Carnton Plantation

When most people think of art, their minds immediately jump to famous paintings or sculptures that have caught their eye at some point in time. Many people forget that buildings are a form of art as well. They must be planned out precisely and then executed perfectly, just like any painting or sculpture. One of the most beautiful (in my opinion) houses in the picturesque town of Franklin, Tennessee is the historic Carnton Plantation. To my luck, I get to live directly next to this astounding house that is filled with history from the civil war. Seeing the red and white brick house as I approach my own house everyday is a sight that will live with me for many years.

Carnton Plantation was initially constructed in 1815 by Randal McGavock, who designed the building to reflect the Federal style of many American buildings in this time period. No offense to anyone who is drawn towards this style of house, but I tend to find it slightly boring. The houses are so well proportioned and balanced that it makes the house almost look plain. This is not to say that these houses are ugly by any stretch of the imagination, but when one compares the Federal style to the Greek Revival style of the Carnton Plantation we know today, it is easy to see the new beauty the renovation adds to the house. It was in 1843 when the son of Randal, John McGavock, decided to renovate the house in this new style. He did this by adding a two-story Greek Revival portico to the front of the house and a two-story porch to the rear house. This is the way the house stands today. The columns on the rear porch are very similar to the Doric columns of Ancient Greece while the arch above the front door on the front portico is similar to that of the Ancient Romans. The combination of these two eras of art along with the overall American design of the building gives Carnton Plantation a vast range of inspirations and a unique position in the overall realm of architecture.

Carnton Plantation gains its famous history from the Civil War in which it acted as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Because of its well-known history as a hospital, Carnton is known for being one of the most haunted houses in the South. Ever since I moved into my recent house I have wanted to take one the haunted night tours of the house, but I have never gained up the courage to attend one of these outings. Nevertheless, I highly recommend anyone that is ever visiting Franklin, Tennessee to visit this historic plantation. It will not be a disappointment.