Carter House Reviews

The tour we took with Brad was one of the most informative tours I've ever taken. Brad is passionate and had some knowledge that we would have gotten from any pamphlet. The home is impressive and walking thru, you truly get a feel for what it would have been like to live back in that era. If your in town for a short visit this should be your only civil war tour. The majority of the home is original and been restored very authentically. The out buildings have actual war damage and reveal much about living on the Carter farm.

After visiting Lotz house, we walked across the street to The Carter house for our next tour. Brad guided us through the harrowing night of the big battle with an excellent narrative. I learned a lot from him. And some of the things we saw left a lasting impression. The bullet holes in the office building left me stunned. And I think chairs in the basement where the names of the people who hid there during the battle were another wow moment!

This was an amazing tour of the Carter House. Our tour guide "Trey" was awesome with all the information that he was able to share about the family, home and events. We didn't allow enough time to do the extended tour. We plan to return so we can take the battlefield tour and enjoy more time in Franklin Tennessee. I think we could have spent the entire day in the area. Thank you for a great experience!

Our tour guide was amazing as she gave us intricate details of the battle of Franklin. She did a wonderful job trying to recreate the terror of the Carter family hiding in the basement of their home while thousands of soldiers were fighting outside.

This house was in the battle of Franklin. The buildings show holes were hit by the Confederate fire. The Federal's had taken over the area where the house is. The family from the Lotz House as well as the People who lived in the Carter House and the servants stayed in the basement during the battle which lasted several hours.The guide gave a real feel of what the people went through. Excellent tour

This home was in the middle of the Battle of Franklin and served as a command post for the Federals. Our tour gide, the site geneologist, gave a great tour. She gave information about the family and the battle. She was able to explain the battle using layman's terms. Visiting the cellar helped put in perspective how the battle affected the family. A recently restored office shows numerous bullet holes showing the true horror of war.

This was a fascinating tour for me, a Civil War buff. Most histories focus on the eastern theater and downplay what was going on in the west, especially the complexity of the fighting in Tennessee. I had no idea of the significance of this battle. Our tour guide was really informative, and the interpretive signs scattered across the battlefield were all interesting for me. One interesting thing to me was the nuanced way that our tour guide addressed some of the topics, such as causes of the war, the nature of slavery, and the political situation in middle Tennessee in 1864. All the background really enriched the experience.

I especially liked how they had used gravel to indicate where the US Army's battle lines were located. It made it all that much easier to visualize. Given the importance and size of this battle, it's surprising to me that this hasn't been made a national park/historical site yet, like Shiloh to the south. The bulletholes in the office, the main house, smokehouse and kitchen really brought home for me the ferocity of the fighting. The photos I took inside the office were amazing. Plan on spending 2 hours: 1 hour on the tour, and another hour walking the site to read all the plaques that explain which troops were stationed where and when.

My husband & I visited this site recently & had a wonderful tour. Our tour guide Will was educated, friendly, & painted a wonderful picture of what the war & times were like surrounding the Carter House. My husband had such a nice time on the tour that he didn’t want it to be over! Well worth the money & stop. Would visit again!

After finishing the terrible tour at Lotz house just down the street, I was not expecting much at Carter house. Completely professional and beyond expectations. The site is well preserved and most of the interior of the home is original. The best part of the tour was Christy and her extensive historical knowledge and her ability to wrap up the information in a personal way from the perspective and mindset of the families and soldiers involved.

My great-great grandfather of the 45th Alabama Infantry fought here and was wounded within sight of the Carter House. The guide was excellent and held one's attention.

If you are a history buff or just into the Civil War the Carter House and grounds are a must. Family has lived in the area for a while and never understood the battle of Franklin. Upon taking the tour of the Carter House and listening to the guide we were all impressed with the emotions and the history of this home. If you ever visited Gettysburg you should visit sites in Franklin as well.

We thoroughly enjoyed the visit to Carter house. The guide was able to really bring the stories to life and evoke a lot of emotion. Such a sad time in our history but an important story. Very well done.

I think this tour depends on who you get... reading that there are some discrepancies among guides and I might have to agree. Our guide was okay, I've had more enthusiastic ones. The gift shop had a lot of great resources to purchase for my classroom Civil War unit though which was a plus!

What a wonderful yet bittersweet experience to tour the Carter House and battlefield grounds. Rather sobering but so worth the time. The visitor center with small museum is terrific as well. Tour guides are knowledgeable and fabulous storytellers- really puts you in the time period. The history foundation running this place should be very proud!

The hour tour of this home tells how one family survived the Battle of Franklin while it was fought around them. Our guide was full of knowledge and loved what he was sharing with us. For one moment in the cellar, I was almost transported back to November, 1864. It’s not a mansion or a plantation....it’s more.

Outstanding tour that made history come alive. Strongly recommend doing the combo tour with Carnton, starting at Carter House then going to Carnton. Both tours put you in the middle of it. Doesn't take long to feel the emotional impact of the families who lived here not expecting one of the bloodiest battles, literally in their backyard. Engaging and informative. Couple that with late afternoon lunch at Puckett's and you will have a great day!

Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the house and the battle. She gave us the human perspective about the events that went on there. Very fascinating!

I have traveled to many significant Civil War sites and battlefields often taking tours with professional tour guides, writers of books, and Park Rangers. The tour that Kristi gave my group would rank very close to the best I have ever had.
She started the tour by giving a short but great overview of what set up this battle and how and where the troops for both sides were positioned. Throughout the tour, she brought to light the probable emotions of those involve as well as their actions.
Her information on the Carter Family brought a human element to the battle that made me wish the story she told was made into a movie.
I’m sure the other tour guides do a very good job at this site, but my recommendation to family and friends after my tour was for them to call in advance of visiting the Franklin Battlefield and find out what time Kristi is giving tours the day they plan to visit.

My husband is the military history buff in the family. I go along, but am normally not as interested. I wish every military history site could have someone like Randy, our Carter House tour guide. He brought the history of the battle, this house, and the Carter family to life for me. Randy does an exceptional job of telling the story. The Carter House tour was by far the best guided tour we experienced during our 10-day trip. We loved it!

Very impressed with the guided tour at the Carter House. Joseph was our guide and he is extremely knowledgeable and you can tell very passionate about the history he was telling us. Interesting history and highly recommend

We love learning about history and this was one of the best tours we have had. David was an awesome guide. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about the battle of Franklin. David also was able to recommend a good book to continue learning.

Being from the West Coast, not as familiar with southern history, especially the Battle of Franklin. Our guide, Sheila, was so engaging and brought the story to life. You could feel the terror the owners must have felt when hiding out in the cellar. The bullet holes in the farm office and smokehouse made the barrage of guns in the heat of the battle real.

Great place to visit. The tour guide put us right into the scene of the civil war. Could not have been a better guide. So very interesting, and sad due to lives lost of these very young men on both sides. Would highly recommend.

Learning the history of the home and the battle that took place here was a wonderful experience. I had never heard of the battle of Franklin so feel like my knowledge of history was expanded in the course of a few hours. Our guide did an excellent job of setting the scene for the day of the battle complete with visual examples that were powerful. The place is well maintained and beautiful. It is an important place to visit and hear again about the issues of those times and the battles that were fought.

The tour was a fascinating tale of the Carter family and the battle that took place on their farm in 1864. The tour guide was a masterful storyteller and we found ourselves hanging on every word. She was able to make you almost feel that you were a witness to the bloodshed. We highly recommend the tour.

I can’t say enough about my tour guide. As I am horrible with names, I do know she is 21 and not originally from the area. I was the only one so I got a private tour. She was not your typical 21 year old and I enjoyed talking perspectives and asking questions about the time period and the house. Seeing the outer building riddled with musket holes was something else. The basement where the families hid from the battle was interesting to see. And to think, the block of history where both the Carter house and the Lotz house are located were almost tuned into a gas station and restaurant. What a tragedy that would have been!

A trip to the Carter House with my sister who lives locally and my cousins who are retired teachers. I am sad I can not remember the guide’s name but she grew up in Franklin and gives tours on Mondays. She was an exceptional guide. She describes the battle and the history with animation and passionate storytelling. She knew her subject, she held our attention and created a picture in the listener’s mind using primary sources with personal stories. Even and especially non-history lovers will really enjoy her tour as well.

I took the 9 a.m. extended tour with Walker. He was awesome and super knowledgeable. I enjoyed the private tour I enjoyed us getting to talk about different things about the Carter family, land, battle, etc. I definitely say go on a tour here. Oh ya, Dave that works here also works at Carnton Plantation too.

We visited the Carter house in June 2025 for the extended house tour. Jeff our guide was very knowledgeable on the battle of Franklin and the occupants of the house. If you are interested in Civil War history and not just the big battles I would highly recommend this tour.

Andy was our guide at the Carter house. He added more history to the battle of Franklin and New Orleans so between this house and the Carntor house we really got a complete picture of the battle. Seeing bullet holes in the buildings was amazing that there was anyone left alive at all. Andy had a few smart remarks that some might find offensive but we didn't. He did a great job to involve us who were on the tour. He was kind enough to take our picture through one of the bullet holes as well.

Tour was informative and interesting. Hard to imagine being in this house with the battle raging around it. 5 hours and 10,000 casualties. The house and other buildings still have the bullet holes from the Battle of Franklin. Remarkable reminder of history.

The house and grounds are preserved extremely well; going into the basement where the family sheltered and seeing the numerous bullet holes in the house and out-buildings puts into perspective the intensity of the battle and the horror that witnesses would carry with them for the rest of their lives. Our guide was particularly knowledgeable of the battle and leadership of the generals.

Wonderful tour. Amazing history! Take the tour with the young lady that is a genealogist. She is brilliant!

Our tour covered both the property and the inside of the basement and the home. My elementary school aged son with attentive and even now, months later, refers to what he learned. The tour was very personal to the family's experience in the context of the Battle of Franklin and that brought the messaging home. The property has also been well taken care of, but not so "repaired" that you can't imagine the battle. As other reviewers have mentioned, bullet holes are visible on the outbuildings. Even if battlefields and the Civil War aren't your normal interests, this is a good experience.

The guide was very knowledgeable of the Battle of Franklin. He was able to help us relive a terrible experience. Well worth the trip me to visit.

Getting a glimpse of the magnitude of a single family's experience in the midst of war. TourGuide knew so many details and the event came alive. Highly Recommend.

My husband and I decided to pay for the guided tour instead of walking the grounds on our own. I'm so glad we took the tour because we had an amazing guide name "Walker" who was very knowledgeable.
There were times when Walker was telling one of his stories and I would close my eyes imagining myself back in time. It would have been great if he was dressed in the period of the 1800's . We difinetly plan to do more Civil War tours. Thank you!!!

Didn't take a full on tour, but paid to see a couple of buildings and read signs that others just walked up from the road and did for free. Most likely much better in your style viewing.

