mansion tours in nashville

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General Admission tickets available at the door.

All other tours are available by reservation.

Welcome to Cheekwood

Experience spectacular gardens and world-class art at our 55-acre historic estate. With something to inspire and excite everyone, there’s no other place like Cheekwood.

Featured Events

TROLLS: Save the Humans

Thursday Night Out

Mother’s Day Summer Annuals Plant Sale

What’s happening.

Cheekwood Debuts: The Masterpiece Art Series

Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist

Cheekwood Gardening School: New Summer Classes!

Summer Teas

Member Orientation

The Member Experience

Become a Cheekwood member and fully experience the unparalleled beauty of Nashville’s landmark country estate. With a membership, you have access to exhibition previews, exclusive member-only events, complimentary general admission, special class discounts, and so much more. Join today and elevate your next visit!

Become a Member

Join Cheekwood today and experience the unparalleled beauty of Nashville’s landmark country estate.

Membership Benefits

Cheekwood membership provides complimentary general admission to gardens and exhibitions, invitations to members-only events, discounts at the Gift Shops and Café 29, and more.

Join a Society

Deepen your investment in Cheekwood through Society level membership. Enjoy additional opportunities to engage with garden and art-related programs and events.

Plan Your Visit

An exciting excursion for kids of all ages, there’s always plenty of family fun at Cheekwood! Take your little ones on a journey to the past in our historic mansion, learn about the science of horticulture in our gardens, or attend one of our special events — no matter their interests, our historic homefront is a fun-filled experience they’ll never forget! View our family-friendly itinerary and find activities your kids will love.

Adults Day Out

The options below will take you through eight distinct gardens, inspiring art galleries and give you a sense of the history of the estate. Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion, cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum.

Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion, cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum. The tour options below will give you a sense of the history and artistic beauty of Cheekwood with a focus on the art exhibitions and collections. It includes a walk along the unique outdoor sculpture trail.

Garden Enthusiasts

With 55 acres there is a lot to explore. Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion, cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum. The options below will take you through each of the distinct botanical gardens on the estate. Be sure to check out the Seasonal Display Guide, Monthly Top Plant Picks and the Arboretum Map.

History Buffs

Welcome to Cheekwood. Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion and 55 acres of cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum. The tour options below will give you ample time to learn about the Cheek family history and opportunities to experience the artistic beauty of Cheekwood.

Weddings & Private Events

Whether you’re planning the wedding of your dreams or another private event, Cheekwood’s spectacular landscape is the perfect backdrop to impress your guests and create just the right ambiance. Learn more about our facility rentals or take a tour of our beautiful venue options today!

Cheekwood Moments

Distinct Gardens

Acres of beauty, sq feet mansion.

Nashville's Best Historical Homes

TripSavvy / Jackson Vance 

No trip to Nashville would be complete without a visit to one of its many historical homes. From log cabins to castles to plantation mansions, you'll learn a lot about how people lived during earlier times. Architecture buffs will be fascinated by different styles such as Greek Revival, Italianate, and Moorish-Gothic. You can even see the home of a U.S. president: The Hermitage, owned by President Andrew Jackson. The following is a list of some of the best historical homes and mansions that Middle Tennessee has to offer, all within an hour's drive of Nashville.

Belle Meade Plantation

TripSavvy / Jackson Vance

110 Leake Ave. Nashville, TN 37205

Belle Meade Plantation, founded in 1807 by John Harding, started with just one log cabin on 250 acres. In 1845, he commissioned the building of the Greek Revival mansion, which was home to five generations. The grounds now cover 5,400 acres and, in addition to the mansion, ​including a horse farm, dairy, mausoleum, gardens, and carriage house. After the tour, enjoy a free wine tasting, get a bite in the restaurant, and visit the gift shop.

Ambrose House

122 S. 12th St. Nashville, TN 37206

The beautiful Ambrose House is a Victorian charmer with crown molding, brick, copper, warm woods, and 12-foot ceilings. Architect Hugh Cathcart Thompson designed the house and is most famous for designing the historic Ryman Auditorium, which opened as a church in 1892 but in 1943 became the home of country music's Grand Ole Opry radio show.

Athenaeum Rectory

808 Athenaeum St. Columbia, TN 38401

Located in Columbia, Athenaeum Rectory was completed in about 1837 and is known for its Moorish-Gothic architecture. It served as the rectory for the family of Rev. Franklin Gillette Smith, headmaster of a girls' school. After the last member of the Smith family to live there died in the 1970s, the home was donated for use as a museum.

Belmont Mansion

1900 Belmont Blvd. Nashville, TN 37212

The Belmont Mansion, built in Italianate style, was completed in 1853 and served as a temporary headquarters for the Union Army during the Civil War, as well as an all-girls college and seminary. With 19,000 square feet and 36 rooms, the house is Tennessee's largest house museum and one of the most elaborate Southern antebellum homes.

