mansion tour in nashville

Plan Your Visit

General Admission tickets available at the door.

Average visit is 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

Hours of Operation

Monday - Saturday 

Open from 10 am to 3:30 pm*

Open from 11 am to 3:30 pm*

* Last guest admitted at 3:30 pm

Doors close at 4:30 pm

Holiday Hours  

Closed Thanksgiving Day,

December 23-25,

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and MLK Day.

We invite you to explore the largest house built in Tennessee prior to the Civil War. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen.

Visiting here is a unique opportunity to explore one of the few 1850s era homes still standing in Nashville while learning about the people - both free and enslaved - whose stories make this site worth understanding.

Accessi b ility

The first floor of belmont mansion is wheelchair accessible. for assistance entering the mansion, please call 615-460-5459 when you arrive and a tour guide will lead you to an elevator if needed. .

For those who are una ble to climb the stairs to the second floor bedrooms, we have a virtual tour available in the Museum Shop.

Photo Policy 

No video or personal photo shoots are permitte d.

Publicity photos allowed when prior arrangements have been made with administrative staff.  

Belmont Mansion is just 15 minutes from downtown Nashville and 20 minutes from the Nashville Airport and Opryland area.   Located on the beautiful campus of Belmont University, the Mansion is just off Acklen Avenue and behind Freeman Hall.  Our parking lot has its own Google Maps pin. Just search for  Belmont Mansion Visitor Parking.

Parking  and registration, parking on campus is free - as long as you are in a visitor parking space  and registered. you will need to enter the plate number, make, model, and color of your vehicle.  , there is a visitor parking lot adjacent to belmont mansion. parking is also available in any other university visitor parking lot. please be sure to observe city p arking signs when parking in the neighborhood off campus. towing is enforced. .

Welcome to Cheekwood

Experience spectacular gardens and world-class art at our 55-acre historic estate. With something to inspire and excite everyone, there’s no other place like Cheekwood.

Featured Events

TROLLS: Save the Humans

Summer Teas

Thursday Night Out

Jazz Under the Stars

What’s happening.

Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist

Cheekwood Debuts: The Masterpiece Art Series

Music City Rose Show

Exposition of Elegance: Classic Cars at Cheekwood

The Member Experience

Become a Cheekwood member and fully experience the unparalleled beauty of Nashville’s landmark country estate. With a membership, you have access to exhibition previews, exclusive member-only events, complimentary general admission, special class discounts, and so much more. Join today and elevate your next visit!

Become a Member

Join Cheekwood today and experience the unparalleled beauty of Nashville’s landmark country estate.

Membership Benefits

Cheekwood membership provides complimentary general admission to gardens and exhibitions, invitations to members-only events, discounts at the Gift Shops and Café 29, and more.

Join a Society

Deepen your investment in Cheekwood through Society level membership. Enjoy additional opportunities to engage with garden and art-related programs and events.

Plan Your Visit

An exciting excursion for kids of all ages, there’s always plenty of family fun at Cheekwood! Take your little ones on a journey to the past in our historic mansion, learn about the science of horticulture in our gardens, or attend one of our special events — no matter their interests, our historic homefront is a fun-filled experience they’ll never forget! View our family-friendly itinerary and find activities your kids will love.

Adults Day Out

The options below will take you through eight distinct gardens, inspiring art galleries and give you a sense of the history of the estate. Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion, cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum.

Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion, cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum. The tour options below will give you a sense of the history and artistic beauty of Cheekwood with a focus on the art exhibitions and collections. It includes a walk along the unique outdoor sculpture trail.

Garden Enthusiasts

With 55 acres there is a lot to explore. Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion, cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum. The options below will take you through each of the distinct botanical gardens on the estate. Be sure to check out the Seasonal Display Guide, Monthly Top Plant Picks and the Arboretum Map.

History Buffs

Welcome to Cheekwood. Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion and 55 acres of cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum. The tour options below will give you ample time to learn about the Cheek family history and opportunities to experience the artistic beauty of Cheekwood.

Weddings & Private Events

Whether you’re planning the wedding of your dreams or another private event, Cheekwood’s spectacular landscape is the perfect backdrop to impress your guests and create just the right ambiance. Learn more about our facility rentals or take a tour of our beautiful venue options today!