We enjoyed our tour so much! Our tour lady was so wonderful to share her love and knowledge about the Carter family as well as the house, and other buildings and how the battle evolved there. She really brought to life the entire historical event and helped us identify with the people and slaves there as well as both army’s perspectives. Loved learning more about this area and the impact the Civil War had on it.

Drove to Franklin while vacationing in Nashville. Nice little town by the way, very charming and a lot of history here. First off, beautiful grounds. Took the Carter House Tour because we heard of its significance during the Civil War. Our guide, Randy, was a wealth of information during the 1.5 hour tour. The stories of the battles of Franklin were both interesting and eerie at the same time. Seeing the grounds, the structures and hearing the stories only added to the atmosphere. In he main house we were taken down to a cellar where 20+ family members hid during the 6 hour battle. The chill I felt must be what it's like to see the Anne Frank house.
Anyway, well worth a stop if you're ever in Franklin. Thank you Randy for the most fascinating tour we've ever taken.

I highly recommend this tour if you are in the area. There is so much that I didn’t know about the Civil War battle in Franklin. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable of the battle and the family that lived there. She made it entertaining, but didn’t make light of the war. She helped you understand the background of the battle and the extent of the loss of human lives.

Interesting and informative tour today of the Carter House (1/14/2025)--plus it was just the two of us which was nice. Thanks much Jeff!

If you love history, I recommend this location. The tour guides really bring you in and give you a true sense of life back during the Battle of Franklin.

Our guide Christian was so knowledgeable and kind. I loved learning about the battle and people that lived in the home. Enjoyed the tour!

Randy did an excellent tour of the Carter House very informative and educational. Would do it again in heartbeat.

Our tourguide was AMAZING with his knowledge and love for civil war history. We learned so much. Sometimes I would have welcomed a bit more background as well as some broader history prior to the battle of Franklin. But the house was very interesting and the tour gave us a great taste of an interesting part of Civil war history.

Our guide to this interesting place was a real Civil War enthusiast. His knowledge of the battle on this site was encyclopedic. In addition to the detail of the battle he told us that throughout the US at the time of the Civil War slaves made up a relatively low proportion of the populous and that Abraham Lincoln was actually elected on an only 40% vote. He told us that he preferred to describe the "Slave House" on site as a "Poor Man's House" because conditions were much the same at that time for share croppers as they were for slaves. We found his commentary surprising and felt that, in the 21st century, a wider perspective could be found. I hope that The Battle of Franklin Trust might take that on board.

One of the most informative and well presented historical tours I have ever attended. Brad was absolutely amazing. Well done!!

We were told that if we had time for only one site in Franklin, TN, the Carter House was it. This proved right, primarily due to the excellence of the tour guide and that the Carter House was literally the epicenter of the battle.

Christie (not sure of the spelling) was our tour guide and did an excellent job. We didnt have time to tour all 3 properties and settled on this one. We are so glad we did. Such an amazing civil war battle story and history of this family. The office building with bullet holes was an amazing highlight. Definitely recommend and wish we had more time to spend and continue the tours.

As the battle of Franklin raged around the house, the Carter family, Lotz family from across the street, slaves and a few soldiers, sheltered in the basement of this brick home.
The guide was knowledgeable about the house and obviously interested in local history as the tour was much more than the standard memorized script. Very interesting to visit a site that was more than strategy and tactics of battle.

First - the disclaimer. This is not an especially interesting house, as a house. Poorly conceived and not 'grand' in any sense. BUT, the history of the battle taking place basically in the very yard and the poignant stories of the sacrifices made here is sobering - and touching. Well worth adding to the Carnton experience. If I'd had more time I'd have signed up for the slavery experience - judging from the guide on this segment it would have been equally interesting, maybe even more thought provoking. Overall the combo with Carnton is good way to spend several hours.

This is a good place to tour and learn about the civil war. The Battle of Franklin is well explained as one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The home was used as a command post during the Battle of Franklin and a turning point in the Tennessee Campaign of 1864 and helped spell the end for Confederacy. The admission gets you inside the home for a tour lasting about one hour.

Very informative and interesting tour of the home including the cellar where the Carter family stayed during the battle of Franklin. Kristy was our guide and was a great storyteller and really gave a good account of what was happening during the battle of Franklin and why the battle took place. We did the Lotz House first, then this tour first and then went to Carnton. I highly recommend doing the Widow of The South package that includes all three homes and the Franklin on foot tour if you’re interested in the civil war battle here. We walked away with a good understandingly what happened and a perspective of how people liked in this time period.

The story of the Carter House is extremely important and compelling. To have original buildings exhibiting scars of war after over 150 years helps to picture the closeness and horror of the battle. Having a tour guide with the knowledge, strong voice and an ability to convey the emotional gravity of what took place is extremely important, and our guide- Bill Clark I believe was his name, did a perfect job.

Thoroughly enjoyed the house and tour! Guide was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. My husband and I learned a lot about the Battle of Franklin and the Carter family. Small museum, pretty grounds, outbuildings and very well maintained air conditioned house give a great picture of what life was like in 1864. A must see!!

If you are considering visiting Carter House, Carnton Plantation, and Lotz House - I would recommend buying the 3 in 1 ticket deal that costs $35 and grants you a guided tour at each of the sites. Each tour will be exactly 1 hour.

Of the 3 sites - I have to say that Carter House is the most impressive from a battle perspective. Located at the heart of the heaviest fighting in the battle for Franklin - the tour guide will give you a great perspective of what the family went through during the battle and how the battle engulfed their home. If you have to pick 1/3 of the three - I'd pick the Carter House

The gentleman that gave the tour was a specialist in the Franklin war so he explained things very well. Our 13 & 10 year olds loved it and found it very interesting.

The guide did an outstanding job of describing what the war was like for a family caught in the middle of a conflict. Visiting the basement and seeing the holes in the walls of the buildings brought home the horrors of war. My only criticism is the guide seemed to be trying to placate the politically correct that obviously have become more vocal on some of the tours. History is history and trying to make Southerners villains does not help anyone.

Whether you like history, are interested in the Civil War or just like to get a sense of the area this is a great place to visit. Get the combined ticket with Carnton Plantation for best value. Tour guides really know their history, not just a memorized spiel.

It just so happened that my husband and I were given a one-on-one tour (our "timing" and their "availability" were paired at the right time). We learned so much about the Battle of Franklin, why it was to be, where it began and how it came to end. We had an awesome tour guide who absolutely loved sharing with us the history of the property and it's family. There is a !!! Surprise !!! during the tour and it will take your breath away! It's well worth your time and money!

With an ancestor who fought in the 11th PA Cavalry throughout the whole conflict, I'ma bit of a student of the American Civil War (note how I eschewed the use of the word "buff"). When you visit a Civil War battlefield, it's sometimes hard to figure out what went on -- the maps are difficult to interpret and the locations are often surrounded by condos and other detritus of modern living. This tour was made a "5" by the very knowledgeable docent, who brought the specific battle and some of the other aspects of the Civil War to life. Bound to interest everyone, not just war historians.

We arrived at the museum to late to do the full walking tour, so we paid for the Carter House tour and museum. Our guide spent over an hour talking about the house as well as how the battle played out all around the property. It was an outstanding tour and I would highly recommend it to anyone in the area.

Our guide was very knowledgable of the previous owners of the home and the events that occurred on the morning of the Battle of Franklin.

Make sure to do the tour!! It's an hour and well worth every cent!! Our tour guide was amazing - explained details of the Battle of Franklin, of the Carter family & the home. It was a fabulous & educational experience.

I’d recommend seeing this with other places to do with the Battle of Franklin. It’s not as impressive by itself. See the old farm office though. By far the most interesting thing there

This tour was great - I loved the bullet holes in the boys dormitory. It really gave you an idea of the battle that happened on these very grounds! Amazing history.

Very interesting information provided by our tour guide. It was amazing to learn how devastating in terms of lives and what a turning point this site was. Not to be missed!

Spent 45 minutes at the Battle of Franklin spending last open minutes looking at mentioned Carter and Lutz houses, farm housing and remaining battle field. 10,000 Americans were killed in fighting to preserve a way of life that needed change over 156 years ago. Ironically, the single monument surviving these years is a Confederate General who got whipped by union Army for defending a slave oriented, outdated lifestyle based on racism, white supremacy and ignorance.

Houses are well kept and grounds, that remain, are well preserved. Visitor center tries to paint a "fair" picture of the Battle, ignoring the ramifications of said insurrection that still has influence over this part of TN.

The lifestyle loss still seems to be somewhat justified in the minority of the local population as evidenced of Confederate monuments and use of Confederate battle flag on outside of Lutz house.
I hope for positive change that reflects 21st. Century awareness and evolvement.
I paid the $16 fees for wife and I, in hopes our $$ may help balance the Son's of the Confederate subsistence to the Battle and it's interpretation.

Didn’t know much about the civil war battles in Tennessee... we were in town for a conference and decided to stop by on our way to the airport... so glad we dud! our guide Brad was very knowledgeable and I felt did a good job telling us about the family and the battle. Kicking ourselves for not doing the more informative tour or the combined tour of the other plantation but didn’t have enough time. Thank goodness they added ac to the house!! And it wasn’t even that hot today!

Incredible story, people hiding in the basement while battle raged outside. Tour guide was fantastic! Long time resident with stories that brought everything to life for us.

We toured this property after first seeing the Lotz House across the street. I recommend seeing both properties in order to fully appreciate the effect the Battle of Franklin had on both families. Do the Lotz House first, followed by this property. You will not be disappointed!

Wow, we have been to a lot of historic and battlefield sites. This one is beyond special. Getting on a tour is a must. The passion and prospective Jeff was able give throughout the telling of the events was so uniquely well done even my 12 year old son found himself calling this tour his favorite. Be prepared to step inside a great story and be forever impressed by this visit.

This was a great way to learn about the battle of Franklin during the Civil War. Our tour guide did a great job of talking about the family and what they experienced during the battle. She really brought it to life. To see the bullet holes that are still in the home and outbuildings really made you think of how terrifying it must have been to be in this home during the battle.

This was a very interesting and worthwhile tour. Our tour was given by Trey, who was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the Battle of Franklin and the Carter family. I recommend this tour. Ask for Trey.

Although I was only able to visit the Carter House and not the battlefield, the tour guide, Will, conducted the best tour of any Civil War site I have seen. His accounting of the events leading up to the battle, the history of the Carter family, and the events surrounding their survival of the battle was wonderfully personal, and spoke to the reverence he has for the Carter family, and the troops on both sides of that terrible slaughter. He is a credit to his profession, and, if I will make certain that the next time I am anywhere near Franklin, I'll visit and sign up for the remaining tours.

The Civil War came alive in the Carter House. We visited the place after the Lotz House across the street. The guided tour was excellent (ah, I wish I remembered our guide's name to thank him!). The stories of the battle of Franklin and the Carters who found themselves in the middle of it, all made me feel transplanted to that time in history. A must see if you ever visit Franklin. Suggested order: Lotz House, Carter House, Carnton plantation. Or, Carnton plantation, Lotz House, Carter House.