Bowen Plantation House

PapaBear/Getty Images

705 Caldwell Drive Goodlettsville, TN 37072

Also known as the Bowen–Campbell House, the Bowen Plantation House, circa 1787, is located in Goodlettsville at Mansker's Station. The two-story, Federal-style house is the oldest brick house in Middle Tennessee and was the frontier home of Capt. William Bowen, an American Revolutionary War veteran.

Buchanan Log House

2910 Elm Hill Pike Nashville, TN 37214

The Buchanan Log House is a two-story house built in 1807 from chestnut logs and has poplar floors and limestone fireplaces. James Buchanan built the home and lived here with his wife and 16 children. Also nearby are the Addison House, a crafts cabin, and the James Buchanan Cemetery. 

Carter House

1140 Columbia Ave. Franklin, TN 37064

Just a mile and a half from Carnton Plantation, the brick Carter House was built in 1830 and was occupied successively by three generations of the Carter Family. In 1864 during the Civil War, a Union Army general took possession of the house to be used as his headquarters during the bloody Battle of Franklin.

3831 Whites Creek Pike Nashville, TN  37207

Cedarwood is a beautiful antebellum farmhouse built in 1835 that now serves as a wedding venue. The 50-acre estate is in the countryside just eight miles north of downtown Nashville .

Cragfont State Historic Site

200  Cragfont Road Castalian Springs, TN 37031

In 1786, Gen. James Winchester, a veteran of the War of 1812, began work on this log cabin. He named it Cragfont because of its location on a high, rocky bluff with a spring at its base. The home wasn't completed until 1802, and once it was, it was considered one of the grandest homes on the Tennessee frontier. Built in the late Georgian style, the house was built from limestone and poplar, walnut, ash, and cherry woods. It even had a second-floor ballroom.

Croft House at Nashville Zoo

3777 Nolensville Pike Nashville, TN 37211

The Croft House, built around 1810 by Col. Michael C. Dunn, is on the Grassmere Historic Farm and Nashville Zoo  property. Originally built in the Federal style, it was converted to Italianate after its renovation following the Civil War. This is when the ornate front and back porches, smokehouse, kitchen, and three-tiered garden were added. This is a working farm with livestock, chicken coop, machine shed, and pastures.

Elm Springs

740 Mooresville Pike Columbia, TN 38401

Elm Springs, located near Columbia, is a two-story, brick house built in 1837 in the Greek Revival style by brothers James and Nathaniel Dick, wealthy cotton merchants from New Orleans. It was later the home of Confederate Lt. Col. Abram M. Looney during the Civil War and was set to be destroyed by fire by Union troops. Fires were started, but Confederate Brig. Gen. Frank C. Armstrong sent troops to put out the flames. The house is currently the headquarters for the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens

2645 Faulkner Springs Road McMinnville, TN 37110

Falcon Rest is a 10,000-square foot Victorian mansion in McMinnville built in 1896 by Gorilla Pants manufacturer Clay Faulkner. The brick house features electricity, central heat, and indoor plumbing, causing PBS to liken it to the impressive Biltmore Estate in North Carolina . The house was used as a hospital from the 1940s until 1968. Today it features a Victorian Tea Room and gift shop. 

Carnton Plantation

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1345 Eastern Flank Circle Franklin, TN 37064 615-794-0903

Carnton Plantation was built in 1826 by Randal McGavock, a former mayor of Nashville, and was one of the area's premier farms. In 1864 during the Civil War's Battle of Franklin, the home became a field hospital where hundreds of wounded soldiers were taken. The land near the family's cemetery became the final resting place for 1,500 Confederate soldiers killed during the battle. It's the country's largest privately owned military cemetery.

Gordon House

205 Old Spencer Mill Road Burns, TN 37029

Gordon House, built in 1818, was one of the first brick homes built within a 30-mile radius of Natchez Trace near Williamsport. The Georgian-style structure was built on Chickasaw land and was the main house on a 1,500-acre plantation featuring a trading post and ferry over Duck River. Its owner, Capt. John Gordon served under Confederate Gen. Andrew Jackson and was known to be a fierce Indian fighter. He was also Nashville's first postmaster.

Hundred Oaks Castle

101-, 199 Hundred Oaks Pl Winchester, TN 37398

Tour reservations are required and limited to groups of 20 or more. Directions to the castle are given when reservations are made.

Hundred Oaks Castle, located in Winchester, is one of only 13 remaining historic castles in the United States and is considered one of the world's most romantic. Built as a plantation farmhouse by railroad tycoon Benjamin Decherd in the 1830s, the castle was once home to  Albert Marks, a governor of Tennessee and a relative to Thomas Jefferson. For more than 50 years, it was a monastery. In 1990, a fire thought to be set by an arsonist ripped through the castle. You can tour 30 of the castle's rooms and two of its towers.

Lotz House Museum

1111 Columbia Ave. Franklin, TN 37064

Lotz House Museum, built in 1858 by German carpenter and piano maker Johann Albert Lotz, lies where the 1864 Battle of Franklin took place during the Civil War. The home was a way for Lotz to showcase his beautiful handiwork to attract potential clients.