Cheekwood Moments

Giant Trolls

Acres of beauty, sq feet mansion.

Nashville's Best Historical Homes

TripSavvy / Jackson Vance 

No trip to Nashville would be complete without a visit to one of its many historical homes. From log cabins to castles to plantation mansions, you'll learn a lot about how people lived during earlier times. Architecture buffs will be fascinated by different styles such as Greek Revival, Italianate, and Moorish-Gothic. You can even see the home of a U.S. president: The Hermitage, owned by President Andrew Jackson. The following is a list of some of the best historical homes and mansions that Middle Tennessee has to offer, all within an hour's drive of Nashville.

Belle Meade Plantation

TripSavvy / Jackson Vance

110 Leake Ave. Nashville, TN 37205

Belle Meade Plantation, founded in 1807 by John Harding, started with just one log cabin on 250 acres. In 1845, he commissioned the building of the Greek Revival mansion, which was home to five generations. The grounds now cover 5,400 acres and, in addition to the mansion, ​including a horse farm, dairy, mausoleum, gardens, and carriage house. After the tour, enjoy a free wine tasting, get a bite in the restaurant, and visit the gift shop.

Ambrose House

122 S. 12th St. Nashville, TN 37206

The beautiful Ambrose House is a Victorian charmer with crown molding, brick, copper, warm woods, and 12-foot ceilings. Architect Hugh Cathcart Thompson designed the house and is most famous for designing the historic Ryman Auditorium, which opened as a church in 1892 but in 1943 became the home of country music's Grand Ole Opry radio show.

Athenaeum Rectory

808 Athenaeum St. Columbia, TN 38401

Located in Columbia, Athenaeum Rectory was completed in about 1837 and is known for its Moorish-Gothic architecture. It served as the rectory for the family of Rev. Franklin Gillette Smith, headmaster of a girls' school. After the last member of the Smith family to live there died in the 1970s, the home was donated for use as a museum.

Belmont Mansion

1900 Belmont Blvd. Nashville, TN 37212

The Belmont Mansion, built in Italianate style, was completed in 1853 and served as a temporary headquarters for the Union Army during the Civil War, as well as an all-girls college and seminary. With 19,000 square feet and 36 rooms, the house is Tennessee's largest house museum and one of the most elaborate Southern antebellum homes.

Bowen Plantation House

PapaBear/Getty Images

705 Caldwell Drive Goodlettsville, TN 37072

Also known as the Bowen–Campbell House, the Bowen Plantation House, circa 1787, is located in Goodlettsville at Mansker's Station. The two-story, Federal-style house is the oldest brick house in Middle Tennessee and was the frontier home of Capt. William Bowen, an American Revolutionary War veteran.

Buchanan Log House

2910 Elm Hill Pike Nashville, TN 37214

The Buchanan Log House is a two-story house built in 1807 from chestnut logs and has poplar floors and limestone fireplaces. James Buchanan built the home and lived here with his wife and 16 children. Also nearby are the Addison House, a crafts cabin, and the James Buchanan Cemetery. 

Carter House

1140 Columbia Ave. Franklin, TN 37064

Just a mile and a half from Carnton Plantation, the brick Carter House was built in 1830 and was occupied successively by three generations of the Carter Family. In 1864 during the Civil War, a Union Army general took possession of the house to be used as his headquarters during the bloody Battle of Franklin.

3831 Whites Creek Pike Nashville, TN  37207

Cedarwood is a beautiful antebellum farmhouse built in 1835 that now serves as a wedding venue. The 50-acre estate is in the countryside just eight miles north of downtown Nashville .

Cragfont State Historic Site

200  Cragfont Road Castalian Springs, TN 37031

In 1786, Gen. James Winchester, a veteran of the War of 1812, began work on this log cabin. He named it Cragfont because of its location on a high, rocky bluff with a spring at its base. The home wasn't completed until 1802, and once it was, it was considered one of the grandest homes on the Tennessee frontier. Built in the late Georgian style, the house was built from limestone and poplar, walnut, ash, and cherry woods. It even had a second-floor ballroom.

Croft House at Nashville Zoo

3777 Nolensville Pike Nashville, TN 37211

The Croft House, built around 1810 by Col. Michael C. Dunn, is on the Grassmere Historic Farm and Nashville Zoo  property. Originally built in the Federal style, it was converted to Italianate after its renovation following the Civil War. This is when the ornate front and back porches, smokehouse, kitchen, and three-tiered garden were added. This is a working farm with livestock, chicken coop, machine shed, and pastures.