An excellent place to visit. The tour guides are friendly and informative. As you walk through the buildings that still have the bullet holes you feel as if you are taking a step back in time. We definitely walked out knowing a lot more about the happenings in the lives of different families during the Civil War.

Carter House is a must stop when visiting historical sites in Franklin. Tour guide was excellent, thorough, objective, and answered all of our questions. Reserve about 90-120 minutes total- the tour is about one hour but there are a few other sites on the farm worth seeing. I would also recommend the Lotz House and Carnton, as the connection will become obvious.

Not as grand as some other southern homes of its time, the Carter House still is a jem as it completes the story of the Carnton which is conveniently located just 1.3 miles up the road.
The tour guides provide a lot of information and seem to be knowledgeable on the history of the house and land surrounding the house.

One of the best tours of my life! We had an amazing guide, Christie, whose knowledge and passion for the subject were simply phenomenal. I learned so much, including relative to how the Battle of Franklin fit in the whole Civil War. A highlight of our trip to Tennessee.

The highlight of this tour was our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and a great story-teller. He not only shared the history of the house and family but also the Battle of Franklin. One of the more notable aspects of the house is the number of furnishings that were in the house from the time of the battle.

We stopped at the Carter house on our vacation and glad we did. Our tour guide was very informative with a lot of information on battle of Franklin and the part the Carter house played in this battle. The tour takes about an hour but worth it.

This was a fascinating and sobering experience. Witnessing the most bullet-damaged building still standing from the Civil War - with 1,000+ bullet holes - and gaining insight as to how a family experienced the Battle of Franklin was quite incredible.

Our tour guide - or interpreter, as they prefer to be called - was extremely knowledgeable and personable. He really brought life to the history lesson with his animated and vivid descriptions and kept us engaged from start to finish.

The story of what transpired on that fateful day in 1864 is intriguing in itself, but the artefacts, buildings and battle lines that you can experience first hand really do make for an outstanding experience.

Highly recommended.

We were exploring in and around Nashville and decided to visit Franklin because of its civil war battle. We were not disappointed at all! We did the Carter House tour followed by the battlefield tour. Trey was our guide for both and I thought he did an amazing job bringing the tour to life. He is very passionate about the history of the battle of Franklin and what happened in and around the Carter House. I learned so many things. If you are going to Franklin I highly recommend the Carter House tour and we thought Trey did a great job...you might ask for him to be your guide.

This was one of 3 houses we visited while in the Franklin area. All of them had a bit of a different take on what was a massive battle that just happened to be in their backyards. I would see all 3 if you get a chance. Lotz, Carter and Carnton. 10,000 casualties in 5 hours. The publics account of what happened that day is chilling. We walked through the confederate grave yard which is the final resting place of I think it was over 1,400 soldiers. The guides in all 3 houses spoke of what a horror it was to have Americans fighting each other and hoped it would never happen again.

This house was the headquarters of the Federal Army for the Battle of Franklin. The Carter family remained in residence and stayed in the basement of the house during the battle. It makes the Civil War come to life. Bullet holes are still visible in the house and outbuildings. The area has a visitor's center with rest room facilities and informational books and pamphlets about the Battle of Franklin. Our docent, Bob, was excellent.

This was an eye opening and educational experience. I knew very little about the Civil War. Our tour guide, Randy was so knowledgeable about the Battle of Franklin, it's like he was there. He was very energetic and passionate about telling the story of the Carter family and the events that happened November 30, 1864. I strongly encourage anyone to take this tour and learn about this country's battles to become the nation it is today. Seeing the battle scarred buildings riddled with bullet holes from that day is unbelievable.

Carter House is an amazing step back in time to the American Civil War. Our guide, Jim, relayed the story of the Battle of Franklin in an engaging and exciting way. The house is well-restored and is true to the style of the times. Follow your Carter House tour with a trip to beautiful Carnton.

This was a wonderful tour! Kristy, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and very kind. She led us through the human stories of the slaves that lived here, not just facts. She inspired us so much, we ended up visiting Calfurnia’s grave stone in Toussaint L’Overture Cemetery nearby.

I enjoyed the tour, it was very informative. We covered a few places not to much walking. I would recommend to anyone.

We had only an hour and chose this house tour. Our guide, Randy, was full of stories & extremely knowledgeable, taking us back in time and making the hour go by quickly. He took a picture through a bullet hole for each group at the end of our tour. My husband originally didn’t want to do a tour but because the guide was so good he ended up enjoying it more than I did!

We visited the Carter House in Franklin Tennessee as part of the Carter House Carnton Plantation combo tour, to learn more about the Civil War. Both sites have historical significance in the Battle of Franklin and the Civil War western campaign. Carnton as a Confederate Hospital and the Carter house as "a front row seat" to the action. I am sorry I believe the name of our tour guide at Carter house was Jenny. She was magnificent. Her talent as a docent and Civil War historian was able to tell the story of the action, with troop movements, the impact on the Carter Family with all the facts associated (but not so dry). Verbally and physically she helped us visualize the action, the geography and its impact on the battle and the historical significance. Well worth the time. Thank You Jenny

The history of this town is truly amazing. I learned so much from our guide about this event and the Civil War. In my opinion, this was better than Hermitage, which is still cool, just very crowded.

The tour of the home was very informative. To see the bullet holes in the side of the house and in the out building added to the experience.

Slavery and the Enslaved Tour

Our family visited Carter House on March 20, 2023, and took the Slavery and the Enslaved Tour which included the Carter House and outbuildings. This was one of the best tours we’ve experienced in all our years of travel. The 90-minute tour covered the people and institution of slavery based within the historical backdrop of the Battle of Franklin and the Civil War era. I thought I had a solid foundation of knowledge about the institution of slavery and slavery in general but learned so much more during this tour. Kristi, Director of African and African American History, was our guide and she is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about her area of study. Her presentation made clear the complexities of the history of slavery in the U.S. and the impact it had on farming, agriculture, slave family dynamics, slave owner family dynamics, and the cultural conflicts at this time in history and within the scope of the Battle of Franklin specifically. I cannot emphasis enough how much we learned and appreciated this tour – money and time well spent. Highly recommend. A must do stop while in Nashville.

We had planned on going to the Lotz House, but it wasn't open yet, so we went across the street to the Carter House. We arrived just as they opened and we were the only people there, so we signed up for the first tour.

Not being particularly knowledgeable about Civil War history, we read everything in the tiny museum before the tour. That really helped. Our tour guide, Will, was a wealth of information. He grew up in the area and was a huge Civil War buff. He took us through the Carter House, telling us about the family and about the Battle of Franklin and explained its significance in the Civil War.

Weather you are a Civil War expert or novice, you will enjoy this hour long tour.

This place and the Carnton Plantation are must see stops in Franklin, especially if you like Civil War history. Start here and then head over to the plantation. You get a good feel for the battle and the aftermath, ad if you buy both tickets at either location you get a discount.

We visited the Carter House complex while on a larger tour of the Franklin Battlefield. The house, smokehouse, kitchen, and farm office have been stabilized and partially restored. The bullet holes in the buildings are one measure of the incredibly thick artillery fire during the Franklin battle. A log cabin, once inhabited by the farm's field slaves, has been moved to this location as a talking point.

We went to tour the Carter House, scene of the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. We were given a tour guide named David Van Dyke. He is an older gentleman, who is oozing with knowledge. But this man's knowledge pales in comparison to his passionate delivery of what will prove to be a tour worth much more then money. You will hear, in great detail, all the information of the Carter House, and the role it's residents played in this most bloody battle. You will hear how the North & South collided in an all out fight to the death--in one of the smallest battlefields of all the civil war. Bodies so think, you had to walk on dead men to walk across the field. You will see damaged buildings still standing on the property. You will see the cellar, small and uncomfortable, where the Carters, their family, some friends, and a few slaves, huddled, while death was above them, and all around them just outside the house. The sounds of war described as so loud that the people in the cellar could not hear each other talk. BUT--while you are in the cellar, David will reveal to you a part of the story that only he can tell. This part I will not reveal, for it is his alone to tell--and no one can do it justice, but Mr. David Van Dyke. I assure you, if you visit the Carter House--you must request Mr. Van Dyke to be your tour guide.

We walked around and then found out it cost $8 to walk. Did I mention is was hot and everything was lock or empty, I was disappointed in the ticket man's attitude... it was all about getting money from us.

The Carter house is rich in history too good to be missed. Our tour guide was just amazing with telling the story of this family during the Battle of Franklin. It was interesting to hear different perspectives as well. We would definitely tour this again!

From the moment you walk up onto this homesite, you realize the ferocity of the battle that boiled across this family's farm. Our guide excelled in capturing our imagination as he described the events leading up to the assault that swept across this yard around the house. Next he showed us the plentiful still-evident marks left behind from the battle, before taking us underground to see where the families huddled together while the fighting raged overhead. This is an excellent stop following a visit to Carnton house. The visitors center here has good rest facilities and information as well.

The house, itself, is not very interesting. The story about the occupants is much more so. Our problem was that our guide (which I will not name) was so difficult to understand due to his accent and the speed at which he spoke. We missed so much and he went so fast that it made it very hard to follow. The house is small and not very impressive but the grounds around it are. The battle which took place here is the real attraction and so if you are into the Battle at Franklin, stop by here for a visit but be aware that your guide will be a key factor in understanding what happened.

Interesting history and the home and grounds were fun to see. While the tour guide was informative, our guide was a bit rude and condescending when guests asked questions…a bit surprising for someone who indicates he was a former history teacher. If you have options during your visit to the area, this was OK but not the greatest.

I've visited many sites and the tour was one of the most concise and interesting I've experienced. Sheila's, the guide, knowledge of not only the Carter House, but the battle and the entire Nashville campaign was superb. I had a fair knowledge of the Battle of Franklin which she greatly expanded.
Jim Bryan
Bayfield, Wisconsin

The Carter House was in the middle of the Battle of Franklin. The tour was extrenely interesting and when you combine this tour with the Lotz House and the Carnton Plantation, history comes alive in the Franklin area.

Must see in Franklin. The Confederacy wanted Nashville back and the Union wanted to get back to Nashville. The Carter House is the epicenter of the Battle of Franklin and Kristi of the Battlefield Preservation Trust was absolutely the best guide. She put you into the mindset of the Carters as the battle waged around their home. Her stories are presented in an easy to understand style while demonstrating that her subject matter had been thoroughly studied and had unearthed some interesting personal historical nuggets. The Carter House along with Kristi and her extensive narrative make this worth the stop ~ no matter how far you came to get here.

We were given an hour long tour of the house and the Battle of Franklin, an important battle in the Civil War. Our guide was very knowlegable.

We had a great guide named Jim. He made the history lesson awesome. None of us knew so much happened on one day in 1864. When seeing the bullet holes in a wall, you wander how anyone survived.