The house is now a museum of the material culture of Union and Confederate soldiers who fought in the Civil War. It has the largest and most comprehensive collection of War Between the States and Old West artifacts in the Mid-South.

Oaklands Mansion

900 N. Maney Ave. Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Oaklands Mansion, circa 1818, just north of Murfreesboro, was built by Sallie Murfree, daughter of Col. Hardee Murfree, and her husband Dr. Maney. Originally a two-room, brick house, later additions in both Federal and Italianate styles made this one of the most elegant homes in Middle Tennessee. The land served as a cotton and tobacco plantation. Guests included Confederate President Jefferson Davis and First Lady Sarah Childress Polk, wife of President James Polk.

President James K. Polk House & Museum

ProhibitOnions/Flickr/GNU Free Documentation License

301 W. 7th St. Columbia, TN 38401

The James K. Polk House, a brick Federal-style house, was built in 1816 for James K. Polk's father, Samuel, and is the only surviving home of America's eleventh president. James K. Polk lived here with his parents from after his college graduation in 1818 until his marriage to Sarah Childress in 1824. Polk's possessions at the house include furniture, paintings, clothing, and White House china. Before becoming president, Polk was a U.S. Congressman, Speaker of the House, and governor of Tennessee.

Rattle and Snap Plantation

National Park Service photographer/Public Domain

Andrew Jackson Highway (TN 43) Mount Pleasant, TN 38474

Rattle and Snap Plantation, circa 1845, is one of the country's best examples of residential Greek Revival architecture. The property was named Rattle and Snap after William Polk won the land from the North Carolina governor in a game called rattle and snap. The home features beautiful craftsmanship featuring limestone bricks, 10 portico columns, four porches, and 10 Corinthian columns. Talented slave artisans built the house.

Cheekwood Estate

1200 Forrest Park Drive Nashville, TN 37205

Cheekwood is a limestone mansion completed in 1932 by the Cheek Family. The family's fortune came from investments in the Maxwell House coffee brand. The house is a great example of an American Country Place Era Estate. Its 55 acres are now home to a botanical garden and art museum. Popular times to visit are during the spring when more than 100,000 tulips are in bloom and at Christmas when many holiday events are scheduled.

Rippavilla Plantation

5700 Main St. Spring Hill, TN 37174

The two-story brick mansion at Rippavilla Plantation was completed in 1855 by Nathaniel F. Cheairs IV. Every wall in the house is three bricks thick. In 1920, electricity and plumbing were installed and the kitchen and smokehouse were attached to the home.

During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate generals used the mansion as their headquarters, and this is where Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood drew up his plan for the bloody Battle of Franklin in 1864. In 1985, the Saturn car company leased the property. The city of Spring Hill now owns Rippavilla.

Riverwood Mansion

1833 Welcome Lane Nashville, TN 37216

Riverwood Mansion was built by Irish immigrant Alexander Porter, who owned a lot of commercial property in the area. Built in the late 1790s and at 9,200 square feet, this Greek Revival-style house is one of Nashville's oldest and largest. The home has hosted seven U.S. presidents. Today it's a wedding venue.

Rock Castle

139 Rock Castle Lane Hendersonville, TN 37075

Rock Castle is a limestone Federal-style structure on 18 acres next to Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tenn. It was built by Revolutionary War Gen. Daniel Smith in the late 1700s. Smith, a surveyor from Virginia, was a two-time senator and also named the state of Tennessee.

810 S. Water Ave. Gallatin, TN 37066

Rose Mont was established as a 500-acre thoroughbred horse and longhorn cattle farm. Built between 1836 and 1842 by Josephus Conn Guild, the mansion features a blend of Creole and Palladian design. The Creole influence can be seen in its large windows, open-air halls, separate wings, extended roof, and wide porches. The main facade is Italian Palladian design. Its name comes from the property's rose gardens. Today Rose Mont consists of only six remaining acres, is surrounded by a residential neighborhood, and is owned by the city of Gallatin.

Sam Davis Home

1399 Sam Davis Road Smyrna, TN 37167

The Sam Davis Home was built between 1810 and 1820 by the father of Confederate Civil War hero Sam Davis. The two-story house lies on a cotton plantation and is characteristic of a Southern, upper-middle-class family. The home has nine rooms, its original kitchen, a smokehouse, office, and privy. Four slave cabins were relocated to the property to teach about life as a slave on Southern plantations. Located in Smyrna, the house is on 168 acres along the banks of Stewarts Creek.

Smith-Trahern Mansion

101 McClure St. Clarksville, TN 37040

Smith-Trahern Mansion is located north of Nashville in Clarksville where it has overlooked the Cumberland River since 1859. Built by Christopher Smith, a wealthy tobacconist, the house is both a Greek Revival and Italianate design. Highlights include grand hallways, a curved staircase, and a widow's walk on the roof. Slave quarters are the only remaining outbuildings. During World War II, the house served as temporary housing for soldiers. The mansion is rumored to be haunted by one its original owners, Mrs. Smith.