Elm Springs

740 Mooresville Pike Columbia, TN 38401

Elm Springs, located near Columbia, is a two-story, brick house built in 1837 in the Greek Revival style by brothers James and Nathaniel Dick, wealthy cotton merchants from New Orleans. It was later the home of Confederate Lt. Col. Abram M. Looney during the Civil War and was set to be destroyed by fire by Union troops. Fires were started, but Confederate Brig. Gen. Frank C. Armstrong sent troops to put out the flames. The house is currently the headquarters for the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens

2645 Faulkner Springs Road McMinnville, TN 37110

Falcon Rest is a 10,000-square foot Victorian mansion in McMinnville built in 1896 by Gorilla Pants manufacturer Clay Faulkner. The brick house features electricity, central heat, and indoor plumbing, causing PBS to liken it to the impressive Biltmore Estate in North Carolina . The house was used as a hospital from the 1940s until 1968. Today it features a Victorian Tea Room and gift shop. 

Carnton Plantation

Pat Canova/Getty Images

1345 Eastern Flank Circle Franklin, TN 37064 615-794-0903

Carnton Plantation was built in 1826 by Randal McGavock, a former mayor of Nashville, and was one of the area's premier farms. In 1864 during the Civil War's Battle of Franklin, the home became a field hospital where hundreds of wounded soldiers were taken. The land near the family's cemetery became the final resting place for 1,500 Confederate soldiers killed during the battle. It's the country's largest privately owned military cemetery.

Gordon House

205 Old Spencer Mill Road Burns, TN 37029

Gordon House, built in 1818, was one of the first brick homes built within a 30-mile radius of Natchez Trace near Williamsport. The Georgian-style structure was built on Chickasaw land and was the main house on a 1,500-acre plantation featuring a trading post and ferry over Duck River. Its owner, Capt. John Gordon served under Confederate Gen. Andrew Jackson and was known to be a fierce Indian fighter. He was also Nashville's first postmaster.

Hundred Oaks Castle

101-, 199 Hundred Oaks Pl Winchester, TN 37398

Tour reservations are required and limited to groups of 20 or more. Directions to the castle are given when reservations are made.

Hundred Oaks Castle, located in Winchester, is one of only 13 remaining historic castles in the United States and is considered one of the world's most romantic. Built as a plantation farmhouse by railroad tycoon Benjamin Decherd in the 1830s, the castle was once home to  Albert Marks, a governor of Tennessee and a relative to Thomas Jefferson. For more than 50 years, it was a monastery. In 1990, a fire thought to be set by an arsonist ripped through the castle. You can tour 30 of the castle's rooms and two of its towers.

Lotz House Museum

1111 Columbia Ave. Franklin, TN 37064

Lotz House Museum, built in 1858 by German carpenter and piano maker Johann Albert Lotz, lies where the 1864 Battle of Franklin took place during the Civil War. The home was a way for Lotz to showcase his beautiful handiwork to attract potential clients.

The house is now a museum of the material culture of Union and Confederate soldiers who fought in the Civil War. It has the largest and most comprehensive collection of War Between the States and Old West artifacts in the Mid-South.

Oaklands Mansion

900 N. Maney Ave. Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Oaklands Mansion, circa 1818, just north of Murfreesboro, was built by Sallie Murfree, daughter of Col. Hardee Murfree, and her husband Dr. Maney. Originally a two-room, brick house, later additions in both Federal and Italianate styles made this one of the most elegant homes in Middle Tennessee. The land served as a cotton and tobacco plantation. Guests included Confederate President Jefferson Davis and First Lady Sarah Childress Polk, wife of President James Polk.

President James K. Polk House & Museum

ProhibitOnions/Flickr/GNU Free Documentation License

301 W. 7th St. Columbia, TN 38401

The James K. Polk House, a brick Federal-style house, was built in 1816 for James K. Polk's father, Samuel, and is the only surviving home of America's eleventh president. James K. Polk lived here with his parents from after his college graduation in 1818 until his marriage to Sarah Childress in 1824. Polk's possessions at the house include furniture, paintings, clothing, and White House china. Before becoming president, Polk was a U.S. Congressman, Speaker of the House, and governor of Tennessee.