Go, take the tour of the home and spend time with a guide hearing about the home and the Battle of Franklin. I cannot imagine the terror this family survived. If possible, see if they will open the door to the Farm Office building—you will be awed at what you see.

The house was beautiful and our tour guide Trey was so knowagable and passionate. His knowledge and excitement of the site and the battle excited us too see more and research more. ONE of the best tours I've experienced. I live up north and always went to union battle sites. Seeing the south and their view was great!

We loved the Carter House. Our tour guide was phenomenal! He was so knowledgable and truly cared. It's a great piece of history that I had been unfamiliar with, I highly recommend this tour!

The tour guide was very knowledgeable and informative about what happened here in 1864. The story is compelling and the house has some original pieces that are helpful in relating to the battle of Franklin and the people who were impacted. If you go, walk across Columbia and see where the mill was located too.

Our tour guy,Will P.,did an excellent job telling the history of the Carter family and The Battle of Franklin. The family and their home was caught in the cross fires between Confederate and Union soldiers. Great history and great story telling by Will. A must see!

I am from Georgia, where one often hears references to "the unfortunate misunderstandin' " between the states. But, somehow, I missed the connection between armed troops and the damage inflicted on occupied homes by both sides. Bedposts shot in half, glass ornaments shattered, bullets --1,000 of them -- shot into wooden houses.

The story will surprise you. Seeing it will surprise you more.

Wow! We’ve had a great day in Franklin, TN!! Another great tour at the Carter House just across the road from the Lotz House. Our tour guide was a young man named Walker Fletcher. He told the story of how the Carters and the Lotz went through the Battle of Franklin. A history genius!

We were supposed to be on a house tour for an hour. We were in the second room at the end of an hour and rather than hear about the house and the family we got a bllow by blow of what felt like the entire civil war. We left the tour before he even finished in the second room. Terrible.

We visited this house as it was part of a suggested 3 site tour. This house, one across the street, The Lotz House and Carnton Plantation are the 3 we visited. All are worth the price of admission. Each site had very knowledgeable guides that made the history of each place come alive. The Carter house and the Lotz house , we’re the site of some terrible fighting during the battle, basically being at its epicenter. The story of both is very worth hearing. Some items in each house were there during the battle. If furniture could talk….. If you do visit these 3, plan to spend at least an hour to an hour and a half at each. I suggest starting at the Lotz or Carter house then moving on to the Carnton Plantation. That was used mostly as a hospital after the battle, as were many other buildings in town. This area is so rich in history and should not be missed.

We visited this site during our trip and took the hour long tour. Our guide, Jim, was very knowledgeable and did a great job bringing the Carter family and Battle of Franklin to life with his descriptions. Probably appropriate for kids 9-10 and up, depending on their attention span. Definitely recommend!

My husband and I made the trip for this tour from Nashville and it was well worth the visit. Entrance fee was $50 which included a map and information leaflet and also entrance to the onsite museum which we visited following the guided tour. The tour itself was excellent. The Guide, Cliff was knowledgeable and truly brought the whole battle experience to life in his detail which was graphic but sensitive and respectful.

First of all, my problems with this experience could be because I am more interested in personal historical stories and architecture than the logistics of Civil War battles. If you are a Civil War battle geek, you probably would have loved the tour guide we had for the tour of the Carter House. This was the classic (basic) house tour that we took, NOT the more in-depth battle tour which probably would have put me to sleep. However....

Our tour guide started by saying his name tag was in the car; he doesn't like to use it, so he doesn't. Maybe he thought this made him approachable. I found it made him unprofessional. You should wear your name tag so people in the group can easily identify you as the employee/tour guide leader!

He went on to rush through the details about the family history (which I was more interested in) and he acted like he didn't want to present this information. Even commenting when done that he was glad he was through with that part so he could move on to the battle.

He proceeded to give a VERY detailed account of the battle that was utterly and completely confusing to anyone not already somewhat familiar with it. Without any visuals (not even drawing anything in the dirt with a stick to help the group visualize), it was impossible to picture. HE could picture it clearly, but he was not good at conveying his knowledge.

He also told us that he had a degree in anthropology which meant he had studied "archeology and other stuff". Excuse me, anthropology and archaeology are two very different disciplines.

I give him credit for having memorized a huge amount of technical info. about the Battle of Franklin, but he had very poor people skills. He was not welcoming in the least. He rushed through things and kept checking his watch and made me feel like he was under a time crunch and HE was stressed about getting to the end of the tour.

When answering a question from a person on the tour, he told us what the account of someone who was 8 at the time of the battle was in answer to the question, but added that since she had reported that many years later as an adult, he thought her account was probably wrong. Um, YOU know better than someone who was actually THERE?! That seemed extremely arrogant to me.

I really enjoyed the architecture and outbuildings of this smaller Civil War home, but the tour was off-putting. I would never recommend it to anyone else. I'm sure this has to do with the tour guide we had. Another guide could make the experience so much better.

We later did the tour of the larger Carnton Plantation and THAT tour guide was wonderful. She was able to paint clear pictures of the battle and of the people who had lived there with more personal stories.

One member of our party wanted to visit this site and originally I was uncertain, however, I was completely converted. Our tour guide, possibly called Christie, a genealogist, provided enthusiastic and vivid descriptions of the events that took place here. A real eye-opener to the cruelty and implications of war on a family and their home.

This was an educational & very moving experience. The tour guide was clearly a historian well versed & passionate about her subject matter. She did not shy away from difficult topics. She impressed us with the understanding that no matter how we feel today about the issues of the war, the human toll was significant and that the impact is still felt today. She did a wonderful job of pointing out that 150 years ago is NOT that long ago, & events of that time are still relevant today.

The tour guide was full of amazing details about the battle of Franklin. This and the Lotz house are a must visit for any civil war or history buff.

Wonderfully preserved history that's told by enthusiastic guides. A wonderful view of our history. A nice town to visit and stretch your legs. Nice little downtown that's vibrant and active.

The Carter House was an incredibly informative tour about not just the battle that took place all around the Carter's home during the Civil War and the thousands who lost their lives over just a 5 hour span, but also a wonderfully informative overview of the family who lived there. We had an incredible female tour guide, who was excellent. Her love for history shone through and she was excellent. Don't miss this tour. The grounds are beautiful and the tour absolutely worth it.

We have visited Franklin,TN several times and always do the tour. Our guide this trip was Christy... She was the same guide we had our first visit to Carnton Plantation in 2013 as well...
She ABSOLUTELY nails it! So knowledgeable in the history and very personal while bringing the families of this time in history to life!
GO!! TOUR!! You WILL NOT be disappointed.

The battle of Franklin was basically at this house. So much history here and our tour guide was so knowledgeable about the family and the battle.

Battlefield tour was amazing
Trey was very engaging and informative. He made the tour.
We got some books there as well

Beautiful area and the exhibits are great. Buildings are very well preserved. Guides really know their history. They take you through what life was like in the home and what happened when they found themselves in the middle of the battle between Northern and Rebel Armies. It was worth the drive.

Very historic location literally on the front line of the Battle of Franklin. Our guide Dave was fantastic. We toured the house, basement where family took refuge during the battle, original farm office and the area south west of the house which was the front line within 100 yards of the house. This is a MUST SEE if you are in the area.

We really enjoyed our visit here. Our tour guide, Christy, was extremely knowledgeable, plus very friendly and helpful. She took time to answer questions to make sure everyone came away understanding all that took place.

Although only a one day war, the home and it buildings provided a vivid image of what had happened in 1864. The bullet holes are still visible in the walls.

some of the best tour guides i’ve ever encountered were during the Franklin Civil War tour. Was totally worth seeing.

Our tour guide was Rusty. He was great! Did not speak too fast. He did a fantastic job explaining the family, the house and the battle that took place about the house. I was especially moved by the number of chairs they placed around a basement room. Each chair represented a member of the household who hid in the basement while the battled raged above. It must have been horrendous. Another building (plantation office) retains the original damage resulting from the battle. It looks like Swiss cheese and is amazing it is still there. A great place to visit.

Enjoyed the tour and seeing how close the battle was with the bullet holes in the house and office building. Would really like to hear more about the people and less about the battle.

While spending some time in Nashville, my wife and I visited many historical locations. The most interesting and engaging tour was the Carter House. The tour guide Kristi, was remarkably engaging in discussions about the politics of the civil war era and she presented before - during - after stories of both owners and residents of the house. She also had done research on some of the enslaved members of the household and followed their lives after the civil war. It was a very interactive and thought provoking tour!

Our guide, Mike, obviously knows his history. His love of the history of the battle and of this site shows throughout his presentation. Amazing that these buildings are still standing and it’s great that they are doing more to preserve this area.

Will was an exceptional tour guide! His knowledge and passion for the Carter House was evident. He was engaging and a fantastic story teller!

Great place to visit to learn more about our history. Very knowledgeable guide. Only complaint was need to sit during tour since we spent a good deal of time in each room. But us highly recommend...just know it's not a fast tour through house.

House and grounds were great. Tour guide was a pleasant person but like to get off on a rabbit trail. What I know about the house is what I read online.

The story of this place makes your bones rattle, a must see. You can feel the history here. Our tour guide was amazing as he broke down the mere hours it took for bloody and heart wrenching battle to start and finish. This is as real as it gets.

This a sister house of the Carnton the history continues with the taking over of the house during the battle of Franklin you see bullet holes all over the place a cannon on the grounds and more history as to how the family of 16 stayed in the cellar while all this war was going on around them very interesting a must see.

It is difficult to understand what this family went through in such a short time frame. Our guide did a great job of relating the situation & everything that took place in this moment of history. I am thankful this piece of property was saved for us to learn what happened here.

We followed up our visit to Carnton with a tour of the Carter House. This position for the battle was on the Union side of the battle entrenchments and was near the center of fighting. The battle damage that still exists on the home and building premises is mind boggling! The stories of the poor family, with young children is heartbreaking. The home is filled with many interesting period pieces, many from the original family. Great visit for those interested in Civil War History.

Nice home , lots of interesting history and the tour guide was really passionate about the Battle the only problem was you didn't really get to see much of the house or go upstairs or take pictures but other than that it was pretty interesting

Christie was by far the absolute BEST tour guide I have ever had! Her love and passion for history is very evident in the best way. She added so many fun facts about the Carter family. I was surprised to learn that furniture pieces within the home were original and still owned by the Carter family. When discussing the family and battle, Christie talked about it from a human perspective. Walking in the office of FB Carter, seeing the amount of bullet holes brings a new perspective of what happened in that short time.
2 thumbs up from me!

The Carter House is an historical gem because it was at the epicenter of the vicious Civil War battle of Franklin, on Nov. 30, 1864. Physically the massive amount of bullet holes, both in the walls of the home, as well as two of the side buildings, still attest to this all these years later. As with homes like the Carnton Mansion, and Lotz House, the tour guides do a superb job of bringing out not only the history of the Carter family, but the battle itself, and the lives of slaves who were on site.

