Franklin, Tennessee: What To See & Do
The honky-tonks and nightclubs around Broadway are where musicians and singers come to get their big break. Countless American entertainers have called Nashville home at some point during their careers.
But did you know many of today’s top performers don’t live in Nashville at all?
They mostly reside due south in the communities of Brentwood and historic Franklin.
A-Listers like Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, and the Smoky Mountain Nightingale herself, Dolly Parton, all have large estates in this area.
Walk around the streets of downtown Franklin and it’s easy to see why this has become one of the Top 10 Places to Live in America (according to Time and Money), even if you’re not a celebrity.
Everything you can imagine can be found in this beautiful historic community, which has the highest per capita income in the entire state.
Benjamin Franklin
Early Franklin
Franklin was founded in 1799 and was named to honor national founding father Benjamin Franklin.
White landowners prospered greatly during the antebellum years from crops like tobacco and hemp, prosperity that came on the backs of enslaved African Americans.
One of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War was fought in Franklin, resulting in thousands of casualties and losses on both sides.
More than a century and a half later, three historic houses have been preserved to communicate the story of the second battle of Franklin with visitors.
At 1140 Columbia Avenue stands the Carter House, a property that vividly illustrates the brutality of war through hundreds of bullet holes still visible on exterior walls.
Across the street is the Lotz House, which saw its own share of battle damage and later served as a field hospital.
A short drive outside downtown is the Carnton Plantation, a Federal and Greek Revival-style mansion where hundreds of wounded Confederate soldiers were treated. One bedroom that served as an operating room has blood-stained wood floors.
In the decades that followed after the war, African Americans were subjected to extreme acts of violence.
Just recently, city leaders have started to acknowledge that important part of Franklin’s history through a series of special markers. They tell the story of how life in Franklin impacted African Americans who were living here before the Civil War, during the Battle of Franklin, and after the war was over.
Historic Downtown Franklin
21st century Franklin is a bustling place that carefully balances heritage with new growth. The city’s downtown historic district covers 15 blocks with Main Street being its heart and soul.
Countless architecturally significant buildings have been lovingly preserved and today house all types of businesses from shops and boutiques to some of the best eateries this side of Nashville.
Here are a couple of quick tips you should know before you go.
Visitor Information Center/Parking
Want to get your visit to Franklin started the right way? You can do it at the Visitor Information Center located at the corner of Main Street and Fourth Avenue. Knowledgeable staff will point you in the right direction and provide helpful tips to make the most of your stay.
Parking in the downtown core is restricted and enforced Monday thru Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. If you plan to spend several hours shopping, park in one of the city’s two free parking garages. You’ll find them on Second Avenue South and Fourth Avenue South.
Tiny Little Donuts
As you move around Franklin, keep your eyes open for a vintage Airstream.
“We’ve been in business at this location (328 5th Ave N, Franklin, TN 37064) for three years,” says Mark Mogul, owner of Tiny Little Donuts.
“This is our flagship Airstream. It’s a 1977 that we’ve repurposed into a tiny little donut shop.”
Mogul says the shop uses all-natural ingredients to make the donuts. While Classic Cinnamon Sugar is the most popular flavor, Tiny Little Donuts also serves up Timeless Glaze, Sugar, Fresh Lemon Glazed, Old School Powdered Sugar, Special Dark Chocolate Glazed, and Simply Plain. They also have several seasonal favorites.
Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor/Carpe Diem
The honky-tonks along Broadway don’t have anything on this place. The Legendary Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor is an old-fashioned juke joint where greats like Vince Gill, Leon Russell, Wynonna Judd, and Emmylou Harris have played. Locals consider Kimbro’s to be the best place to hear live music in the Nashville area, just behind the Ryman Auditorium.
Next door is downtown Franklin’s record shop - Carpe Diem. If you’re looking for rare vinyl, this place is a treasure trove. And the carefully curated selection of vintage items is a nice bonus.
White’s Mercantile
White’s Mercantile started out inside a vintage gas station in Nashville’s hip 12 South neighborhood.
Described as a “general store for the modern tastemaker,” it was the brainchild of singer-songwriter Holly Williams, the daughter of Hank Williams Jr.
Everything inside White’s Mercantile is carefully curated, showcasing some of Holly’s favorite items she has discovered while on the road.
A great selection of men’s products here from brands like Filson and Duke Cannon and if you’re looking to pick up something for a little one in the family, White’s has a healthy selection of retro-inspired toys.
Landmark Books
Dating back to the early 1800s and believed to be the oldest commercial building still standing in historic Franklin, the Old Factory Store has been utilized as a little bit of everything from banks, restaurants, and shops to juke joints and even an officer’s club.
Early visitors included the likes of Andrew Jackson, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett.
The structure houses Landmark Books, an independent mom-and-pop bookseller with tens of thousands of new, old and hard-to-find rare books.
Franklin Theatre
The crown jewel of Main Street is the historic Franklin Theatre. This show-palace opened in 1937 with the film Night Must Fall starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell. Today, you can still catch a movie at the Franklin or watch a live music performance.
The Factory
One of Tennessee’s most unique shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences is just outside the downtown area. Constructed in the late 1920s, The Factory includes just under a dozen Depression-era buildings that originally made stoves.
Today, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.
After sitting empty for many years, it was restored and turned into a spot for creatives and artisans to showcase their talents.
Some of our favorites: Fork of the South, a general store that supports more than 80 makers and small businesses, CR-71, a unique mix of reclaimed furniture and upcycled items, and Five Daughters Bakery, home of the 100-layer donut.
Antique Shops
Franklin is known for its wealth of antique shops. It is a Middle Tennessee mecca for all things antique and vintage.
Home and lifestyle brand Scarlett Scales offers an eclectic mix of unique trinkets and architectural lighting pieces at her shop on West Main Street. It’s far from the stereotypical antique shop.
The second location of Mercantile 1858 is a locally-owned home decor and gift boutique that aims to turn your house into a home with one-of-a-kind items that tell a story. You’ll definitely find something to add to your collection at this beautiful shop.