Rattle and Snap Plantation

National Park Service photographer/Public Domain

Andrew Jackson Highway (TN 43) Mount Pleasant, TN 38474

Rattle and Snap Plantation, circa 1845, is one of the country's best examples of residential Greek Revival architecture. The property was named Rattle and Snap after William Polk won the land from the North Carolina governor in a game called rattle and snap. The home features beautiful craftsmanship featuring limestone bricks, 10 portico columns, four porches, and 10 Corinthian columns. Talented slave artisans built the house.

Cheekwood Estate

1200 Forrest Park Drive Nashville, TN 37205

Cheekwood is a limestone mansion completed in 1932 by the Cheek Family. The family's fortune came from investments in the Maxwell House coffee brand. The house is a great example of an American Country Place Era Estate. Its 55 acres are now home to a botanical garden and art museum. Popular times to visit are during the spring when more than 100,000 tulips are in bloom and at Christmas when many holiday events are scheduled.

Rippavilla Plantation

5700 Main St. Spring Hill, TN 37174

The two-story brick mansion at Rippavilla Plantation was completed in 1855 by Nathaniel F. Cheairs IV. Every wall in the house is three bricks thick. In 1920, electricity and plumbing were installed and the kitchen and smokehouse were attached to the home.

During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate generals used the mansion as their headquarters, and this is where Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood drew up his plan for the bloody Battle of Franklin in 1864. In 1985, the Saturn car company leased the property. The city of Spring Hill now owns Rippavilla.

Riverwood Mansion

1833 Welcome Lane Nashville, TN 37216

Riverwood Mansion was built by Irish immigrant Alexander Porter, who owned a lot of commercial property in the area. Built in the late 1790s and at 9,200 square feet, this Greek Revival-style house is one of Nashville's oldest and largest. The home has hosted seven U.S. presidents. Today it's a wedding venue.

Rock Castle

139 Rock Castle Lane Hendersonville, TN 37075

Rock Castle is a limestone Federal-style structure on 18 acres next to Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tenn. It was built by Revolutionary War Gen. Daniel Smith in the late 1700s. Smith, a surveyor from Virginia, was a two-time senator and also named the state of Tennessee.

810 S. Water Ave. Gallatin, TN 37066

Rose Mont was established as a 500-acre thoroughbred horse and longhorn cattle farm. Built between 1836 and 1842 by Josephus Conn Guild, the mansion features a blend of Creole and Palladian design. The Creole influence can be seen in its large windows, open-air halls, separate wings, extended roof, and wide porches. The main facade is Italian Palladian design. Its name comes from the property's rose gardens. Today Rose Mont consists of only six remaining acres, is surrounded by a residential neighborhood, and is owned by the city of Gallatin.

Sam Davis Home

1399 Sam Davis Road Smyrna, TN 37167

The Sam Davis Home was built between 1810 and 1820 by the father of Confederate Civil War hero Sam Davis. The two-story house lies on a cotton plantation and is characteristic of a Southern, upper-middle-class family. The home has nine rooms, its original kitchen, a smokehouse, office, and privy. Four slave cabins were relocated to the property to teach about life as a slave on Southern plantations. Located in Smyrna, the house is on 168 acres along the banks of Stewarts Creek.

Smith-Trahern Mansion

101 McClure St. Clarksville, TN 37040

Smith-Trahern Mansion is located north of Nashville in Clarksville where it has overlooked the Cumberland River since 1859. Built by Christopher Smith, a wealthy tobacconist, the house is both a Greek Revival and Italianate design. Highlights include grand hallways, a curved staircase, and a widow's walk on the roof. Slave quarters are the only remaining outbuildings. During World War II, the house served as temporary housing for soldiers. The mansion is rumored to be haunted by one its original owners, Mrs. Smith.

Spring Haven Mansion

1 Spring Haven Court Hendersonville, TN 37075

Spring Haven Mansion is a circa 1825 plantation home that sits on a beautiful three-acre property in Sumner County. It includes a log cabin, smokehouse, springhouse, screened-in porch, patio, and barn. It was built at about the same time as President Andrew Jackson's The Hermitage, and many items in both houses are similar.