The tour consist of rooms inside the home, as you learn the story of the Carters. When you go to the cellar, however, and you see the chairs alined around the wall, with the names of those who took refuge here during the battle, it'll make you stop and think a bit. From young and old, free and slave, it was a large number of people - and not just the Carter family - who had to be terrified for hours here.

The Confederate main drive broke through Federal lines by the home, and there were over 8,000 combined casualites in five hours of fighting, which included rare nighttime engagements. It also included six Confederate generals dead, seven wounded, and one captured. The lack of Confederate artillery firing into Federal lines here probably saved the home from total destruction.

However, when the tour guide opens up one of the outbuildings, you come face-first with a multitude of bullet holes which brings that battle physically home to you. They have somehow sealed the holes, but yet left them for you to see today. For me, it's kind of like seeing the cannon shot holes at Ft. Pulaski, in Georgia, only these are made Confederate rifles firing at Federal soldiers in the dark.

The grounds itself contain artillery pieces, historical text markers, and they do identify some of the tree life found on the grounds, so it's not all battle stuff. Across the street at an angle to the front of the house are more battlefield areas to see, including Carter's cotton gin site, so don't miss that. The Lotz house, another battle survivor, is located just slightly north of the Carter house. Combo tickets for the Carter House, Lotz House, and Carnton Mansion are available, in two- or three-home tickets. They do save money if you want to see more than one site.

The visitor center also has an excellent museum on the battle, busts of the six Confederate generals killed in the battle, slavey displays and a very nice bookstore/gift shop.

The price is $20 per person if you see this site only, but history buffs for sure will easily take it all in.

If you like American history you must stop here. One of the bloodiest battles of the civil war took place on these grounds. Our tour guide was great. The house was amazing. I liked going into the basement and thinking how hard it had to be on the family. One of the outer buildings still has the bullet holes in it. Just amazing. Beautiful grounds. Give yourself some time to just walk around. Enjoy.

Do the Slavery tour! It’s $25 a worth every penny. Kristi is an AMAZING guide! She gives such in depth historical background and paints a much fuller picture of life back then. She answered every question we had in rich detail. Life changing tour.

Thanks to the vast amount of personal history that the guides shared with us, the battle comes alive and is seen through the Carter family’s eyes. This is a wonderful tour and I have done it twice, each time was very powerful.

This tour is great for civil war buffs and others looking for an interesting place on their vacation. The tour guide is very knowledgeable about the Battle of Franklin and the Carter family. The tour goes through different buildings and intertwines the battle with the story of the family during the battle, The inside and outside of the house is very much like it was during the battle. The tour provides information but also tells the dramatic story of the battle and family in an emotional and meaningful way. Highly recommend.

While on a trip to visit family in Tennessee, my mother, sister, and I from the Iowa and Wisconsin stopped for a house tour.
What was special about this battle?
Why hadn't we heard of it?
How was the home/family involved?

We had all our questions answered and more! The guide explained that he wanted us to have a larger picture of what happened here and connect it to the emotions that were felt before, during,
and after the battle.
We were not disappointed!
Would recommend to anyone even if only traveling thru!

Wow , this was an excellent tour with our tour guide Will ! He was so passionate and knowledgeable which made things come alive for us ! Thoroughly enjoyed this tour !

Well done tour given by guide. This is a bit different than looking at other battlefields as the house was in the middle of this battle. The bullet holes through the buildings bring that to life!

We toured the Carnton the day before and were so impressed with the tour. Cliff's Carter House tour was a continuation of the effect on families during and after the Battle of Franklin. The house and other buildings are riddled with bullet holes. When I first heard it was the Union command post I thought it might be geared more toward the actual battle and war. Little did I know the tragedies that occurred here to the family and to the troops. By the time both tours were over the details of the battle were ingrained but the human aspect of that battle had made a major impact on us.

After seeing Carnton, it is worth going to the Carter house to experience the battle from the viewpoint of the other end of the battlefield.

Historically fascinating tour at the Carter House. The whole town itself is worth a visit. Clean, historic Civil War sites to visit, great for fans of old architecture. People there are terrific. A must see!

After touring the Lotz house which is across the street we came here. The tour takes about an hour then you are free to wander the grounds and the extra stuff catty corner across the road. The lady that gave our tour is a genealogist. She is very knowledgeable. The bullet holes is very interesting along with the cellar. We bought a combo ticket for here and Carnton. It doesn't have to be used the same day.

We visited today and went on a Battlefield Tour at Carter House. Cliff, our guide, was so knowledgeable and friendly. Not all in our group are huge history fans, but he made it so interesting and left us wanting to learn more! Highly highly highly recommend this tour!

An extre well done tour of a house sitting in the middle of the Civil War battle of Franklin battle. Our guide was knowledgeable about the property and particularly the battle which raged around it in November of 1864. Do not miss the last part of the tour, a visit to an out building to see what happens to a building that sits in the middle of a Civil War battlefield.

Wow. This was an awesome experience! Our tour guide, Jenny, brought this story to life. It was educational, entertaining, and moving. It cost alot for a family of 10 but I'm glad we paid for a guided tour. Worth every penny.

Ben, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable about the Carter House and it's role in the Civil War battle of Franklin. Would definitely recommend this as a stop in Franklin if you enjoy Civil War history.

We took the tour with friends. I highly recommend a tour. They tell all about the family that lived there. It was very exciting and worth it if you visit Franklin TN

We spent 90 minutes with a guide to tour the Battlefield around the house and hear about the battle. Although very hot outside, we loved every minute of the tour. Our guide was excellent at creating images that made us understand what happened on the site and the tension that lasted over several days.

We walked around the field and across the street, and went in a shed that was full of bullet holes. It was very sad to hear this story, but oh so important.

This was one of the highlights of the trip for the 2 teenagers, which are not normally into military history.

Take the extended tour. Hope.your get Cliff! Wander the grounds with his elaborate knowledge at your access and enjoy the rich historical experience this tour has to offer.

Christian was an excellent tour guide and made the history of the Battle of Franklin truly come alive. He was very knowledgeable, engaging, and did a great job explaining both the battle and the family’s experience at the site. The tour was informative, moving, and well paced. I highly recommend Christian and this tour to anyone visiting the area.

Fantastic tour of civil war battlefield and the Carter House. Jeff was our tour guide and did a great job. Very interesting and informative. Thanks for the great tour Jeff!

I very much enjoyed this tour with our guide and small party of folks. If you visit Franklin and like the Civil War or are a history buff, make some time to see this place. You will be impressed with the farm office which illustrates the violence of the battle that took place there. It was said that it was one of the best preserved wooden buildings from the War. Carter House was not as impressive as Carnton, but nevertheless has an amazing history.

My wife and I enjoyed the tour very much, it was interesting and informative. The visitor center has well done displays and folks were very friendly. If you have difficulties with walking and stairs, allow yourself extra time.

We had visited Franklin and thought we would visit the Carter House as a change from the music museums we have been to (our holiday wasn't a Civil War tour of the South). The tour guide Jim was excellent, great detail and good presentation style really helped us understand the scale of the battle that took place here.

Our family chose the Slavery and the Enslaved Tours at Carter House with Kristi Farrow from the Battle of Franklin Trust and it was a lesson in history with supported facts. No matter what side you might be on, or what ethnicity you are, this is a wonderful personal, true human story out of our pages of history. Kristi opened our eyes to outside of the school books and we learned so much more. Kristi's passion is contagious and the tour is too short as you leave wanting more!!! Don't pass this tour up as you won't be disappointed. Our teens said it was one of their favorite tours!!

The Carter House was caught in the middle of the Battle of Franklin. The scars of the battle are still seen. This is a must see. You can get a combo ticket and get access to Carnton and Rippavilla. They are also expanding the park and I am looking forward to seeing these new additions when they are finished.

1 of the 3 (near) original homes of Franklin that saw one of the bloodiest times of the American Civil War. Read the History and feel the demise of the families caught up in this conflict and their family history after the war, A great tour tour and museum staff were excellent in explaining the details of the house and surrounding areas. We traveled from Nashville on the Gray Line Coach Tour (however a long day 16 hours) and we visited all 3 Historical Homes with this tour. A great Tour not to be missed if you're a civil war buff. Recommended to all ages.

What a great tour of the homestead! Brad did an excellent job telling the story of the war, the family and describing the complexion of the nation at the time of the war. Wonderful, educational and engaging. Do yourself a favor and immerse yourself into the culture and history of this beautiful area.

I didn’t go into the actual house, but my mom and I toured the grounds and the feeling was breathtaking. The bullet holes made it all seem so much more surreal. We both enjoyed being together to visit such a historically significant place with interesting background. We discussed how when I was younger, I saw the Confederates as bad because they wanted slavery but I realized that neither side was good or bad. They were fighting for what they believed in and that, to me, was courageous and inspiring. Confederate families were fighting for slavery because it allowed them to have the money to live life without paying someone to work around the house. I’m not saying it’s a good thing, but rather it is just how life in the south was. What a wonderful country we live in that allows people to have the freedom to fight for what they believe is right. I’m grateful for those that have sacrificed so much for me and have made such an impact in my life.

Hear the story of the Carter family who "got stuck in the middle of it all" in their little red house. Stories of scary times in the basement while shots were being fired all around.

At the front desk, you can select from a variety of guided tours. We selected a self-guided walking tour, even though I couldn't find this self-guided option displayed on their signage. Be emotionally prepared for some thought-provoking moments.

I've done several civil war era tours in the past and they always include a fancy mansion. Initially I was disappointed this was just a "normal" looking house (although it was still very fancy for its time period) but my disappointment quickly turned to fascination as we learned its history. Growing up in the north the civil war has always been very non controversial for me but to hear about it from the prospective of a "neutral" family in a state that was to a large degree neutral was fascinating. Amazing history lesson !

During our family reunion in Franklin, TN we toured Carnton and The Carter House. Sheila did an amazing job as our tour guide at Carter House. While touring Carnton our tour guide made us feel like we were watching the battle but Sheila made us feel as if we were part of the Battle of Franklin. When she told us about all the children in the house that night I just wanted to grab them and get them out of there!! It was so real....I have been on many tours over the years but never one as intense as this one. Sheila knew the story so well and presented it as if she had lived it! Thank you Sheila for a great experience!!

We were on vacation and going back to Nashville from a wedding. We decided to stop in Franklin for lunch and on a whim decided to take this tour. It did not disappoint. David Van Dyke was our tour guide and he was incredibly knowledgeable and very easy to follow. Everyone in the group was blown away by how great our tour was. This is a must see if you are at all close to this area.

