TN HISTORY & HERITAGE

The First Tennesseans

Presented by Tennessee State Museum at Tennessee State Museum

July 1, 2007 - Ongoing

Prehistoric Indian cultures existed in Tennessee through four evolving periods, beginning about 15,000 years ago, peaking between 800 and 1650 A.D. with the Mississippian people, and ending with the ascendancy of such modern tribes as the Cherokee and Chickasaw. Artifacts from the Paleolithic, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian periods are...

Jack Daniel's Distillery Tour

Presented by Jack Daniel Distillery at Jack Daniel's Distillery

October 1, 2009 - Ongoing

Whenever you're in the vicinity of Lynchburg, just over an hour's drive from Nashville, drop by for a firsthand look at our Distillery. One of our guides will accompany you on a tour and tell you the complete story of our whiskey. And you’ll probably hear an interesting story or two about Mr. Jack as well.

Our tour...

Tulip Grove Mansion Guided Tour

Presented by The Hermitage at The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson

July 1, 2009 - Ongoing

Originally the home of Jackson's protege, Andrew Jackson Donelson, Tulip Grove's private ownership was longer and more varied than the Hermitage mansion. Join a Hermitage interpreter for a tour of one of Tennessee's finest Greek Revival mansions and learn about cotton, cattle, and the Civil War.

The Hermitage - Andrew Jackson

Presented by The Hermitage at The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson

February 26, 2009 - Ongoing

The Hermitage's new orientation film Andrew Jackson, narrated by Martin Sheen, is now playing on new state-of-the-art equipment in the Andrew Jackson Visitor Center theater. The film is one of the final components to a multi-year plan to enhance the guest experience throughout the site. In addition to the film, other enhancements include audio...

Haunted Tavern Tours

Presented by Nashville Ghost Tours

April 2, 2008 - Ongoing

From the people who brought you the critically acclaimed original Nashville Ghost Tours comes their newest creation, Haunted Tavern Tours.

This unique haunted tavern tour will get you up close with the "spirits" of Nashville. In the tradition of English Pub Crawls, your tour guide will lead to...

Haunted Downtown Nashville Tour

Presented by Nashville Ghost Tours

January 1, 2011 - Ongoing

Explore the shadow-filled streets of downtown Nashville. Learn about the historical, haunted heritage of Music City from professional story tellers and tour guides during the comfortably paced 90 minute walking ghost tour. Your lantern-bearing guide will lead you through the dark mysteries and supernatural experiences of some of Nashville's...

The Age of Jackson

Presented by Tennessee State Museum at Tennessee State Museum

July 1, 2007 - Ongoing

Between 1815 and 1850, Tennessee embodied the spirit of American expansion and politics, with President Andrew Jackson being the central character in the state's development. Displays on Jackson, David Crockett, Sam Houston, and President James K. Polk are included in this section of the museum.

The Civil War and Reconstruction

Presented by Tennessee State Museum at Tennessee State Museum

July 1, 2007 - Ongoing

By 1860 the issue of slavery had become a tinderbox; a moral, social and economic issue which slowly divided the northern and southern states. Tennessee found itself divided when the General Assembly voted to secede. Many people in East Tennessee supported the Union and even fought in the Union Army. Tennessee was the primary battlefield of...

The New South

Presented by Tennessee State Museum at Tennessee State Museum

July 1, 2007 - Ongoing

Between 1870 and the 1920's, Tennessee experienced great changes fueled by the post-Civil War industrial revolution. Exhibits on women's suffrage, Prohibition, and the Tennessee Centennial Exposition illustrate the state's involvement in social issues of the times.

Antebellum

Presented by Tennessee State Museum at Tennessee State Museum

July 1, 2007 - Ongoing

The Antebellum period of 1840 to 1860 was a time of prosperity and cultural development for many Tennesseans. (Antebellum is from the Latin words ante, before, and bellum, war. It is used to signify the period before the Civil War.) Cities and towns became trade centers, as railroads and steamboats drew people closer together. The...