Spring Haven Mansion

1 Spring Haven Court Hendersonville, TN 37075

Spring Haven Mansion is a circa 1825 plantation home that sits on a beautiful three-acre property in Sumner County. It includes a log cabin, smokehouse, springhouse, screened-in porch, patio, and barn. It was built at about the same time as President Andrew Jackson's The Hermitage, and many items in both houses are similar.

Travellers Rest Plantation & Museum

636 Farrell Parkway Nashville, TN 37220

Travellers Rest Plantation, circa 1799, was the former home of Judge John Overton and his family for more than 140 years. The mansion served as the headquarters for Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood just prior to the Battle of Nashville during the Civil War. Today the museum includes exhibits covering the history of the Cumberland Basin area, Native American settlements, the Civil War, and slavery.

Two Rivers Mansion

3130 McGavock Pike Nashville, TN 37214

The stately Italianate Two Rivers Mansion built in 1859 by David McGavock has been restored to reflect the splendor of the 1870s. The 14-acre property also includes a small Federal-style brick home built in 1802. At one time, it was home to livestock, a dairy operation, fox hunting, and a horse-breeding facility. Many of the estate's 50 outbuildings were destroyed by a tornado in 1933. Now owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, you'll also find two schools, a golf course, water park, skate park, and picnic areas here.

The Hermitage

4580 Rachel’s Lane Hermitage, TN 37076

The Hermitage mansion was the home of President Andrew Jackson, who lived here from 1804 until his death in 1845. In 1889, it opened as a museum and has become one of the most visited presidential museums with more than 15 million visitors.

This National Historic Landmark on 1,120 acres was once a cotton plantation that relied entirely on the labor of African slaves. At the time of Jackson's death, he had owned 150 slaves. He is buried on the grounds alongside his wife, Rachel, who died in 1828.

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The Belmont Mansion & More Nashville Mansions to Explore

Nashville, Tennessee, boasts a wealth of historical treasures, among them the captivating mansion tours that offer a glimpse into the city’s rich past. One such gem is the esteemed Belmont Mansion, a testament to the luxury and complexity of the antebellum South. This plantation home was the largest Nashville mansion built before the Civil War. 

On a tour of the Belmont Mansion or any of these impressive homes and properties in the area, you’ll better understand the time. For many visitors, touring historic mansions like Belmont offers not only an opportunity to marvel at the architectural splendor of days gone by but also a chance to engage with the nuanced narratives of the past. 

For those who have an affinity for history and architecture, you’ll want to include an overnight getaway to the Belle Air Mansion . A historical and civic landmark about five and a half miles from downtown Nashville, Belle Air was constructed in 1832 and is one of the few remaining Greek Revival antebellum mansions in Nashville. Now, as an elegant bed and breakfast with 16 finely appointed bedrooms , we offer the perfect retreat for couples seeking a blend of luxury, comfort, romance, and a connection to the past. Book your lodging at our Nashville mansion today! 

Belmont Mansion & More Historical Tours in Nashville

Heading out on a historical tour of the impressive Nashville mansions and plantations, including the Belmont Mansion, is such a lovely addition to any getaway in Tennessee. Many of these stately homes are near the downtown area, so you can easily visit and see the best sights in Music City. 

Here’s a list of Nashville mansions open for tours: 

• Belmont Mansion : Constructed between 18 50 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. It’s now located in the heart of the Belmont College campus and remains a learning experience about the free and enslaved people who had a part in history here. 
• Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery : There’s a long list of plantation tours available at the Belle Meade, many including wine tastings, bourbon, and food! This stunning acreage is a picturesque stroll through the woods, and the house remains a museum to a previous time. Head to this “sanctuary of Southern hospitality” during your visit to Nashville! 
• Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage : History buffs won’t want to miss this iconic site. You’ll want to book your tickets in advance for the mansion tour, and then once on site, you’ll find self-guided tours of the gardens and home, a film, and special events. 
• Cheekwood Estates : This is one of the most popular activities in Nashville; these stunning gardens and opulent 55-acre estate are well worth your time. Tour the historic mansion, which is still home to much of the original art, furniture, and decor. 
• Two Rivers Mansion : Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Nashville mansion was constructed in 1859 in the traditional antebellum style. Head out on one of the guided tours to get a glimpse of a different time and era. 

As a guest at the Belle Air Mansion, be sure to take a guided tour with our Innkeeper, who will give you the inside scoop on the history and restoration process. 

The Best Place to Stay in Nashville, TN

Why just tour one of these historic Nashville mansions when you can make one your home away from home? The Belle Air Mansion is one of the most impressive homes near downtown Nashville. With extensive remodeling and restorations, it’s also one of the highest-rated bed and breakfasts in Nashville. When you choose to stay here, you’ll be experiencing this stunning architecture, Southern hospitality, and luxury firsthand.  