Two couples continued our immersive day in the Battle of Franklin (TN) at our second location, Carter House (Lotz House first). If you love history and are interested in the Civil War, this battle was little known to me. I was horrified to find out how this house and property, the whole street, were the battlefield, for 5 hours it raged around the house, on the grounds, while 26 people sheltered in the basement. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and the focus was very personalized. I mean, imagine a battle taking place in your yard and you and yours are caught in the middle. A twist on this location is one of the Carter sons, a Confederate soldier, was shot during the battle on his own family grounds. Afterward, the family located him about 200 yards from the house and brought him inside. He passed away the following day. This is no antebellum planation house, but a modest, by comparison today but a house of wealth at the time, family home and farm. There's an informative exhibit in the visitor's center, and a couple of outbuilding, one riddled with bullet holes from the battle.

Great tour with knowledgeable guide given on this site of one of the bloodiest battles of the civil war. Several buildings with the original bullet holes still in the walls make you feel as though the war wasn’t that very long ago. You see the basement of the house, where the children, women and neighbors hid during the battle and hear how after 5 hours they came out to the yard and had to walk over bodies in the yard as thousands laid dead....they make history come alive on this tour and help you appreciate what happened in the past to get us where we are today.

So I can time for a tour of the car house the first time approximately two years ago we had the joy of having Chrissy show us around and she gave us a fabulous tour as her background is in genealogy and we really enjoyed her views of what the family went through as well as what the troops went through during the battle Franklin. This time in September 2019 we had three friends from Canada and we’re lucky enough to get the same tour guide Chrissy to give us a tour and everybody thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend her

Kristi gave an amazing tour and we were thrilled with all her knowledge of the Carter family and all that happened in and around the home. She was very personable and passionate. Very powerful presentation.

Our tour guide, Bobby, and battlefield historian, Brian, were amazing. My husband's three times grandfather was with a division that was likely at this site and both gentlemen went out of their way to help locate the positions of his ancestors positions and finding books relative to him. We both have been so pleased with our experience in Franklin and how friendly and helpful everyone is. This has been one of my favorite stops on our vacation.

Very interesting tour of civil war history for the battle that took place. Our tour guide Randy was exceptional, knew his history and enjoyed telling the story. Would recommend doing if ever in this area

Tour this home and be in the center of a battle. Especially poignant when you see the smokehouse riddled with bullet holes.
The Lotz House across the street has combination tickets (not sure why the Carter House doesn't sell the same combo as Lotz House)
Small museum houses Civil War mementos and tells the story of Tod Carter.

I visited the Carter House in Franklin, TN and went on the battlefield walking tour yesterday with my family. This is a “must do” activity if you are visiting the Nashville area! The tour was excellent - we learned so much about history and the final days of the civil war, including how this battle impacted the outcome. Brad was our tour guide - he was fantastic. What a wealth of knowledge! All of the staff at the Carter House are so passionate about preserving the history and grounds, and re-telling the accounts in a non-biased manner. Even though the temp was in the 90s, the walk was mostly in the shade and super easy. I recommend this tour as a top attraction in Franklin / Nashville!

Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and engaging! He really told the whole story of the house and was so detailed, that I felt like I was right there in the middle toll of the battle! Would highly recommend this place!

Tour guide did a great job of decribing the Battle of Franklin where the Carter House/family was in the middle of a major battle where 10,000 soldiers were killed/wounded in only 5 hours

This tour provides a great start to the history of The Battle if Franklin. Plan on 1.5-2 hour visit. Jim Knight was our guide and he did a fantastic job. I do wish you got to see more of the inside of the home. They show you the two main rooms and the basement where the family hid during the battle. All in all a great visit!

Beautiful area - well worth the visit - grounds can be toured for free - tickets must be purchased to enter house and buildings. Our tour guide, Randy, was fantastic - he shared so much information, not only on the house and grounds, but on the Battle of Franklin.

We have an annual pass that gets us in both the Carter House and Carnton Plantation. I'd strongly suggest seeing both. The Battle of Franklin was a very decisive Civil War Battle. It's amazing how fierce the battle was on the Carter property. The guided tour is well worth it. I'd suggest seeing both the Carter and Carnton sites. The Civil War is a War some are trying to erase from the history books, but it did happen. Many of our ancestors either fought or were affected by it. Both Carter and Carnton guided tours are good places to find out the history of what happened at this decisive battle.

This was an outstanding visit with a great tour guide. She knew her history of the battle and made you feel like you were a witness.

A must see for visitors to Franklin as you learn about the Battle of Franklin, its impact on the Civil War and on the community.

We toured both the Carter House and Carnton Plantation. The Carter House tour was excellent and the information educational and interesting. The story of the Fountain Branch Carter family and how they endured fighting on and around their property was wonderfully presented. Highly recommend this tour.

If you want to get the most out of this historical exhibit, get the right tour guide. Ours was a genealogist and she had a lot of fine detail about the battle, the area, the strategy. Get the combo package that includes the Carnton mansion.

Well worth the stop. We were visiting relatives in Franklin and I had wanted to see parts of the battlefield. The tour guide was excellent and gave a great overview of the battle of Franklin. The house, outbuildings and grounds are captivating with the battle damage still visible. Evereyone had a great time.

So very informative and insightful. Saddening yet inspiring. Definitely worth the trip from Nashville. About 30 min drive there. Guide answered all questions and more and suggested other sites as well.

This was the most informative tour I have taken regarding the civil war. It covers the 1 day battle in Franklin TN with a personal perspective about the Carter family. The young lady that gave our tour was very passionate and made you feel like you were there that horrible day in November 1864. If in Franklin and thinking of taking any of the tours DO THIS 1!! The attached photo was taken inside Mr. Carter's office, and shows the bullet riddled remains. AWESOME

We are glad we completed the three stop tour in the order we did. Lotz/Carter/Carnton. Great Tours and exceptional guides.

Interesting tour. Cool to see the log cabin and brick huts with bullet holes in them. The tour guide was friendly, the info booth where you get your tickets were not very people friendly.

Good history lesson - be sure to leave time for reading at the Visitor Center.
We visited the Lotz House and Carter house (basically across from each other). I recommend both tours. The Carter House is a good place to start because the tour is focused exclusively on the battle vs the Lotz House tour included history of the Lotz family.

The Carter House is amazingly well-preserved.

Our guide Syliva was just amazing. She brings the reality and the horror of this battle to you with her knowledge and passion.

Sheila was an amazing storyteller! She really brought alive the events. You can see so many bullet holes in the wood buildings and in the brick facings. Families were hiding in the basement while thousands were being killed outside. What a disastrous moment of our history!

2022: Sheila was our tour guide and was very engaging. Good storyteller and knows her stuff. I didn't get the feeling that she was as invested or had as much passion for the history as the other guides I had touring other Battle of Franklin Trust locations. Still this location is a must do if you enjoy Civil War history and want to envision the battle and the effects it would have had on civilians. Please note that first tour started at 9:30 am so you don't have to get there at 9 unless you want to tour the grounds first.

2019: I recommend doing this tour before doing Carnton so you have the background of why the battle involved that area of town. This tour takes about an hour, and you move through 3 rooms of the actual house, going over some artifacts, information about the Carter family, and how it came to be a battle was fought on their farm. You venture outside to the porch for the last part of the tour and hear how the battle ended. There’s about 4 buildings you can take a look at without the tour, but you miss what it would have been like on that day. Jim was our guide and he takes you through the whole battle and how this was basically the last chance the Confederacy had to regain a Southern stronghold. Definitely worth an hour of your time! Visitor center has some small artifacts and the gift shop has mostly books if you are interested in furthering your Civil War knowledge.

Start your visit at the Carter House before Carnton and Lotz. Randy our guide was exceptional and the best historian to date from all our tours partaken over the years. Randy transports his audience to the battle. We walked away with an intimate awareness of each family member and a clear picture that took us through each hour of the battle. Best tour ever!!

The Carter House is a must see for history/Civil War buffs...or anyone who just wants a good idea of what took place there during the Battle of Franklin. I recommend seeing the Carter House and the Lotz House across the street as those two families both were both deeply touched by the battle. You can still see bullets lodged in the siding and porch railing of the Carter House. Mr. Lotz and his family sheltered with the Carter family during the battle because the Carter house was made of brick so they sheltered there because it wouldn't burn. Mr. Lotz's house was wood...so would (and did) burn. These people endured much hardship and witnessed awful slaughter. It is a few hundred or so steps between the houses, and our tour guide said the families couldn't walk between them without stepping on bodies. Awful.

This tour is very well done, and will give you a deeper appreciation for what happened here! Highly recommended!

The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, on November 30, 1864 was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Afterward, many of the battle sites were turned into parking lots or restaurants or shopping malls or housing developments. In recent years, however, preservationists have begun to restore the battlefield. One house that hasn't changed much since 1864 is the Carter House. Located at 1140 Columbia Avenue, it is situated in the midst of the fiercest fighting. Built in 1830, it is a Federal style red brick farm house accompanied by a smokehouse, farm office and kitchen. In the 1850s, a cotton gin was built on the property that became a landmark during the battle. Though the cotton gin, which was the epicenter of the conflict, no longer stands, the house and outbuildings remain. Visitors can examine the 1,000 bullet holes on the walls, walk in the basement where the Carter family took refuge during the five-hour battle and see the room where the middle son, Tod Carter, a member of the 20th Tennessee Infantry, died a few days after being mortally wounded only steps from his home. Knowledgeable tour guides offer intimate and intriguing details of the battle and how the people of Franklin managed to survive and cope with the carnage. The Carter House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

If you’re going to see this house, you need to do it with the tour guide to make your experience worth while. We had Mr. Van Dyke and he was very good, a great storyteller. Most of the tour is standing, which can hurt your back after a while, so we all appreciated when we could sit down on the porch for the latter half while he finished up the tour. Lots of great information. Bullet holes still intact in the building made for a nice touch. Highly recommended experience.

The Carter House is definitely a must see destination. It is an unbelievable reminder of the Civil War and all that was lost during it. It is an incomparable experience to be in the house in which the owners hid with their neighbors and a few slaves while the battle was raging outside. Our tour guide was excellent and gave us a terrifying picture of what it must have been like during this historic battle. Do not miss this!

This is a phenomenal stop if you are a history buff! Our tour guide, Randy, led us around the Carter house and basement where the family hid during the Civil War. He really took us back on time! When we saw all the bullet holes in the side of the house and the farm office, it’s as if you could hear the battle!

This was a really interesting tour and worth going. Our tour guide was really good (I'm sorry, but I don't remember her name). She was incredibly knowledgeable and did a great job. We visited the Carnton plantation first, and it doesn't matter the order you visit.

Our guide showed a true passion for the history of this town and home. Prepare to be amazed at the sheer volume of the story. A must stop if in the area! The town itself is worth a visit as well with cute shops, historic southern charm and good bites.

The Carter House tour was a wonderful stop to learn about the Civil War’s Battle of Franklin. I was not sure what to expect, but left with immense knowledge of this battle and Civil War history in general. It was not an uplifting tour, but important in remembering our history as a nation. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the Carter House and the battle that was fought there. I would highly recommend this tour.