The Frontier

Presented by Tennessee State Museum at Tennessee State Museum

July 1, 2007 - Ongoing

Spanish conquistadors were the first Europeans to reach Tennessee, followed by the French and English explorers, and then by the first white settlers. Armor and weapons from the Europeans and Daniel Boone's musket highlight this era. A frontier cabin, 200-year-old dugout canoe, a grist mill, and a Conestoga wagon all give testimony to life...

Stories from the Hermitage Slave Community

Presented by The Hermitage at The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson

July 1, 2007 - Ongoing

The Hermitage story is not just about Andrew Jackson and his family. In fact, the Jackson family story cannot be told without the stories of the 150 enslaved Africans who lived and worked at The Hermitage. Whether house slave, skilled craftsmen, or field hand, each and every one made an important contribution to The Hermitage. From 1804 to...

Granville Museum Tours

Presented by Granville Museum, Inc. at Granville Museum

January 1, 2011 - Ongoing

The Granville Museum tells the story of the riverboat town of Granville, Tennessee. The museum contains a great pictorial display of every aspect of the history of Granville. Many historical items from homes, businesses, schools and the community are on display.

The museum features a military, school and music...

Fontanel Mansion Tours

Presented by The Fontanel Mansion & Farm at The Fontanel Mansion & Farm

June 7, 2010 - Ongoing

Fontanel Mansion, a 27,000 square foot log home formerly owned by Country Music Hall of Fame® member and two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Barbara Mandrell.

Located less than 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, Fontanel Mansion boasts three stories, more than 18 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 5 fireplaces, 2 kitchens, an...

The Redneck Comedy Bus Tour- Pick Up at Whiskey Bent Saloon

Presented by The Redneck Comedy Tour at Whiskey Bent Saloon

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

Ever wonder what country stars do when not on the radio or in jail? Where are the free redneck hangouts? Is Music Row really haunted? What is a Goo Goo Pie and a Moon Pie? Where do they come from? All this and more revealed in a 2-hour fun filled tour of Nashville's most famous and historic sites!

Franklin on Foot Classic Franklin Tour

Presented by Franklin on Foot at Franklin on Foot

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

Our Classic Franklin tour is a daytime walking tour that provides an enlightening look at the town's past. Our most popular daytime tour provides an overview of Franklin's history, including stories about Franklin's founding, the War years and occupation, up to the present time.

Franklin on Foot Civil War Tour

Presented by Franklin on Foot at Franklin on Foot

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

Commemorate the Civil War Sesquicentennial on our Civil War tour. This two-hour tour explores Franklin's Civil War experience though the eyes of civilians as well as soldiers.

Indian Artifacts

Presented by Sumner County Museum at Sumner County Museum

August 27, 2010 - Ongoing

A majority of these Indian artifacts have been found in Sumner County. The Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Shawnee and the Iroquois tribes used this area in Middle Tennessee as a neutral hunting ground. The Shawnee were allow to hunt in here "only until the dogwoods begin to bloom." These Indian tribes were mobile and...

Ghost and Haunt Tours

Presented by Ghost and Haunt Tours at Sheraton Nashville Downtown

April 3, 2008 - Ongoing

Come join us on the original walking ghost tour of downtown Nashville. Take the original full season ghost tour and visit the most haunted and paranormal filled locations in all of Nashville. Nothing hokey - NO costumes, lanterns or people jumping out to scare you.

Find out why security guards at the State Capitol keep quitting on the...

The Nash Trash Murder Mystery Tour

Presented by Nash Trash Tours at Nash Trash Tours

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

NashTrash Inc is proud to present our new series, The NashTrash Murder Mystery Dinner Tour! Climb aboard the Big Pink Bus for a rollicking adventure featuring a brand-new original show, "A Grand Ole Murder."

Join an all-new outrageous cast of characters as they try to find out who committed a dastardly murder that happened...

