Elite Insurance is proud to serve the entire state of Tennessee for many reasons. One of these reasons is the many special communities throughout the state. Franklin is a favorite town of ours because we love spending time in its historical downtown area. Preserved by two groups, the Downtown Franklin Association and the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County, downtown Franklin offers specialty shops, restaurants, and art galleries in historical homes and buildings, along with festivals and special events. We would like to tell you more about historic Franklin.
THE FRANKLIN THEATER
One of the historical treasures located on the square in downtown Franklin, the Franklin Theater opened in the summer of 1937 and showed movies for the next 70 years. Unfortunately, the trend of the blockbuster movie palaces forced this theater to close in 2007; however, the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County bought this historic landmark and invested more than eight million dollars in its renovation. You can still see movies at this site, but now you can also enjoy live music in this entertainment venue with a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system.
CARNTON PLANTATION
Located not far from the downtown square, Carnton Plantation is rich with Civil War-era history. Built in 1826 by former Nashville mayor Randal McGavock, Carnton Plantation served as a hospital for Confederate soldiers after the devastating Battle of Franklin. The McGavock family also set aside almost two acres of land on their property for the burial of the dead Confederate soldiers. To show that humanity can still exist during times of war, Carnton Plantation was opened to the public in the late 1970’s and offers guided tours of the property every day.
LOTZ HOUSE
A Civil War historical landmark found right off of the square, the Lotz House was at the center of the Battle of Franklin and now hosts a museum of this war between the states. Featuring its original furnishings that The Magazine Antiques named “the finest privately owned collection of American antiques in the Southeast,” the Lotz House also showcases the handcrafted woodworking of its original owner, Johann Lotz, paintings from Matilda Lotz, and artifacts that have been found in the home’s yard, which served as a battlefield. Another Civil War-era home nearby, the Carter House is also a museum dedicated to the bloody Battle of Franklin.
GRAY’S ON MAIN
Housed in a Victorian building built around 1876, Gray’s on Main opened in 2013 after the restoration of the former landmark pharmacy, the Gray Drug Co. One of several restaurants found in downtown Franklin, Gray’s on Main offers three stories of dining and entertainment. On the first floor, you can dine on dishes featuring locally and regionally sourced ingredients. You can catch live music acts and drink handcrafted epicurean cocktails at the bar on its second floor. The top floor hosts a supper club exclusively for members in its SOCIETY.
Want to know more about historic Franklin? Contact Elite Insurance Solutions to find out our favorite places in this community.