This site is interesting because the battle took place right in the yard of the Carter house while the family took cover in the cellar under the home. It is a tragic story framed in the charming town of Franklin, with the very personal accounts of the family who survived in the midst of the chaos of war. The docents are excellent and give you a thorough tour of the property and details on what life was like before, during and after the battle.

We took the 90 minute Battlefield tour and I have to state it was the best tour I have ever had. I have taken battlefield tours at many Civil War and Revolutionary War sites and this was by far the best. Our guide was so knowledgeable and really made us see the ebb and flow of the battle. If you do nothing else, be sure to take this tour to understand what happened at Franklin.

Did an hour long tour. Not the battlefield tour. Kept preteen boys interested. Parents too. Neat to be right where the actual battle happened.

Out of the places that I visited while staying in TN it was the one that impacted me the most. The tour guide was excellent. It provide details of what happened in that property during the Battle of Franklin and how affected the lives of the people living there and their neighbors. The impact of the bullets are still visible. It was very educational and emotional to listen to how that battle affected the course of history for the South. I highly recommend it.

All too often, Civil War sites and tours focus on the minutiae of battle strategies. And yes, there was a good bit of that here. But there was also the story of a farm being torn apart while the family huddled in terror in the basement. There were walls full of bullet holes. And there were the personal effects of the son who died here in his birth home. In a single day, 2,300 people died here - with nearly four times that many wounded or missing. A solemn reminder that war has no winners.

A great experience with a fantastic guide David. David was able to talk enthusiastically and passionately about the Carter family throughout the battle. David has a tremendous amount of knowledge about the Civil War, gave you room for questions. Very impressive and definitely worth it!!

I loved the atmosphere the tour guides gave you while walking through the house and telling you stories about the family that lived here, the son that died here, and the battle that went on outside their front door. You also get to peek inside a slave house that’s on the property right behind the house.

I’ve lived in Franklin for 25 years and had never toured the Carter House and it was very educational and enjoyable. Our tour guide was Brad and he was very knowledgeable about the history of the house itself as well as the Battle of Franklin. Definitely recommend if you’re visiting Franklin!

Stopped in for a guided tour. It was obvious the guide was very knowledgeable and enjoyed talking about the Civil War. It's amazing all the bullet holes that are still there.

This home is across the street from the Lotz House. One of the most interesting tours about the civil war and the battle in Franklin, TN. The tour guides here really know their stuff. So enjoyed this tour.

Our guide was very knowledgeable and helped us to understand the battle fought on the property as the family of the home huddled in the cellar.

Our tour guide Randy was incredible . We have visited many Civil War battle
sites and we never had a more visual representation of a specific battle.. Randy was able to describe the battle and make you feel like you were there. He was an exceptional tour guide (story teller). The battle was historical and changed the course of the war. It is a somewhat hidden story. Highly recommend this tour!

The slave and enslaved tour was wonderful!! It was tailored to what information you were interested in. The tour guide was very knowledgeable able the individuals at carter house and the times. Highly recommend it. We along did the battlefield tour which was very informative.

The Carter House Battlefield Park bills itself as the "Greatest Story of the Civil War," and the way our tour guide Brad told it, I would agree. Without spoiling it, I would say that I've never in my life had a better tour (even in Europe), and I've never seen a better-preserved battle-scarred site, which makes the War very present for the visitor (more so than any battlefield out East). Most of the buildings and much of the furniture is original. The fact that the site is a House whose owners were present in the home as the epicenter of the Battle of Franklin raged around it adds a unique human element to the story.

The Battle of Franklin Trust (a 501(c)(3) charitable organization) owns and maintains the park, and is in the process of investigating, buying and preserving more land (and discovered artifacts) to create a larger battlefield park, which your ticket money goes to. You should definitely visit the Carter House. This is a must-see, not only for the Civil War enthusiast, but for anyone planning to visit the Nashville/Franklin area (if you're not, you should).

Another great place to visit to learn about the area and the Battle of Franklin during the civil war.

Great tour. It lasted about an hour. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. My husband loves history so this was right up his alley. I learned so much about the battle that happened here. It's so sad what happened here. So many of our soldiers were lost in this battle. If you love history you don't want to miss this tour!

If you are interested in the Civil War and in the area of Franklin TN, then Carter House is a must see. You get to tour a house from 1864, but also get to relive the battle of Franklin through story. Best part is visiting the farm office which has hundreds of bullet holes in one wall. Our tour guide was friendly and extremely knowledge. A must see tour.

Great tour and very informative. Enjoyed the tour guide and learned a lot. Bought the combo ticket and it was worth it.

The guide was very well informed and created a narrative that was engaging and informative. We enjoyed walking the grounds

Unless you’re a huge civil war buff I’d advise to avoid. It was only like $8 but there isn’t much in the museum inside and all you can really do outside is walk about an old house and read some signs. Wasn’t impressed

I'm a big Civil War buff and love to visit locations associated with the Civil War. I first stopped here back in 1989 and it is quite a bit different. Back then you were able to wander the grounds for free. Now you have to pay a price just to walk the grounds. Crazy!
I met Thomas Cartwright back in 1989 and saw him again later when I visited the Lotz House. He gave an excellent tour of the battlefield back then.
Gift store is great and the staff was very friendly and informative!

Visited here as a follow-on visit after seeing the Lotz House. This was a fantastic place to visit and learn more about the American Civil War and especially The Battle of Franklin. David VanDyke (I think that was the guides name) did a great job with his narration and historical information. An amazing visit and a “must see” place!

My friends and I were so pleased with the tour of the Carter house, all agreeing that it was the best guided tour we've ever had. Our tour guide, David, moved through the info quickly, balancing war history, descriptions of the battle, and family history for an hour was fascinating from start to finish.

There is so much history here, it's just unbelieveable. The house its' self is kind of cool, but the story is so compelling. Our guide just made the whole thing come alive, I felt like I was there! Wish I remembered her name. My only recommendation would be for them to either include a map in the presentation, or provide it in the brochure. If you see one in the gift shop, get it!

I highly recommend the Slavery and Enslaved Tour at this place of the battles lines in the Battle of Franklin. You'll get the important perspective you don't typically get at sites of Civil War battles.

Tour Guide Kristi has studied this deeply and passionately, and she shared very personal stories of the lives of the slaves before, during, and after the battle. It was deeply moving.

Such a quiet, peaceful setting today. Had no idea this battle killed so many soldiers. Christy? was our tour guide and she did an thorough job recreating what happened here. We bought this tour along with the Carnton House tour. So glad we did!

This tour was very good the details about this civil war battle was fascinating to learn, I could feel the sadness of that time. The guide was very good with telling this story very nicely done We highly recommend this tour

Fabulous tour. Gave a real feel for the fear and gravity of the Civil War. The guide was fabulous and all the sidebar stories that you can only get with a guide. Don't go without a guide. Lotz house across the street is fabulous as well and part of the story.

Our tour guide Brad was amazing. Very knowledgeable and made history come alive. The house and buildings are incredibly well kept. Would recommend visiting any time you are in Franklin.

David was our guide. I’m sure all the guides must be good but his narrative was certainly exceptional ! The hour tour of the house and nearby grounds seemed to fly by because he was so knowledgeable and able to relate the history in such detail. He included Carter family history, Union & Confederate officer stories, and the battlefield events that took place. The house was interesting to see but he first gave us family background. Then he went on to detail the events of the battle hour by hour. The way it played out and some of the other possible outcomes if one thing or another had been different. Fascinating.
The museum exhibits and battlefield interpretive signs are well done. However the tour and David bring it all back to life in a much more personal way. He answered all the questions and made sure everyone could hear his stories. Highly recommended

This was one of the best Civil War site tours we’ve ever taken. The property was beautiful and everyone was very friendly. However what made the tour so special was our excellent tour guide Bob. He could quote entire book passages written about the battle experiences of people actually there on Nov 30, 1864 but what made his presentation so special was his heartfelt passion about the subject, the people and the city of Franklin. We highly recommend Carter House!

Mike our tour guide was very good. He explained about the battle at Franklin along with the family that lived in the home. It was very informative, it surprised me that a battle this large wasn't in my textbooks. Would take the tour again.

Our 9-year-old granddaughter accompanied us on our trip to Nashville. We felt it important to give her some idea of what transpired during the Civil War. The area is very interesting. The buildings are worthy of a visit. My biggest objection is that NO GUIDE should ever politicize during a tour, especially when it had no regard to the history of the house or time. He had his dates and names and times well memorized. The nuns that taught me in the 8th grade would have been proud. He is too dramatic for me and self-centered. It took away from the experience as I found it annoying. I'm certain, many would appreciate his endeavor. It wasn't for me.

Because we scored Christine as our guide we were immersed in the horror visited upon the family which found their property engulfed by one of the most furious attacks conducted during the Civil War. This little-known but consequential battle, a last ditch Confederate attempt to influence terms to end the conflict, was as intense if not more intense than Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. This tour gives uncommon context to the event.

Very interesting tour of the house most closely associated with the Battle of Franklin. The tour guide was a real raconteur! He told the story of the battle and the family who lived through it. You can see bullet holes in a couple of the buildings which showed how fierce the fighting was. I had no idea that there were 10,000 casualties! We bought the combination ticket at the Visitor Center, allowing us to see the Carter House, the Carnton Plantation and Rippa Villa. All the guides were extremely well-versed in the history of the battle and the families living in the homes. I would tour them again!

We went with a tour guide who was a History teacher--so sorry I can't remember his name--but it was great. We hadn't really planned to do this but found some extra time so we went. My husband doesn't love Civil War history (hard to imagine, but true) and he loved the tour also. It's also a good length of time for those with children. Don't miss this!

Excellent history and understanding of events in Franklin on Nov. 30, 1864. Tour leaders were outstanding! Knowledgeable and personable, making the history come alive. A must-see if you travel to Franklin TN!

I have been here a couple of times before but couldn’t resist going there again. Every time is a new learning experience to truly appreciate the gravity and importance of this battle. I have been to the other important sites here in Franklin but The Carter House is THE eye of the tornado. The fiercest fighting was conducted here. It’s a solemn place where this battle led to the final gasp of the Confederacy in the western theater of war.

I've been to several Civil War sights and I thought our tour guide did a really good job of giving the history of the Carter family during the battle and gave you a really good feeling of what the battle was like at that particular place.

An interesting encounter of the battle of Franklin. Evidence of war marks this historic house. The tour guide or interpreter as they prefer to be called were excellent an well versed in the history of the battle here in Franklin. This place is highly recommended.

We highly recommend this tour! Christy was our tour guide. She was one of the best guides we have had on a historical tour! Her use of history and culture really brought this site to life! It was worth the extra price. There is plenty of markers to show you the battle here as well. Recommend this tour as a must!

Wonderful tour of the Carter House our tour guide was so passionate about the human perspective of the battle that took place here.

I can’t recommend this tour enough. Sheila has the to be the best tour guide I’ve ever had. She knew all the names, facts and dates but, more importantly, was able to bring it all to life with colorful and fascinating stories. Such a worthwhile stop.