Historic RCA Studio B Tours

Presented by Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

Historic RCA Studio B is one of the world's most important and successful recording studios. More than 35,000 songs were brought to life by the Studio B magic, including more than 1,000 American hits, 40 million-selling singles, and over 200 Elvis Presley recordings (by far more than any other studio). Step into the house of the hitmakers and...

Ryman Auditorium Tours

Presented by Ryman Auditorium at Ryman Auditorium

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

The Ryman Auditorium is a National Historic Landmark and must see for anyone visiting Nashville. Most famous as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 — 1974, its history as Nashville's premiere theater and central gathering place started even before construction was complete in 1892. It is truly the cultural epicenter of...

Franklin on Foot Haunted Franklin Tour

Presented by Franklin on Foot at Franklin on Foot

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

Lives cut short.... Sudden, violent death.... Unfinished business. All reasons spirits remain behind. But sometimes it's something entirely different: folks get so attached to their homes that they just can't bear to leave...even after they die.

Franklin seems to be full of both kinds. We've got departed socialites, spies, businessmen,...

The Original Nash Trash Tour

Presented by Nash Trash Tours at Nash Trash Tours

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

The Original NashTrash Tour is a one-of-a-kind country musical-comedy extravaganza. Hop on the Big Pink Bus and Sheri Lynn & Brenda Kay (the Jugg Sisters) will dish the dirt on your favorite polyester, double-knit, sequined country music legends. And there's as much going on inside the bus as outside it...you'll laugh 'til yer face...

Franklin on Foot "The Widow of the South" Tour

Presented by Franklin on Foot at Franklin on Foot

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

The Widow of the South, written by long-time Franklin resident and Historic Carnton Plantation Association board member Robert Hicks, centers on the life of Carrie McGavock, the mistress of Carnton before, during and after the Civil War. After the hardcover release in September, 2005, the book rose to #5 and spent eight weeks on the New York...

The Redneck Comedy Bus Tour- Pick Up at Nashville Palace

Presented by The Redneck Comedy Tour at Nashville Palace

August 9, 2011 - Ongoing

Ever wonder what country stars do when not on the radio or in jail? Where are the free redneck hangouts? Is Music Row really haunted? What is a Goo Goo Pie and a Moon Pie? Where do they come from? All this and more revealed in a 2-hour fun filled tour of Nashville's most famous and historic sites!

Opry Backstage Pass Tours

Presented by Grand Ole Opry at Grand Ole Opry House

February 23, 2012 - Ongoing

Take a tour of the Grand Ole Opry® House! Experience a behind the scenes look at the show that made country music famous.

James K. Polk Ancestral Home

Presented by Maury County CVB at James K. Polk Home

June 13, 2012 - Ongoing

The only remaining residence of James K. Polk except the White House, the ca. 1816 home was built by Polk’s father Samuel, and is one of the best examples of Federal style architecture remaining in Tennessee. Today it houses over 1000 objects that belonged to President and Mrs. Polk including furniture, paintings, china, and...

Tour the Schermerhorn

Presented by Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center

July 25, 2012 - Ongoing

Hear the sounds, see the sights, and take a FREE tour of the Schermerhorn--home of the Nashville Symphony. Led by knowledgeable and welcoming docents, tours of Schermerhorn Symphony Center are offered free of charge at 11:00am on most Wednesdays and Saturdays, beginning in the West Atrium, adjacent to the Symphony Café. Tours last...

Tour the Belle Meade Plantation

Presented by Belle Meade Plantation at Belle Meade Plantation

July 28, 2012 - Ongoing

Your visit to Belle Meade Plantation will include a tour led by a trained and costumed guide through the plantation’s beautiful Greek-Revival mansion commissioned by John Harding in 1845. Your ticket also includes access to Belle Meade’s many other historic buildings on the plantation grounds including a dairy, horse stable,...

Velma Thompson Doll Collection

Presented by The Patton House Museum at Patton House Museum

August 7, 2012 - Ongoing

The Thompson Doll Collection boast over 2,000 different dolls. The collection is on display at the Patton House Museum.