Our beautifully appointed mansion guest rooms and additional lodging options in the Retreat Guest House offer the perfect spaces for couples and friends to relax and spend quality time together when they’re not out and about. Explore the nearby Belmont Mansion, popular Nashville attractions, and more! Our lodging property is also an ideal destination for corporate retreats, reunions, and events, including weddings and elopements. 

For those who love to add adventures to their vacations, we have the perfect menu of locally focused experiences for you to add to your getaway! From hat-making classes and on-site picnics to special tours and elegant multi-coursed private dinners, we do all the work, and you just have to sign up. Head to our experience page for pricing and options—we can’t wait to host you in Nashville; book your lodging today! 

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Home » North America » USA » Tennessee » Belmont Mansion in Nashville: A Tour of the Opulent Antebellum Home

Belmont Mansion in Nashville: A Tour of the Opulent Antebellum Home

By Author Laura Longwell

Posted on Last updated: January 12, 2021

Adelicia Acklen had more money than most people could ever dream, especially at a time when women were not generally allowed to have money at all. The widow of one of the wealthiest slave traders in the US, she built Belmont Mansion—a 36-room, 20,000-square-foot retreat—as a summer home. Now in the middle of Nashville, the mansion is one of the most popular attractions in the city .

A Belmont Mansion tour is a look at how the wealthiest of the wealthy lived in Tennessee at the time around the Civil War. With lavish decorations and the finest finishes, it was a work of art, and the surrounding estate became like a resort for the Acklens’ neighbors.

The Masterpiece of Belmont Mansion and Estate

Touring the mansion, seeing the grounds, visiting information.

Adelicia Acklen began building Belmont Mansion (originally known as Belle Monte) in 1849, just three years after the death of her first husband. A partner in the largest slave trading firm in the US and renowned for his cruelty, Isaac Franklin owned six plantations and 750 enslaved people when he died. His passing left Adelicia a millionaire, though the origin of her income was about as unsavory as it gets.

With her second husband, Joseph Acklen, Adelicia built Belmont Mansion on their 180-acre summer estate. When the home was completed in 1853, it was one of the most remarkable in Nashville. It was still 8 years before the Civil War, and money was no object for the wealthy couple.

Over the next few years, the estate became even grander. There was a greenhouse and a conservatory. An art gallery and a bowling alley were built for culture and recreation, and the bath house helped with Joseph’s arthritis.

Beyond the main buildings, the grounds were extravagant, too. There were massive gardens, fountains, a lake, and a water tower that still stands on the property today.

The most unusual thing at the antebellum estate was unquestionably the zoo. With an aviary, a bear house, alligators, monkeys, and a deer park, the Acklens amassed their own menagerie. There was no public zoo in Nashville at the time, and the Acklens loved the animals so much that they opened their zoo for local visitors to enjoy.  

It was a grand life, indeed.

Taking a tour of Belmont Mansion offers a look into the life of high society. It is richly colored carpets, beautifully carved wood, and paintings that cost more than most people earned in a year. It is the largest house museum in Tennessee, so there is a lot to see.

We began our tour on the first floor in the Grand Salon where the sweeping staircase, ornate columns, and marbleized wood floor were designed to make an impression on everyone who visited the Acklens here. The intricate crown molding and arched windows reinforced the idea that this was a place where the details were taken seriously.

In the parlor, library, and other spaces downstairs, we saw flowery wallpaper, carved fireplaces, and original Venetian glass—one of the most expensive decorations of the time. Our tour guide shared stories of Adelicia’s friendships with President James K. Polk and his wife and even with Napoleon III. We learned about her collection of marble statues purchased on her Grand Tour of Europe after the Civil War, a time when few people had that much money available.

Upstairs, the bedrooms were not quite as opulent as the entertaining spaces downstairs. Still, we saw plenty of gorgeous headboards, expensive vases, and linens fit for royalty. The wallpaper in Adelicia’s large bedroom was the same as what covered the walls in The Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson’s estate nearby .

But among so many luxurious things, there are also stories of real life. From the beautiful painting of Adelicia’s three daughters who did not survive to adulthood to Joseph’s succumbing to malaria during the Civil War, the stories of the Franklins and Acklens are certainly not all rosy.

On this tour surrounded by all the lavish items, it’s easy to forget where the money to purchase these gorgeous things came from.

Adelicia was a strong woman and a shrewd negotiator to thrive as she did through the challenges life brought her. (She once made a cunning deal with both Union and Confederate generals to reclaim nearly $1 million in hay bales that soldiers wanted to burn.) But she was also an owner of people and plantations. That part of the story is only a small portion of the tour.

There are several reasons that the narrative of the enslaved workers at Belmont Mansion isn’t more prominent. Unlike Belle Meade plantation a few miles away or other plantations we’ve been to in New Orleans , Belmont was not an actual plantation. The land and most of the enslaved people from whom Adalecia made her money were not here—her holdings were primarily in Louisiana and Texas as well as elsewhere in Tennessee.

