broke the back of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, and within six months, the war was over. But the breadth of middle Tennessee’s role in the war goes far beyond that one fateful battle, and the human…
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7 Reasons Your Next Franklin Visit Must Include Thompson’s Station

Just a quick drive from Franklin, you’ll find Thompson’s Station, a small town steeped in history and surrounded by Williamson County’s gorgeous pastoral countryside. Settled in the 1780s, the town was the site of the Civil War’s dramatic Battle of Thompson’s Station. Later, farmers drove their cattle, sheep, and pigs to the town’s bustling train depot…
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7 Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Franklin

Franklin is one of the few places where a rainy day doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Ducking in and out of the cozy shops and restaurants lining Main Street as steady rain patters outside feels a lot like appearing in the opening scene of a Hallmark movie – Grab a cute umbrella, a steaming cup of…
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Guide to Franklin, TN with Kids: Outdoor Fun, History & Sweet Treats

One of the most important things I’ve learned while traveling with kids is that their most treasured vacation memories are often completely unexpected. They’ll forget everything about the famous museum we visit but rhapsodize months later about the fresh-baked cookies in the cafe we stopped at afterward. They’ll pose with bored and irritated faces at…
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The Ultimate Guide to a Superb Spring Break in Franklin, Tennessee

It’s hard to imagine any place more gorgeous than Franklin in the springtime. Flowers bloom everywhere you look and the landscape transforms almost overnight from dull brown to vibrant shades of green. Whether you live nearby or you’re bringing the family to Middle Tennessee for Spring Break, you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy our glorious…
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The Factory: Celebrating a Century of History & Community in Franklin, Tennessee

When you first walk into The Factory at Franklin, you can feel the history of the building (and the buzz). For 100 years, this space has been transformed from a stove […]
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Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee: The Revival of a Small-Town Gem

Nestled along the winding Natchez Trace Parkway, Leiper’s Fork feels like a place lost in time—but in the best way possible. Victorian cottage-style storefronts lean into each other, guitars hum from open porches, and strangers chat with you as if they’ve known you forever. Today, this tiny village outside Franklin, Tennessee, is one of the…
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Perfect Pairings for Making the Most of Fall in Franklin

Around here, we live for fall all year long. Something about the misty, cool mornings, golden hour through amber-tinged leaves, hardwood smoke and the sound of high school marching bands […]
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How Williamson County’s Farms Draw in Visitors and Keep History Alive

On June 1, 2019, a serene patch of grass on Franklin’s Gentry’s Farm became the setting for a love story that was more than a century in the making. Mary Morgan Gentry and Charles Hatcher said “I do” beneath a bright blue Tennessee sky, joining together two of Williamson County’s oldest and most notable farming…
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10 Local Treasures You’ll Find Only in Franklin (and the Stories Behind Them)

Franklin’s identity is rooted in its history, and at the heart of it is the people. Ask anyone in downtown Franklin who you should meet while you’re in town, and they’ll tell you about merchants and restaurateurs who have helped establish Franklin as the national destination it has become. This list is a great place…
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Franklin’s New Historic Home Tour Reveals Harlinsdale Park’s Fascinating History

If you’ve spent any time in Franklin, you’ve probably taken a stroll through the beautiful fields of the Park at Harlinsdale Farm, admired its white fences and historic barns, and […]
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How to Make the Most of a Day Trip to Leiper’s Fork

One of Nashville’s best-kept secrets has always been the charming little town of Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, although at this point it might not be much of a secret. Now that the weather is warming up, I decided to drive down again and map out the perfect summer’s day here, and let me tell you, I was…
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