If you are in the area- don't miss this tour. It was very interesting and eye opening to how awful the war was. Our tour guide Jeff was great. He did a fantastic job and was very knowledgeable.

My wife and I visited all three Civil War sites in one day - Carter House, Lotz House, and Carnton Plantation. Carter House was so fascinating as it was the epicenter of the Battle of Franklin. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and amazing too. Don’t listen to TA rankings of attractions...Carter House should definitely rank over Lotz House. Carnton should too. Doing all three was great bc each one added an important piece of the puzzle.

Great tour by Brad! Very informative and lively presentation of one of the bloodiest battles in Civil War history.

There is parking at the visitors center where tickets are sold to both the house and for the Battle of Franklin tour. I got both because why not? House tour was a bit more than I was accustomed too, especial for the fact the house tour itself is only two rooms on the first floor (and the basement/cellar to close out the tour). That said the docent made the tour. Her ability to relate the family, the context of the war, the battle that took place, and the aftermath was insightful and compelling. I will add that the battle tour was worth the $25. The 90-minute tour covered the events leading up to the battle, what happened throughout, the family, key figures, and the aftermath. It is definitely worth going for the battle tour alone.

We enjoyed the tour and history of the family who lived here. Also got a little more information on the battle of Franklin and settlement of the area.
I enjoyed canton house more but this was close second.

We did the 90 minute Battle of Franklin Battlefield tour. The tour guide did an amazing job. He really did his homework to present a very knowledgeable tour. I felt like I was watching a movie. Great tour to do outside of Nashville.

We loved our tour. Learned so much about the history of the house and the battle in Franklin. Our tour guide, Jeff, was amazing and very informative. He kept us entertained and even brought us to tears imaging what it was like for the family who lived there in the 1800’s. Would definitely recommend.

Very interesting. However, the whole tour felt rushed. We learned about not only the historic, hard fought battle that engulfed the grounds but also about the family who lived there. It was disappointing that the tour guide, a grey haired older man, was a smart aleck who made several demeaning, lame "jokes" about our home state California. Stick to the storyline and keep the feeble humor to yourself.

We visited Carter and Lotz houses back to back and had an excellent time- the tour guides are experienced historians that know the architecture, period furnishings, family history and the battle. You need to allot between 2-3 hours for the whole experience and do take the tour or you will miss out. Lotz has more architecture and furnishings while Carter weaves the family story and the battle- it is all intertwined and well worth it to do both. Both houses have many historical pieces to include furnishings, firearms and other battle relics. The historians are passionate storytellers and serious about preservation. Little behind glass hers, it’s up close and personal. Pricing can seem a bit high but preservation is costly and the experience is well worth it

My wife and I had been to the Carter House in the past but, it had been about 15 years. There has been a major change at the Carter House. Most of the original battlefield has been bought up by several trust groups. They have expanded the area by several acres. The tour guide was exceptional.

I agree with my husband's comments regarding the expanded battlefield area. The tour guide was very knowledgable about the battle, but I was very moved by her including so much detail about the Carter family members and others. In her description of damage to the white building, she said it would "take your breath away." Everyone that visits the Carter House needs to experience the sight inside the building. So many bullet holes and no place to hide will take your breath away, leaving you with understanding of what those hours of war were really like.
So, in conclusion if you are in the Franklin area and have 1-2 hours to experience and understand what happened in that quiet town on November 30th 1864. Then you need to make a stop by the Carter House.

This is a unique house museum because it was located right in the middle of one of the bloodiest battles of the civil war. You can still see the damage from the fight all these years later. The most interesting part of the tour is when you go into the basement & see how many people were hiding there in an attempt to survive the war that had arrived on their doorstep. The saddest thing is that Confederate Capt Todd Carter was mortally wounded just 500 ft from his family home & his family found him on the battlefield after the fighting had passed. He died 2 days later in his own bed.

Tour was excellent and very informative. Definitely worth the trip from Nashville. We did both this and the Lotz house and both were excellent.

My husband and I toured all three homes and the Carter House was his favorite because he was able to see the actual damage from the war (all the bullet holes). Our tour guide did an excellent job explaining the history of this home and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The museum had a lot of artifacts to see as well. Great Civil War home to tour!

Our awesome tour guide Christy, was full of information and was able to bring to life the human experience of this site. She helped us understand how pivotal this battle was to the future of the United States. I would highly recommend this tour.

Spent about 90 minutes here. An hour of that was with Randy our tour guide. He did a terrific job of making the history come to life and was very passionate. We need more guides like Randy! This site is well worth a visit.

While visiting Nashville, I begged my husband to take me to Franklin, TN, to explore the grounds at the Battle of Franklin. We bought combined tickets for the Carter House and the Carnton Plantation (commandeered to use as a Confederate hospital), a mile away. The cost per person was $30, well worth it. Our guide was Kristy, who artfully made the experience come alive. She was extremely knowledgeable, and told "the story" from a personal point of view. The historical facts just slipped into place. Very humbling and meaningful to anyone who enjoys American history. The battlefield WAS the very yard belonging to the Carters. Loved every minute!

Interesting. Good one to couple with Carnton Plantation. Nice little gift shop. Bullet holes all over building wall shows how horrific this battle must have been.

After our wonderful experience at the Lotz house, this one paled in comparison. Would have been much more interesting to hear stories about individual people from the battle, rather than a play-by-play of the battle. Loved that they talked (a little) about the family of slaves the family owned, but would've appreciated more on them as well.

Amazing location which is full of history! My wife, daughter and I visited this location during a recent trip to Nashville, TN. This was my favorite experience of the four nights and three days. I took the Franklin battle tour. The guide was very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this if you are heading down to Nashville.

Our guide, Will, brought the day of the battle to life. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and informative. Seeing the cellar where the family took refuge during the 5 hour battle and the house and field office riveted with bullet holes was very eerie and humbling.
We did the combo tour with the Carnton Plantation and the admission price for both was worth every penny.

We couldn’t decide whether we had time for this tour but were so glad we made the time! Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. It really brought history to life, and we learned how important this battle really was! Our young children were even able to come along through two of the house tours in a row.

I wish I could share my photos of the wall in the small house outside the Carter House. The wall was laden with so many bullet holes and the opposite side had half as many.

We just decided at the last minute to do this site
The tour guide is exceptional he set the scene of what was going on in the time period and really made everyone feel very comfortable incredible that Tennessee saved this landmark definitely worth the time to see

We were staying in Nashville and ran into some locals who told us about Franklin. Well worth the trip. Our tour guide (Brad) at the Carter House was knowledgeable and held my attention the whole time. I was fascinated. We didn’t have our tween-aged kids with us, but I think they’d have enjoyed it as well.

Battle of Franklin one of last big battles Civil War. Hood lost over half his officers. Son of Carter House owner died from multiple wounds in battle. House and outbuildings riddled with huge holes from 55 caliber balls. Very knowledgeable guides.

I'll be up-front about my general lack of interest in most historical sites in general and civil war sites in particular. That being said, our guide Brad made this experience both compelling, educational and interesting.

Being a nature lover I didn't have much there but for those want to revisit history and spend a day in weekend for outing this place is nice.

We visited the Carter House on a combination tour with two other sites from the Battle of Franklin. The experience was incredible. So much history occurred at these sites during a battle that many never knew happened. If you are looking for some interesting Civil War history, I would recommend visiting all three sites. Carter House, especially, has a moving story and was clearly a pivotal battle during the Civil War; a fact of which I was completely unaware.

Amazing piece of history! Learned a lot about the Battle of Franklin! Throughly enjoyed our tour! Our tour guide really tried to help us picture the war around us! Even going to the basement where the family hid! It’s incredible to image what was going on at that period of time! I can’t imagine the bullets coming from all angles! One of the buildings is completely riddle with holes! Just amazing!

We enjoyed Trey as our guide so much we will come back for more tours with him. He made the Battle of Franklin come alive and what the family endured. His passion for history has increased ours and we look forward to going on a battlefield tour with him. It’s truly encouraging to be with a young person who takes pride in his job, town and country. Thank you Trey

We stopped for the last tour of the day at the Carter House which was almost a personal tour, as there was only one other person. Our tour guide was excellent and knows a lot about the family and the Battle of Franklin.

During our recent visit to Nashville, my family and I toured the Carter House.

Our tour guide provided impeccable detail of the ordeal the Carter Family endured during the Battle of Franklin, which occurred during the U.S. Civil War.

As an historical enthusiast, I hung onto every detail and fact that was provided by our tour guide. The highlight of our experience was when we went into the basement as the Carter Family did to keep safe while the Union and Confederate Soldiers were shooting above them. The holes in the nearby cabin are still quite visible.

I highly recommend touring the Carter House whenever you're in the Nashville area.

I've always loved American Military History & dreamed of visiting Franklin since learning of it in a fact-based Christian romance novel years ago. Carter House has a Great gift shop. My excellent guide was full of knowledge & made the history of the house grounds during the war to come alive again! Great learning experience, no matter the age. I'd highly recommend 😊

If you love Civil War history, this is for you. The Carter House tour was so interesting. Our tour guide, (Christy) was skilled at telling the stories of not only the Battle at Franklin but the people who experienced it. The fact that so many scars of the battle remain, is fascinating. We took the tour twice so we wouldn’t miss a thing. Thanks Christy.

We decided to do this tour because the Hermitage was closed. Are we glad we did. What an interesting home and a unique story. Our guide was extremely well informed and very good at telling the story as if she had been there. A very cool piece of history

Will was a great guide. Very knowledgeable of the battle. So much info. Very interesting. Definitely recommend to history buff.

First off, I recommend doing this tour before doing Carnton so you have the background of why the battle involved that area of town. This tour takes about an hour, and you move through 3 rooms of the actual house, going over some artifacts, information about the Carter family, and how it came to be a battle was fought on their farm. You venture outside to the porch for the last part of the tour and hear how the battle ended. There’s about 4 buildings you can take a look at without the tour, but you miss what it would have been like on that day. Jim was our guide and he takes you through the whole battle and how this was basically the last chance the Confederacy had to regain a Southern stronghold. Definitely worth an hour of your time! Visitor center has some small artifacts and the gift shop has mostly books if you are interested in furthering your Civil War knowledge.

Highly recommend for the history buffs, but also anyone. The tour is worth it and it's crazy the history that is evidenced there, still holes from the bullets, etc.

We bought the Combination Ticket which gave us entry & tours to both Carnton Plantation, the McGavock Confederate Cemetery & Carter House. Both tours were great! Christy, the tour guide @ Carter House was exceptional. She really made the history come alive - taking us back to the bloody Battle of Franklin which lasted about 5 hours on Nov 30,1864, leaving almost 10,000 casualties. Not a pretty story but kudos to the town of Franklin for doing a great job preserving their unique history.

Guide tied the Civil War to the human element of fear and bravery at the same time. Also, how the past matters and why we need to appreciate what has gone before us and learn from it in hopes of a better future