The tour doesn’t hide the reality of slavery or its importance in the lives of the Acklens, but it can’t show it to visitors. The physical space where the 32 enslaved workers spent most of their time at the mansion was changed or demolished within a few decades of the end of the Civil War.

The basement where the enslaved people primarily worked was remodeled beginning in 1889, erasing historical details there. By the next year, the quarters of the enslaved were removed, which made interpretation of their living situation impossible. Without census records or other detailed accounts, the stories of the people who made Belmont run are lost to time.

With a few exceptions, the outbuildings of Belmont Mansion and its grounds are gone or have been substantially changed over the years.

In December 1864, Union troops took up residence at the Belmont for two weeks. Though the house and its contents weren’t harmed, the same can’t be said for the grounds. Multiple buildings, walls, and the manicured gardens were left in tatters or destroyed. The fence was used for firewood, and other materials on the grounds were taken for the soldiers’ use.

In 1887, Adelicia sold the mansion, and by 1890, it had become part of a women’s college. Substantial changes were made across the property that caused it to deviate further from the original design.

Today, the mansion is an important part of the Belmont University campus, a green oasis in Nashville. The aviary and an original iron gazebo can still be seen along with the Acklens’ water tower. Sadly, there are no crocodiles or bears anymore, but that’s probably best for the students.

Belmont Mansion is located in the Belmont/Hillsboro Village neighborhood of Nashville less than 3 miles from the heart of downtown. There is a small parking lot (which can be awkward if it’s particularly full) right next to the mansion, and there are more parking spaces just a few steps away.

Tickets are available online or in the mansion gift shop where the tours begin. 

Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.

In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.

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Belmont Mansion

Located on the campus of Belmont University, the house museum is a historic Italianate villa-style mansion constructed in the mid-1800s by Adelicia Hayes Franklin. It is the work of architect William Strickland, who also designed the Tennessee State Capitol. The residence served as the headquarters for Union General Thomas Wood before the Battle of Nashville in 1864. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, the mansion is the largest house museum in the Volunteer State. The ornate home features a collection of Venetian glass, period furnishings, paintings and statuary as well as elaborately landscaped gardens.

Ultimate Guide to the Belmont Mansion

For a piece of Civil War history and a study in antebellum architecture, Nashville’s Belmont Mansion is a fascinating attraction. Completed in 1853 by Adelicia Hayes and her second husband Joseph Alexander Smith Acklen, the 20,000 square-foot mansion rests on 177 acres of land designed in an Italian villa style with elaborate gardens and grounds.

During its heyday, the mansion boasted a greenhouse, conservatory, art gallery, gazebo, water tower, bowling alley and a zoo, which Adelicia opened to the public. Today, the Belmont Mansion is part of the National Register of Historic Places and much of it has been restored to its original glory.

The Mansion – The Belmont Mansion with its grand symmetrical portico and façade is divided amongst the Fidelity Hall, Freeman Hall, Barbara Massey Hall and the Black & White Dining Room. From taking in the views from the front porch steps to scaling the cupola for a bird’s eye perch, the mansion holds a wealth of antique furniture, decorative arts and pieces from Adelicia’s private art collection.

The Garden & Grounds – With fragrant rose gardens, geometric planting beds, clamshell paths and elaborate fountains, the grounds of Belmont Mansion are beautifully maintained today. Take a stroll through the fragrant gardens and enjoy some shade beneath one of the mansion’s original gazebos.

The Art – Adelicia was an avid art collector with her second husband Joseph and they even donated pieces of their collection to prominent art fairs like the 1880 Nashville Centennial and the 1884 New Orleans World Fair. You can arrange a tour with the museum’s curator of collections to view Adelicia’s art and gain further insight into the works and their historic importance.

Tips for Visiting

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Mansion Tour

Quick Details

• User Ages: All Ages
• Hour Glass Duration: 45 minutes

Discover a Greek Revival Mansion in Nashville!

Enjoy a guided walk through the 1853 Greek Revival Mansion, followed by a complimentary wine tasting (for those who are age 21+) in the Winery. Includes access to our Grounds and Outbuildings, Outdoor Game Court, Walking Trail, Gift Shops, and our on-site restaurant, The Belle Meade Meat & Three .

Please Note:

• If on-line tickets are sold out, we do have a limited number of on-site tickets available.
• Please arrive 30 minutes before scheduled tour time.
• Tickets are only valid for the date and time purchased.
• Discounted tickets for military available on-site. Inquire at Tickets in Visitor’s Center.

Tour Duration & Location

• 45 minutes (We suggest a minimum of 2 hours on site.)
• The Mansion Tour starts on the front porch of the Mansion.
• Every guest must either purchase tickets online and check in at our Visitor’s Center or purchase tickets to this tour in the Visitor’s Center.

Wheelchair Access

• The grounds are wheelchair accessible and the first floor of the Mansion is also wheelchair accessible with a ramp to the side porch. Please bring your own wheelchair, walker, cane, or scooter to ensure your comfort. There is an elevator that provides service between the lower and upper levels of the Visitor Center.