Travellers Rest Plantation & Museum

636 Farrell Parkway Nashville, TN 37220

Travellers Rest Plantation, circa 1799, was the former home of Judge John Overton and his family for more than 140 years. The mansion served as the headquarters for Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood just prior to the Battle of Nashville during the Civil War. Today the museum includes exhibits covering the history of the Cumberland Basin area, Native American settlements, the Civil War, and slavery.

Two Rivers Mansion

3130 McGavock Pike Nashville, TN 37214

The stately Italianate Two Rivers Mansion built in 1859 by David McGavock has been restored to reflect the splendor of the 1870s. The 14-acre property also includes a small Federal-style brick home built in 1802. At one time, it was home to livestock, a dairy operation, fox hunting, and a horse-breeding facility. Many of the estate's 50 outbuildings were destroyed by a tornado in 1933. Now owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, you'll also find two schools, a golf course, water park, skate park, and picnic areas here.

The Hermitage

4580 Rachel’s Lane Hermitage, TN 37076

The Hermitage mansion was the home of President Andrew Jackson, who lived here from 1804 until his death in 1845. In 1889, it opened as a museum and has become one of the most visited presidential museums with more than 15 million visitors.

This National Historic Landmark on 1,120 acres was once a cotton plantation that relied entirely on the labor of African slaves. At the time of Jackson's death, he had owned 150 slaves. He is buried on the grounds alongside his wife, Rachel, who died in 1828.

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A Nashville Jewel

The perfect backdrop for your unforgettable occasion.

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Explore a Piece of Local History

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Two Rivers Mansion is a beautiful 1859 antebellum mansion located in Nashville, Tennessee. Take a virtual tour of this unique and distinctive piece of local history.

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Mansion History & Restoration

Two Rivers Mansion, one of the last of the elaborate antebellum country homes built in the Nashville area and one of the earliest and best preserved of the ornate Italianate houses in Middle Tennessee, was once part of an 1100-acre plantation located on fertile, rolling land between the Stones and Cumberland rivers.

Home » North America » USA » Tennessee » Belmont Mansion in Nashville: A Tour of the Opulent Antebellum Home

Belmont Mansion in Nashville: A Tour of the Opulent Antebellum Home

By Author Laura Longwell

Posted on Last updated: January 12, 2021

Adelicia Acklen had more money than most people could ever dream, especially at a time when women were not generally allowed to have money at all. The widow of one of the wealthiest slave traders in the US, she built Belmont Mansion—a 36-room, 20,000-square-foot retreat—as a summer home. Now in the middle of Nashville, the mansion is one of the most popular attractions in the city .

A Belmont Mansion tour is a look at how the wealthiest of the wealthy lived in Tennessee at the time around the Civil War. With lavish decorations and the finest finishes, it was a work of art, and the surrounding estate became like a resort for the Acklens’ neighbors.

The Masterpiece of Belmont Mansion and Estate

Touring the mansion, seeing the grounds, visiting information.

Adelicia Acklen began building Belmont Mansion (originally known as Belle Monte) in 1849, just three years after the death of her first husband. A partner in the largest slave trading firm in the US and renowned for his cruelty, Isaac Franklin owned six plantations and 750 enslaved people when he died. His passing left Adelicia a millionaire, though the origin of her income was about as unsavory as it gets.

With her second husband, Joseph Acklen, Adelicia built Belmont Mansion on their 180-acre summer estate. When the home was completed in 1853, it was one of the most remarkable in Nashville. It was still 8 years before the Civil War, and money was no object for the wealthy couple.

Over the next few years, the estate became even grander. There was a greenhouse and a conservatory. An art gallery and a bowling alley were built for culture and recreation, and the bath house helped with Joseph’s arthritis.

Beyond the main buildings, the grounds were extravagant, too. There were massive gardens, fountains, a lake, and a water tower that still stands on the property today.

The most unusual thing at the antebellum estate was unquestionably the zoo. With an aviary, a bear house, alligators, monkeys, and a deer park, the Acklens amassed their own menagerie. There was no public zoo in Nashville at the time, and the Acklens loved the animals so much that they opened their zoo for local visitors to enjoy.  

It was a grand life, indeed.

Taking a tour of Belmont Mansion offers a look into the life of high society. It is richly colored carpets, beautifully carved wood, and paintings that cost more than most people earned in a year. It is the largest house museum in Tennessee, so there is a lot to see.

