Franklin, Tennessee, USA

What: Franklin
Where: Franklin, Tennessee, USA
Lists: 1000 Places to See Before You Die: US& Canada

Again, I am somewhat partial to Franklin. It just so happens to be my hometown. Franklin is more than just a quaint little town. It is a town steeped in tradition and history. Franklin is located approximately 20 miles south of Nashville in Williamson County. It has a population of roughly 62,000. Franklin was founded on October 26, 1799 and the town was named after Benjamin Franklin.

One of Frankin's biggest draws is it's Civil War history. The battle of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864 where a little more than 1,750 men were killed. Those of you who are history buffs would enjoy visits to the Carnton Mansion. This old mansion was turned into a field hospital for the Confederacy and was one of its largest hospitals. It is said to be haunted. If you are an avid reader and have heard of The Widow of the South, Carnton is where the book is based. Another area of Civil War history is the Carter House. Located near Carnton, the Carter House is open to visitors and you can view the houses with hundreds of bullet holes.
If the Civil War isn't you thing, a simple stroll around the square will send you back in time. The quaint shops and peacefull scenery and historic churches remind you to slow down and really look around. Perhaps you will catch a show at the Franklin Theater, which is an old 2 projector movie theater that has been converted into a performance space. But by far my favorite thing about Franklin happens once a year. The Main Street Festival is a fantastic place to find art, crafts, clothes and just little things. There is also fantastic street food and live music. It happens the last weekend in April and the entire downtown square is shut down. It is the most fantastic way to spend a weekend.

If you would like more information about Franklin, please visit www.historicfranklin.com