Related Options

• Hour Glass 60 minutes
• User Ages 12+

Journey to Jubilee

Learn more about enslavement in the American South, contract labor after emancipation, and also the Black Heritage and legacy in thoroughbred horse racing.

• User Ages 21+

Wine, Bourbon and Food Pairing Experience

Embark on an enchanting journey where the worlds of wine and bourbon intertwine. Prepare to indulge your senses and elevate your palate to new heights!

• User All Ages

Grounds Only Admission

Visit the Belle Meade Mansion! The grounds only admission does not include a guided tour. However, you will be able to access our grounds and outbuildings, outdoor game court, walking trail, gift shops, and our on-site restaurant!

Speak with a Nashville Expert for unpublished hotel rates, package bookings and tickets!

800-657-6910

Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm CT

877-813-0319

Evenings and Weekends  

Save up to $3.00 on Adult and Senior Tickets

Belmont Mansion

Nashville , TN

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Belmont Mansion is an Italianate villa constructed between the years 1849 and 1853. Through the years, it has been the summer home for Nashville socialite Adelicia Acklen and her family, temporary headquarters of the Union army, and an all-girls college and seminary. One of the most elaborate antebellum homes in the South, with 36 rooms and 19,000 square feet, the entire Belmont estate was built, furnished, and landscaped by the Acklens and boasted such luxuries as lavish gardens, an art gallery, a bowling alley, and a zoo. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971, Belmont Mansion currently operates as a house museum, maintained by the Belmont Mansion Association through admissions, venue rentals, event fundraisers and individual and company donations.

Monday - Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 11am - 4:30pm Last admission at 3:30pm

Standard Mansion Tour

Ring the doorbell and our historical interpreters will welcome you to take a tour through this beautiful antebellum home steeped in history. Tours start every half hour during our operating ours and last about an hour. Don't forget to visit our interesting museum shop!

Terms & Conditions for Standard Mansion Tour

All tickets are non-refundable/non-returnable. We are unable to issue exchanges or refunds after a purchase has been made or for lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed tickets. Ticket package and prices are subject to change without notice.

Instructions for fulfillment Standard Mansion Tour

Please present your printed voucher with valid ID at the ticket booth to gain admission.

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Mansion Tours

Guided tours of falcon rest mansion bring the faulkner family and the 1890s to life for visitors of all ages., there's something for everyone on this historic mansion tour between nashville and chattanooga, tenn..

• The Victorian mansion called “Tennessee’s Biltmore” by PBS. Mr. Faulkner’s obituary described him as a mechanical genius, so it’s easy to understand why his mansion was equipped with “all the modern conveniences of a model city residence.”
• Museum quality Victorian antiques in every room
• Gardens reflecting the bounty of McMinnville, “the nursery capital of the world”
• A restoration that so revived a near-derelict old building that it won the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Great American Home Award” — an inspiration to visitors who are redoing old homes themselves
• Intriguing accounts of experiences that hint Falcon Rest might be inhabited by a friendly ghost
• Real stories about real people associated with the mansion over the years, from Mr. Faulkner (the “secret soldier” of the Civil War) and his colorful family, through its days as a local hospital and its dedicated restoration

They all add up to the Victorian mansion where history is fun.

PLEASE NOTE: The mansion and gardens are not visible from the road.  They are entirely hidden in the 1890s inside our tall holly hedge.  Enter at the Visitor Center just past the hedge at 85 Bluff Springs Road.  Access to the gardens is restricted to paid tourists, overnight guests, and participants in large events.

• GROUP TOURS
• UPCOMING SHOWS
• PROPERTY MAP

QUESTIONS? Call us at 931-668-4444 or e-mail .

Open wednesday - sunday 9 am to 5 pm..

• Walk-ins welcome Wednesday thru Sunday.
• Gift shop open all day Wed. – Sun., tea room open 11-2, no tour required
• Tours usually start within 15 minutes of guests arrival, and last between 45 minutes to an hour.  We try to start our last tour by 4 pm.
• Closed Monday and Tuesday*, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
•   *If you will only be in town on Monday and Tuesday, call for a tour appointment.  We will be happy to schedule one if a tour guide is available.
• Adults & Teens: $17  | Children 4-12: $9 Plus tax.  No charge for age 3 and under.

Includes guided mansion tour and self-guided gardens tour at your leisure.

• All buildings except the mansion are handicapped accessible. There are three steps to the first floor of the mansion, and 24 very easy ones to the second floor. The buildings are close enough together to make it easy to walk from one to another.  See our property map.
• Please note:  Photographs  are not allowed inside the mansion, but guests are encouraged to stay as long as they like after a tour to take pictures outside and explore the grounds.

Falcon Rest is 1.3 miles north of Hwy. 70S at the end of Faulkner Springs Rd. To enter at the Visitor Center, turn left at the end of Faulkner Springs Rd. onto Bluff Springs Rd., then left onto the driveway just past the mansion. (GPS Address)

No GPS? No problem.  Follow the written directions.

