Turn Back Time by Touring These Tennessee Historic Sites

• Historic Significance: Blount Mansion in Knoxville was built by William Blount, North Carolina's House of Commons member and delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The house is made of sawn lumber per the request of his wife, Mary Blount. She wanted a "proper" wood home. The kitchen, though recreated, is on the original site. The governor's office is a replica of a typical 1790s office.
   
• Parking: Visitor parking is available at the Blount Mansion Visitors Center.
   
• Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Sunday, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
   
• Special Experiences: Dive deeper by attending the monthly lecture series; with speakers covering Tennessee history topics from the "Progressive Women of Appalachia" to the "Black American Revolution."
   
• Pricing: General Admission is $15 per adult. For $40, you can opt for the Historic Homes Passport and gain access to 7 other historic sites in Tennessee.

• Historic Significance: Ramsey House Plantation is set on 101.5 acres in Knoxville. It was built by Thomas Hope for Francis Alexander Ramsey, a member of one of the first families to settle in Knoxville, in 1797. Admire the woodwork details found throughout the home, a preserved piano forte and period-piece dolls.
   
• Hours of Operation: The Ramsey House is open Thursday through Saturday, from 10 AM – 4 PM
   
• Special Experiences: Experience Tennessee history through the eyes of a tradesman and observe the working Blacksmith Shop on property. 
   
• Pricing: General Admission of the Ramsey Home is $10 per adult. The Historic House Passport is available for 40$ and includes this property, as well as 7 other historic Tennessee landmarks in Knoxville.
   
• Accessibility Options: Due to the historic nature of the home, virtual tours are available upon request. The visitor center, restroom, and gift shop are all ADA accessible.

• Historic Significance: Smyrna is famous for the Sam Davis Home and Plantation, the original 1850s home settled on a 160-acre farm that continues to grow cotton. Sam Davis was from an upper middle-class family. He enlisted in the Civil War and became one of "Coleman's Scouts," working behind enemy lines, retrieving Union information and disrupting communication between Union troops. He was captured and charged by the Union as a spy where, ultimately, he was hanged. The Sam Davis Home and Plantation is its original 1850s structure. Get a glimpse of authentic craftsmanship from the floors, woodwork and doors.
   
• Hours of Operation: The Sam Davis Home is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
   
• Special Experiences: Give your historical experience a whimsical flare and attend a tea party hosted in the home. Complete with crafts, treats, and music-- you won't want to miss it.
   
• Pricing: General admission is $20 per adult and grants you full access to this Tennessee plantation.
   
• Accessibility Options: The Visitor’s Center and Museum are wheelchair accessible. In the historic home, there is a ramp to the first floor, and pictures of the second floor are offered for viewing by the tour guide.

• Historical Significance: Nashville's Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery has a cherry wood, cantilevered staircase, limestone pillars and ruby glass transom above the front door all thanks to Williams Giles Harding who redesigned John Harding's 1820 home. Harding also had a thriving Thoroughbred stud farm and nursery with equine bloodlines still connected to famous racers today. The Belle Meade Winery, Nashville's first, was founded in 2009 and offers a variety of experiences like a wine and food pairing which features five wines with light food.
   
• Hours of Operation: The Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery is open daily, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Winter hours may differ.
   
• Special Experiences:  Stroll to the 1820s Ice House for a Belle Meade Bourbon tasting which includes the history of the Revolution through Prohibition while you sip on mini cocktails.
   
• Pricing: Grounds Admission is $24 a person and a house tour is $32. Multiple unique tours are offered daily.

• Historic Significance: One of Nashville's well-known plantations is The Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson's home. Before it became Jackson's, the land was bought by Nathaniel Hays in 1780 then later sold to the future president. Jackson, his wife and family transformed the property into a 1,000-acre plantation, building a Federal-style home from 1819-1821. The Hermitage contains a library, farm office, copper gutters and a two-story entrance portico with Doric columns. 
   
• Parking: The Hermitage offers a complimentary on-site parking lot for its guests. 
   
• Hours of Operation: The Hermitage is open daily from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
   
• Special Experiences: Enjoy a full events calendar with documentary showings, Dogs & Donuts, and a book club.
   
• Pricing: General Admission tickets are $26.95 and include access to the grounds, gardens and mansion. Take the tour and explore one of Tennessee most famous historic landmarks.

• Historical Significance: Though Davies Manor Plantation in Bartlett may seem modest, but is a Tennessee landmark worth touring. It is unknown who originally built the log cabin. However, Joel W. Royster made additions when he bought the land in 1831 – 1837. He added a breezeway, two-story bedroom area and a dining room was added in the 1860s. A well house, slave cabins and commissary are available for tours on the grounds.
   
• Hours of Operation: Tours are available Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
   
• Pricing: Admission to this Tennessee plantation is $10 for adults. 

• Historical Significance: Cherry Mansion in Savannah was originally built by David Robinson as a wedding gift to his daughter and her husband, W.H. Cherry in 1830. When the Civil War broke out, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant used the mansion as his headquarters. It's said that Grant received information the Battle of Shiloh had begun as he was sitting down to breakfast. He rushed outside and could hear gunfire from the back porch of Cherry Mansion. The mansion still stands as a historical site in Tennessee.
   
• Hours of Operation and Pricing: This Historic Tennessee home is a private residence; but can be viewed via sidewalks and respective historical markers. For tour reservations please call 731-607-1208.

Continue your Civil War heritage tour through Tennessee on the self-guided Civil War Trails. Or, learn about other moments in the state at these historic sites.