Guided Tour of Falcon Rest Mansion

Presented by Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens at Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens

April 15, 2013 - Ongoing

Take a guided tour of Falcon Rest Mansion,a 10,000-square-foot beauty built by Gorilla Pants manufacturer Clay Faulkner in 1896.  The mansion's restoration won the National Trust Great American Home Award, and the Victorian antiques are some of the finest anywhere, but the emphasis of this tour is on the faciscinating people associated...

The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country

Presented by Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

March 23, 2012-December 31, 2013

The Bakersfield Sound story begins during the Great Depression, when Bakersfield's cotton farms and oil fields attracted a mass migration of Dust Bowl refugees from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. Born in Texas in 1929, Buck Owens moved with his sharecropping parents to Arizona before heading to Bakersfield in 1951. Merle...

Yulefest

Presented by City of Goodlettsville and City of Goodlettsville at Historic Mansker's Station

December 7, 2013

Ring in the holiday season in 1780s style. On this night, the historic site opens its doors for a free, festive night of old-tyme festivities. There will be refreshments in the Visitor's Center along with live music. Head outside to enjoy entertainment by candlelight at both Mansker's Fort and Bowen House. Yulefest is truly an event for all...

Whispers from the Past - Be a Ghost Hunter for a Night

Presented by Rippavilla Plantation at RippaVilla Plantation

November 9, 2013

Rippavilla regularly hosts overnight paranormal investigations throughout the year. Dudley Pitts, residential paranormal investigator, leads the investigations. Established paranormal groups and interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Investigations begin Saturday evening and end at approximately 3:00am the following day. Guests will...

Nashville Civil War Lecture Series: Dan Pomeroy presents The Unionists

Presented by Metropolitan Historical Commission and Land Trust for Tennessee at Fisk University

October 15, 2013

The Metropolitan Historical Commission and 16 state and local partners announce the Nashville Civil War Lecture Series and the release of a new Civil War history brochure. The lecture series will take place on the third Tuesday of the month, May through October, from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, at a new location each month, offering a unique opportunity...

Cumberland Plateau 12th Annual Pow Wow

Presented by Indigenous Intertribal Corp. at Putnam County Fairgrounds

October 5-October 6, 2013

Native dancers, representing many different cultures and Native nations. Lots of exhibition dancing and also social dancing where everyone is welcome in the circle. Pow wow drums. Live flute music. Lots of vendors with Native crafts and foods. Fun and educational for the whole family. Lots of events going on all day long, both...

16th Annual Harvest Days

Presented by Nashville Zoo at Grassmere at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

September 27-September 29, 2013

The Croft, Shute and Dunn families lived and worked the land for five generations. Harvest Days celebrates the history of the home and reflects on the days of yore.

The Croft House lawn will be a flutter with period artisans and activities as you meander through the scenic lawn, lush gardens and nostalgic farm. Included...

Antique Tractor and Engine Show

Presented by Clarksville - Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau at Montgomery County 4H

September 28, 2013

 The 13th Annual Montgomery County Antique Tractor and Engine Show will be held at the 4-H club grounds and pavilion located at 1921 Rossview Road, in Clarksville, TN.

Friday, September 27th, is designated as "Kid's Day." Teachers (and parents) bring students from local and surrounding county and private...

Music City Eats Festival

Presented by Music City Eats Festival at War Memorial Auditorium

September 21-September 22, 2013

Music City Eats: Nashville Food, Wine & Spirits Festival is the brainchild of Grammy award winning artists (and Nashville residents) Caleb and Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon, world renowned chef Jonathan Waxman, Austin-based C3 Presents — producer of Austin FOOD & WINE Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and...

Nashville Civil War Lecture Series: Dr. Steve Hoskins - Singing the Songs of Zion: The War's Impact on Music

Presented by Metropolitan Historical Commission and Land Trust for Tennessee at Church of the Holy Trinity (Holy Trinity Episcopal Church)

September 17, 2013

The Metropolitan Historical Commission and 16 state and local partners announce the Nashville Civil War Lecture Series and the release of a new Civil War history brochure. The lecture series will take place on the third Tuesday of the month, May through October, from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, at a new location each month, offering a unique opportunity...