Take Manchester Exit 111 (Hwy. 55) to McMinnville. DO NOT turn and go to the McMinnville business district. Instead, keep going straight and follow Hwy. 70S signs toward Sparta. Turn left onto Faulkner Springs Rd. at the FIFTH traffic light (the one AFTER Korner Market).

Simple way Follow directions above from I-24 through Manchester.

Closest way Take I-24 exit 81B to Murfreesboro. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Rutherford Blvd. After you pass Wal-Mart, turn right again onto Mercury Blvd., which is Hwy. 70S. Go through Woodbury and into McMinnville. Instead of crossing Hwy. 70S toward the downtown McMinnville business district, take the exit toward Sparta. Turn left onto Faulkner Springs Rd. at the FIFTH traffic light (the one AFTER Korner Market).

Closest way Choose the scenic route across the gorgeous Sequatchie Valley (just beware of deer at dusk!)

Take Hwy. 27 across the Tennessee River at the Aquarium, then Hwy. 111 past Dunlap.

Approximately 10+ miles past the Dunlap turnoff, turn left onto Hwy. 8.

Turn right when Hwy. 8 meets Hwy. 56 on the outskirts of McMinnville, enter downtown on Main Street, take the first right onto Sparta St., first left onto Morford St., and first right onto Spring St.

Go straight across the Hwy. 70S Bypass, where Spring St. becomes Faulkner Springs Rd. (Call for directions with less turns if you’ll be in a motorcoach!)

From I-40 West (from Nashville), take Exit 273 south onto Hwy. 56 through Smithville into McMinnville. Turn left onto the Hwy. 70S Bypass, then left again at the second traffic light onto Faulkner Springs Rd.

Closest way Go west on I-40 to Crossville Exit 317. Turn left at the end of the ramp; go about 1-1/2 miles and turn right at the traffic light by Walgreens. Stay on this road (Hwy. 70) just through Sparta, then turn left onto Hwy. 111.

A couple of miles south of Sparta, take fork toward McMinnville on Hwy. 70S. Stay on the four-lane Hwy. 70S Bypass in McMinnville, and turn right at the fourth traffic light onto Faulkner Springs Rd.

Simple way If you’d prefer to stay on 4-lane roads all the way from Knoxville, take I-40 west to Cookeville. Exit onto Hwy. 111 toward Sparta. Follow directions above from Sparta.

Exit the park at the south entrance onto Hwy. 284. For the quickest route, go straight across Hwy. 111 instead of turning north to Spencer. Hwy. 284 curves north and meets Hwy. 30 west of Spencer.

Turn left onto Hwy. 30. Go to the end of Hwy. 30, and turn left where it “y’s” into Hwy. 70S.

Go to the fourth traffic light; turn right onto Faulkner Springs Rd.

Go through Fayetteville, Tullahoma and Manchester, Tenn. Don’t turn onto I-24. Instead, go straight across the Interstate and follow the directions above from I-24 Exit 111 in Manchester.

“This was the best tour I have ever taken. If you have never been here, give it a try. Its beautiful inside and out. Read the history of the place — very interesting.  I give it 5 stars. Gift shop and tea room very nice.”‘

Patricia — walk-in tourist

Lunch in the Tea Room

Enjoy a delicious lunch in our Victorian Tea Room Wednesday thru Sunday, 11-2.

Browse the Gift Shop

Allow some time to shop for 1800s treasures. The Victorian Gift Shop has around 3,000 items you won't find anywhere else.

Relax in the Gardens

After the guided mansion tour, linger at your leisure in Falcon Rest's gardens. Access to the gardens is included in tour admission.

Explore the Local Area

Check out lots more fun things to do in the McMinnville area and Middle Tennessee.

Give a Gift Certificate to tour, shop, dine or stay on the grounds.

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Public Events & Tours

Guided mansion tours.

Guided tours of the Mansion and 1802 House are offered seasonally. Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended to ensure availability. Private tours and school field trips can be set up by request.

2024 Summer Tours

Tour the Historic 1802 House and Two Rivers Mansion as you learn about the history of the property and the McGavock families.

Mondays , Thursdays and Fridays from May 10 to July 26

12:00pm | 1:00pm | 2:00pm | 3:00pm | 4:00pm

Adults: $10 | Children under 12: $5 Members: Free w. Code

2024 Spirit Legends Tours

Each tour incorporates a historical tour of the Two Rivers Mansion and the 1802 House with various paranormal occurrences discussed.

October 20, 21, 22

6:00pm | 7:30pm

General Admission: $15 Members: Free w. Code

2024 Christmas Tours

Tour the Historic 1802 House and Two Rivers Mansion, outfitted with holiday decorations, as you learn about the history of the property and the McGavock families.

December 8, 9, 10

6:00pm | 7:00pm (Fri, Sat) 1:00pm | 2:00pm | 3:00pm | 4:00pm (Sun)

General Admission : $15 Members: Free w. Code

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