Heavens

We are taking teens to Nashville for a conferance mid August. We live in CA. They have never been to the South, so we would love to show them some Civil War sites if any nearby. We would consider a short drive to see. Not a lot of free time. And any other sites in the city that are of importance, history speaking. We know about the Oprey...and will see it. But what else is a must see in Nashville? Thanks.

Heavens

bump for responses...

Jayne1973

We really enjoyed visiting the Hermitage, which was Andrew Jackson's home. It's a short drive outside Nashville.

michaelcrane

Fort Donelson is a great site and not too far:

http://www.nps.gov/fodo/

sooz64

Franklin is about 30 minutes outside of Nashville and is the site of some battlefields. Check out http://www.carter-house.org/, a museum about the Battle of Franklin. Also, Chattanooga (about 2 and 1/2 hour drive) has a lot of Civil War history. Check out Lookout Mountain or the Chickamauga Battlefield nearby in Georgia.

Billee

I agree with the above posters re: Pres. Jackson's home (The Hermitage), Ft. Donelson, and especially Franklin for Civil War history. Carter House and Carnton Plantation in Franklin offer excellent tours. I would recommend making reservations for tours in Franklin, especially if this is a large group. Also, take hankies as the story of Todd Carter is very sad. I've taken many a field trip there and cry everytime!

NYTomW

As far as Civil War sites go, the area around Franklin, about 30 miles away is the best bet. If you have time before your trip, read "The Black Flower" by Howard Bahr, it is very good historical fiction and the house/hospital around which the story is centered, is just outside of Franklin. It is also the site of what we were told is the largest confederate battlefield in the south. As far as Nashville goes, try to visit and/or see a concert at the Ryman Auditorium, IMO it has it all over the Grand Ole Opery.

dwooddon

One of the greatest of Civil War battlefields is at Shiloh Nat'l Military Park TN, just north of Corinth, MS. It was a huge, pivitol battle and the various fields have been very well maintained in nearly their original conditions. The military cemetery there is one of the most inspiring I have seen.

I don't know how far you mean by a "short drive". Shiloh is about 145 miles southwest of downtown Nashville. If you have an interest in the civil War, I'd make the time. It is one of the three or four battlefields I re-visit as often as I am able.

Heavens

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. Will check out all of them.

Would Shiloh be about a three hour drive one way then? Is there much to see en route to Shiloh?

dwooddon

I can't answer your question about how much there is to see between Nashville and Shiloh-I've always come in from Memphis. For me, Shiloh is the destination and anything I happen to see and enjoy enroute is just icing on the cake.

dan_woodlief

I have yet to visit the Tennessee battlefields, but I have always heard there isn't a lot in the Shiloh vacinity other than the battlefield. It is the destination. Franklin would be between the two, although not very far from Nashville. Stones River Battlefield (Murfreesboro) is just to the southeast of Nashville. It too was a major battle. If you visit Franklin, I second the recommendation of the novel "The Black Flower." It is not so much about the battle but its aftermath, and it puts the war and the battle into a real human context. Good story too.

wsoxrebel

You also might want to visit Belle Meade Mansion in Nashville and tour with the costumed guides.

Mid August will be humid and hot in Nashville. My teens would balk at walking around outside to tour battlefields in that weather. Are yours real history buffs?