We began our tour on the first floor in the Grand Salon where the sweeping staircase, ornate columns, and marbleized wood floor were designed to make an impression on everyone who visited the Acklens here. The intricate crown molding and arched windows reinforced the idea that this was a place where the details were taken seriously.

In the parlor, library, and other spaces downstairs, we saw flowery wallpaper, carved fireplaces, and original Venetian glass—one of the most expensive decorations of the time. Our tour guide shared stories of Adelicia’s friendships with President James K. Polk and his wife and even with Napoleon III. We learned about her collection of marble statues purchased on her Grand Tour of Europe after the Civil War, a time when few people had that much money available.

Upstairs, the bedrooms were not quite as opulent as the entertaining spaces downstairs. Still, we saw plenty of gorgeous headboards, expensive vases, and linens fit for royalty. The wallpaper in Adelicia’s large bedroom was the same as what covered the walls in The Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson’s estate nearby .

But among so many luxurious things, there are also stories of real life. From the beautiful painting of Adelicia’s three daughters who did not survive to adulthood to Joseph’s succumbing to malaria during the Civil War, the stories of the Franklins and Acklens are certainly not all rosy.

On this tour surrounded by all the lavish items, it’s easy to forget where the money to purchase these gorgeous things came from.

Adelicia was a strong woman and a shrewd negotiator to thrive as she did through the challenges life brought her. (She once made a cunning deal with both Union and Confederate generals to reclaim nearly $1 million in hay bales that soldiers wanted to burn.) But she was also an owner of people and plantations. That part of the story is only a small portion of the tour.

There are several reasons that the narrative of the enslaved workers at Belmont Mansion isn’t more prominent. Unlike Belle Meade plantation a few miles away or other plantations we’ve been to in New Orleans , Belmont was not an actual plantation. The land and most of the enslaved people from whom Adalecia made her money were not here—her holdings were primarily in Louisiana and Texas as well as elsewhere in Tennessee.

The tour doesn’t hide the reality of slavery or its importance in the lives of the Acklens, but it can’t show it to visitors. The physical space where the 32 enslaved workers spent most of their time at the mansion was changed or demolished within a few decades of the end of the Civil War.

The basement where the enslaved people primarily worked was remodeled beginning in 1889, erasing historical details there. By the next year, the quarters of the enslaved were removed, which made interpretation of their living situation impossible. Without census records or other detailed accounts, the stories of the people who made Belmont run are lost to time.

With a few exceptions, the outbuildings of Belmont Mansion and its grounds are gone or have been substantially changed over the years.

In December 1864, Union troops took up residence at the Belmont for two weeks. Though the house and its contents weren’t harmed, the same can’t be said for the grounds. Multiple buildings, walls, and the manicured gardens were left in tatters or destroyed. The fence was used for firewood, and other materials on the grounds were taken for the soldiers’ use.

In 1887, Adelicia sold the mansion, and by 1890, it had become part of a women’s college. Substantial changes were made across the property that caused it to deviate further from the original design.

Today, the mansion is an important part of the Belmont University campus, a green oasis in Nashville. The aviary and an original iron gazebo can still be seen along with the Acklens’ water tower. Sadly, there are no crocodiles or bears anymore, but that’s probably best for the students.

Belmont Mansion is located in the Belmont/Hillsboro Village neighborhood of Nashville less than 3 miles from the heart of downtown. There is a small parking lot (which can be awkward if it’s particularly full) right next to the mansion, and there are more parking spaces just a few steps away.

Tickets are available online or in the mansion gift shop where the tours begin. 

Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.

In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.

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Mansion Tours

Guided tours of falcon rest mansion bring the faulkner family and the 1890s to life for visitors of all ages., there's something for everyone on this historic mansion tour between nashville and chattanooga, tenn..

• The Victorian mansion called “Tennessee’s Biltmore” by PBS. Mr. Faulkner’s obituary described him as a mechanical genius, so it’s easy to understand why his mansion was equipped with “all the modern conveniences of a model city residence.”
• Museum quality Victorian antiques in every room
• Gardens reflecting the bounty of McMinnville, “the nursery capital of the world”
• A restoration that so revived a near-derelict old building that it won the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Great American Home Award” — an inspiration to visitors who are redoing old homes themselves
• Intriguing accounts of experiences that hint Falcon Rest might be inhabited by a friendly ghost
• Real stories about real people associated with the mansion over the years, from Mr. Faulkner (the “secret soldier” of the Civil War) and his colorful family, through its days as a local hospital and its dedicated restoration

They all add up to the Victorian mansion where history is fun.

