Civil War Tour Nashville: Battle of Franklin & Historic Homes

Walk through the houses where the Battle of Franklin left bullet holes and bloodstains still visible today.

This seven-hour guided Civil War tour departs Nashville for Franklin, Tennessee, where you visit three historic homes (Carter House, Lotz House and Carnton Plantation) that bear witness to the Battle of Franklin fought on November 30, 1864. Your guide leads you through the sites where Union and Confederate armies fought, explaining the battle's role as one of the war's deadliest engagements, and you'll see the cannon ball holes, bullet marks and bloodstains that remain on the walls and floors. The tour includes round-trip transportation by air-conditioned shuttle, admission to all three homes, and free time to explore downtown Franklin on your own. Lunch is at your own expense.

Step-by-step itinerary

Civil War sites tour in Franklin

• Arrive at Riverfront Train Station
• Visit Carter House with bullet holes
• Tour Lotz House hospital site
• Free time in Franklin town
• Tour Carnton Plantation and cemetery
• Return to Nashville hotel

The experience

What happened on November 30, 1864, in Franklin changed the course of the Civil War and left scars on the town that remain visible more than 150 years later. This tour picks you up from Riverfront Train Station in Nashville and takes you directly to the battlefield, where your guide walks you through the positions Union and Confederate forces held and explains how the fighting unfolded across those five bloodiest hours. You'll stand at the Carter House, which sat at the center of the Union line, and see hundreds of bullet holes still pocking the walls and outbuildings: a physical record of the intensity of the combat.

After the Carter House, you have free time in downtown Franklin to eat, shop and see other historic sites at your own pace before heading to Carnton Plantation. The plantation was ordered into service as a Confederate field hospital during the battle and afterward became a memorial to the soldiers who died there. It now holds the largest private Confederate cemetery in the United States. Your guide takes you through the house and grounds, explaining its role both during the fighting and in the years after, when it became a place of remembrance for the fallen.

The final stop is Lotz House, which was converted into a hospital after the battle and still bears the marks of that day: cannon ball holes in the walls and bloodstains on the floors. Standing inside these homes, you can grasp the scale of what happened (more than 9,500 casualties in a single afternoon), and understand how the residents of Franklin emerged the next morning to find their town transformed into a place of mass death and injury. The air-conditioned shuttle returns you to your Nashville hotel at the end of the day.

What’s included

• Round-trip transportation from Nashville aboard an air-conditioned shuttle.
• admission to Carter House, Lotz House and Carnton Plantation.
• a seven-hour guided tour led by a knowledgeable guide in English who explains the battle's history and the role each site played.
• and free time in downtown Franklin to eat, shop and explore on your own.

Information

Lasts 7h, runs Monday to Friday at 09:00, from US$ 101.90 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 09:00

GroupUp to 24 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Gray Line Tennessee

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling with a group or prefer not to drive yourself to Franklin. The guide handles the narrative and the shuttle handles the logistics, so you focus on the sites and the stories. The seven-hour format fits a full day trip from Nashville without requiring you to arrange your own transportation or plan the stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happened at the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864?

The Battle of Franklin was fought between Union and Confederate armies on November 30, 1864, and is known as one of the five bloodiest hours of the Civil War. More than 9,500 casualties fell that day, making it one of the deadliest engagements of the conflict. Your guide explains how the armies positioned themselves and how the fighting unfolded across the town's key sites.

Can I see the bullet holes and bloodstains the description mentions?

Yes. The Carter House still shows hundreds of bullet holes in its walls and outer buildings from the battle. The Lotz House, which became a hospital after the fighting, displays cannon ball holes and bloodstains on its floors and walls that remain visible today.

How long is the tour and what's included in the price?

The tour runs seven hours and includes round-trip transportation from Nashville by air-conditioned shuttle, admission to Carter House, Lotz House and Carnton Plantation, and a guided narrative about the battle and its aftermath. Lunch is on your own in downtown Franklin, where you'll have free time to eat and explore.

Where do I meet the tour in Nashville?

You arrive at Riverfront Train Station, located at 108 1st Avenue South, and should be there 15 minutes before the departure time. The shuttle picks you up from there and returns you to your Nashville hotel at the end of the day.

What is Carnton Plantation and why is it part of this tour?

Carnton Plantation was ordered to serve as a Confederate field hospital during the Battle of Franklin and afterward became a memorial to the soldiers who died there. It now houses the largest private Confederate cemetery in the United States. The tour includes a guided visit to the plantation and cemetery so you can understand its role both during the battle and in the years of remembrance that followed.