Blue Heron Nature Cruise

Presented by Blue Heron Cruises, Inc. at Riverbluff Park

May 25-September 15, 2013

Enjoy an inexpensive family outing aboard the Blue Heron, a 22-passenger pontoon boat. This 90-minute cruise travels through rural farmland and Wildlife Refuge area, so lots of wild birds are amid the "big sky" scenery. You can picnic and use the playground at Riverbluff Park before or after your cruise, and there's also a great...

Tennessee State Fair

Presented by Tennessee State Fair at Tennessee State Fairgrounds

September 6-September 15, 2013

This year’s State Fair will showcase the culture and promise of the entire state of Tennessee, making it a true state fair. It will epitomize the best of Tennessee, emphasizing agriculture and youth, heritage and future, all in an educational and entertaining atmosphere. During the fair, the Tennessee State Fairgrounds will come alive...

31st Annual Standing Stone Marbles Festival & National Rolley Hole Championships

Presented by Overton Chamber of Commerce at Standing Stone State Park

September 14, 2013

The Marbles Festival and Rolley Hole Championships have entries from across the United States and several other countries.  You will not only see the many contests leading up to the crowning  of the champions, but also see marbles being made by craftsmen.

Held each September, Standing Stone State Park's Rolley...

Day Out With Thomas

Presented by Tennessee Central Railway Museum at Tennessee Central Railway Museum

August 31-September 8, 2013

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS 2013: The Go Go Thomas Tour

Bring your preschoolers to take the ride of their lives! Seen on the pages of favorite storybooks, in playrooms, and on the television screen, Thomas the Tank Engine® is adored by little engineers everywhere. Now, Thomas the Tank Engine is pulling into the station for...

Discovering the Civil War

Presented by Tennessee State Museum at Tennessee State Museum

February 12-September 1, 2013

Discovering the Civil War, landmark exhibition from Washington D.C.’s National Archives at the Tennessee State Museum.

Layers of time and memory have obscured the American Civil War for many in a smoky haze. The real human beings, military and civilian, who lived through these years of travail and sacrifice, are lost to us,...

Carnton Summer Concert Series

Presented by Historic Carnton Plantation at Historic Carnton Plantation

August 25, 2013

Carnton Plantation serves as a unique venue for friends and families to relax on the lawn and listen to some of area’s most talented musicians. 

Tickets may be purchased either in advance or at the door. Guests are welcome to pack picnic dinners or take advantage of on-site food and beverage vendors. 

Nashville Civil War Lecture Series: Dr. Lisa Pruitt presents The Sick and the Wounded

Presented by Metropolitan Historical Commission and Belle Meade Plantation at Belle Meade Plantation

August 20, 2013

The Metropolitan Historical Commission and 16 state and local partners announce the Nashville Civil War Lecture Series and the release of a new Civil War history brochure. The lecture series will take place on the third Tuesday of the month, May through October, from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, at a new location each month, offering a unique opportunity...

Whispers from the Past - Be a Ghost Hunter for a Night

Presented by Rippavilla Plantation at RippaVilla Plantation

August 10, 2013

Rippavilla regularly hosts overnight paranormal investigations throughout the year. Dudley Pitts, residential paranormal investigator, leads the investigations. Established paranormal groups and interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Investigations begin Saturday evening and end at approximately 3:00am the following day. Guests will...

Music City Roots: The Pine Hill Haints, Kansas Bible Company & more

Presented by Music City Roots at The Loveless Barn

July 31, 2013

Music City Roots, Live From The Loveless Cafe is a weekly, two-hour radio show that revives the historic legacy of live musical production. Broadcast on Wednesday nights on Lightning 100 on Wednesday nights from 7:00pm to 9:00pm,CST, Music City Roots, Live From The Loveless Cafe showcases Nashville's astonishing music scene,...