PLEASE NOTE: The mansion and gardens are not visible from the road.  They are entirely hidden in the 1890s inside our tall holly hedge.  Enter at the Visitor Center just past the hedge at 85 Bluff Springs Road.  Access to the gardens is restricted to paid tourists, overnight guests, and participants in large events.

• GROUP TOURS
• UPCOMING SHOWS
• PROPERTY MAP

QUESTIONS? Call us at 931-668-4444 or e-mail .

Open wednesday - sunday 9 am to 5 pm..

• Walk-ins welcome Wednesday thru Sunday.
• Gift shop open all day Wed. – Sun., tea room open 11-2, no tour required
• Tours usually start within 15 minutes of guests arrival, and last between 45 minutes to an hour.  We try to start our last tour by 4 pm.
• Closed Monday and Tuesday*, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
•   *If you will only be in town on Monday and Tuesday, call for a tour appointment.  We will be happy to schedule one if a tour guide is available.
• Adults & Teens: $17  | Children 4-12: $9 Plus tax.  No charge for age 3 and under.

Includes guided mansion tour and self-guided gardens tour at your leisure.

• All buildings except the mansion are handicapped accessible. There are three steps to the first floor of the mansion, and 24 very easy ones to the second floor. The buildings are close enough together to make it easy to walk from one to another.  See our property map.
• Please note:  Photographs  are not allowed inside the mansion, but guests are encouraged to stay as long as they like after a tour to take pictures outside and explore the grounds.

Falcon Rest is 1.3 miles north of Hwy. 70S at the end of Faulkner Springs Rd. To enter at the Visitor Center, turn left at the end of Faulkner Springs Rd. onto Bluff Springs Rd., then left onto the driveway just past the mansion. (GPS Address)

No GPS? No problem.  Follow the written directions.

Take Manchester Exit 111 (Hwy. 55) to McMinnville. DO NOT turn and go to the McMinnville business district. Instead, keep going straight and follow Hwy. 70S signs toward Sparta. Turn left onto Faulkner Springs Rd. at the FIFTH traffic light (the one AFTER Korner Market).

Simple way Follow directions above from I-24 through Manchester.

Closest way Take I-24 exit 81B to Murfreesboro. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Rutherford Blvd. After you pass Wal-Mart, turn right again onto Mercury Blvd., which is Hwy. 70S. Go through Woodbury and into McMinnville. Instead of crossing Hwy. 70S toward the downtown McMinnville business district, take the exit toward Sparta. Turn left onto Faulkner Springs Rd. at the FIFTH traffic light (the one AFTER Korner Market).

Closest way Choose the scenic route across the gorgeous Sequatchie Valley (just beware of deer at dusk!)

Take Hwy. 27 across the Tennessee River at the Aquarium, then Hwy. 111 past Dunlap.

Approximately 10+ miles past the Dunlap turnoff, turn left onto Hwy. 8.

Turn right when Hwy. 8 meets Hwy. 56 on the outskirts of McMinnville, enter downtown on Main Street, take the first right onto Sparta St., first left onto Morford St., and first right onto Spring St.

Go straight across the Hwy. 70S Bypass, where Spring St. becomes Faulkner Springs Rd. (Call for directions with less turns if you’ll be in a motorcoach!)

From I-40 West (from Nashville), take Exit 273 south onto Hwy. 56 through Smithville into McMinnville. Turn left onto the Hwy. 70S Bypass, then left again at the second traffic light onto Faulkner Springs Rd.

Closest way Go west on I-40 to Crossville Exit 317. Turn left at the end of the ramp; go about 1-1/2 miles and turn right at the traffic light by Walgreens. Stay on this road (Hwy. 70) just through Sparta, then turn left onto Hwy. 111.

A couple of miles south of Sparta, take fork toward McMinnville on Hwy. 70S. Stay on the four-lane Hwy. 70S Bypass in McMinnville, and turn right at the fourth traffic light onto Faulkner Springs Rd.

