Preserving the Past
There are several organizations concerned with preserving the history of Franklin and Williamson County. Below are a few of the more prominent groups.
Historic Carnton Plantation (pictured above)
Carnton was established in 1826 by Randal McGavock, a former mayor of Nashville and the father of John. The name Carnton derives from the Gaelic word cairn which means a pile of stones raised to mark a memorable event or to honor a fallen hero.
The plantation was the home to several generations of the McGavock family and the African-American families who lived as slaves on the property.
Visit the Carnton website and read more…
The Carter House
The Carter House, built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter, witnessed one of the bloodiest battles during the Civil War on Nov. 30, 1864.
This Registered Historic Landmark is now open to the public and serves as a memorial to the Carter Family as well as the countless heroes in the Battle of Franklin. The modest brick home was the Federal Command Post while the family took refuge in the basement. See the evidence of over 1,000 bullet holes remaining on site, including the most battle-damaged building from the Civil War.
Visit the Carter House website and read more…
Franklin’s Charge
Franklin’s Charge is a coalition of representatives from all of the existing preservation and conservation organizations in Franklin and Williamson County, Tennessee, and state and national preservation groups who share the vision for a battlefield park in Franklin.
Visit the Charge’s website and read more…
Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County
The early preservationists in Franklin and Williamson County learned that to make historic preservation meaningful it must be done in the context of the whole community with attention to preserving the historic heritage of all its citizens.
The Heritage Foundation took root as an organization and grew steadily from 207 members in 1972 to 897 families and businesses in 2002.
Visit the Heritage Foundation’s website and read more…
