We had tickets to go for about a year, but we never could sync up our schedules enough to actually make the trip. Some friends had given us the tickets to say thank you to Michael for being a Manny to one of their kids. It was a beautiful day, and we were so excited to get out of the house and experience some TN history!
Before we got to the tour of the plantation, we stopped in Historic downtown Franklin to get some lunch at Pucketts. I had never eaten there, and always wanted to.
Pucketts is also a bar and a grocery store that sells local and iconic TN items.
Beka Got a veggie Burger with Fries. There was not much that hit the spot when she had cravings, but this was definitely a great meal! She was a very full and happy pregnant woman.
Michael got beef tri-tip, onion rings, mashed sweet potatoes, a roll, and turnip greens. He wanted to go all southern!
After the amazing lunch, we headed to the Carnton Plantation. It was a site in the civil war that the confederates took refuge in during the battle of Franklin. The house on the property was used to shelter the soldiers, and some of the rooms were used as a hospital. There is a tour to take you around the grounds and the old house, showing some of the old items and rooms that all the history took place in. The grounds were beautiful, and the day was sunny and warm.
This was the visitor's center that was chalk full of memorabilia and tourist items.
This is the actual plantation (or what is left of it. There was a wing that was destroyed by a tornado many many years ago). The house had been bought and sold many times after the civil war, but it finally landed in the hands of the city, and they restored it to what they believe is historically accurate.
Emery and I were excited to take the tour (and walk and walk and walk! He is only 5 days away from his due date!)
A mother and son who took the tour with us offered to take our photo. We don't often get to have both of us in the pict, so we were very excited!
Before the tour, Michael and I hung out on the front porch and rested before the tour began. We started chatting with the other people there for the tour, and it turned out that they were all from California too! It was older couples who were touring TN's historic sites. They were tickled to hear that we were from Cali, and loved seeing how excited and close to the due date we were. The Joke on the tour was "there will be no photographing of any kind, please do not touch the antiques, and if you can at all help it, don't have your water break on the original hardwood floors".
There were no photos allowed in the house, but the tour was great. The tour guide was less than exciting, but the house itself was very interesting. You could still see some of the original wall paper, and there were still blood stains on some of the floors from the soldiers injured during the battle.
After the tour we were free to roam the grounds and check out the other buildings and the Gardens. Everything was so pretty, and so well taken care of. Beka told Michael that she could live in the Gardens.
This was the roof of an out building that was a cook/ slave house. The moss made a really cool sight.
There was also a grave site there that specified what soldiers died from what states, and had the family of the plantation, and their slaves.
After we visited the cemetery, we went back to get some literature on the house, and the visitor center was closed! So we headed out and stopped at the New Henpeck Market for some cold drinks.
The henpeck market is a store that has been around for years that sells good country food, wares, and art. It just went through a renovation and management change, and we were looking forward to seeing the changes.
The back of the market was done beautifully! Beka said she could live out here as well :)
Inside we were walking to get something to drink, and we found this little friend! He was hanging out in the store, and no one minded him there. They said they would make him the mascot of the store.
We got some flavored iced tea for the way home. It was a tasty way to end a wonderful day!
It was a great date day, and served it's purpose in getting both of our minds of the baby and the waiting.
Thanks for sharing this adventure with us!
Team Oakley
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