Simple way If you’d prefer to stay on 4-lane roads all the way from Knoxville, take I-40 west to Cookeville. Exit onto Hwy. 111 toward Sparta. Follow directions above from Sparta.

Exit the park at the south entrance onto Hwy. 284. For the quickest route, go straight across Hwy. 111 instead of turning north to Spencer. Hwy. 284 curves north and meets Hwy. 30 west of Spencer.

Turn left onto Hwy. 30. Go to the end of Hwy. 30, and turn left where it “y’s” into Hwy. 70S.

Go to the fourth traffic light; turn right onto Faulkner Springs Rd.

Go through Fayetteville, Tullahoma and Manchester, Tenn. Don’t turn onto I-24. Instead, go straight across the Interstate and follow the directions above from I-24 Exit 111 in Manchester.

“This was the best tour I have ever taken. If you have never been here, give it a try. Its beautiful inside and out. Read the history of the place — very interesting.  I give it 5 stars. Gift shop and tea room very nice.”‘

Patricia — walk-in tourist

Lunch in the Tea Room

Enjoy a delicious lunch in our Victorian Tea Room Wednesday thru Sunday, 11-2.

Browse the Gift Shop

Allow some time to shop for 1800s treasures. The Victorian Gift Shop has around 3,000 items you won't find anywhere else.

Relax in the Gardens

After the guided mansion tour, linger at your leisure in Falcon Rest's gardens. Access to the gardens is included in tour admission.

Explore the Local Area

Check out lots more fun things to do in the McMinnville area and Middle Tennessee.

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An Artist's Creative Eye for Color Shapes This Nashville Home

The resulting palette is personal and harmonious with the outdoors.

First things first: light. Cypress devised a series of cased openings to bridge the private quarters at one end of the house, where the bedrooms are located, with the public areas at the other end, where Stern wanted a free-flowing space to throw parties and play pool and mah-jongg. Then the architect proposed a sunroom addition off the kitchen and living and dining rooms, connecting them with the garden and patio. “Now it’s a space that pulls you into the outdoors,” Cypress says.“Even when you aren’t physically outside, it almost feels like you are because there are so many windows and the ceiling height is so gracious.” Stern also asked to use as few recessed lights as possible. Bonesio delivered, except for a handful in the kitchen, sourcing a variety of flush-mount fixtures to spread light around. Next, color. From the beginning, she and Stern had fun with it, Bonesio says. An earthy, pink-toned terra-cotta emerged as a recurring theme, from the plaster walls of the dining room that doubles as an art salon to the reclaimed French parefeuille floors of the sunroom. It’s paired with blues—mostly Farrow & Ball Skylight , a pale blue-gray that brings out its warmth.

.css-17t1xj6:before{content:'“';display:block;font-size:7.5rem;line-height:1.1;font-family:Apparel,Apparel-roboto,Apparel-local,Helvetica,Arial,Serif;margin-bottom:-4rem;letter-spacing:-0.015rem;background-image:none;} .css-x1fw4v{font-family:ApparelItalic,ApparelItalic-roboto,ApparelItalic-local,Georgia,Times,Sans-serif;font-size:2.0625rem;letter-spacing:0.015rem;line-height:1.1;margin:0rem;}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-x1fw4v{font-size:2.625rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-x1fw4v{font-size:2.625rem;line-height:1.1;}}.css-x1fw4v b,.css-x1fw4v strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;}.css-x1fw4v em,.css-x1fw4v i{font-style:italic;font-family:inherit;} It’s a space that pulls you into the outdoors.

By the time the project was done, every detail had Stern’s personal touch—even the chickens’ roost in the barn (complete with its own chandelier). “I love when you have the opportunity to work with someone whose home really is a reflection of them,” Cypress says. “Her perspective made it so beautiful.”

Living Room

Pictured above.

Built-ins painted in Domingue Architectural Finishes mineral paint in Primrose (insets) and Fine Paints of Europe GC822 (trim) flank the original marble mantel. Flush mount: Remains Lighting Company . Chandelier: Room. Curtains: custom, in Lee Jofa fabric . Rug: custom, Erden .

Stern specified an all-wood island with no plumbing, so Cypress had one made in oak.

Paint: Chapel (cabinets), Domingue Architectural Finishes . Countertop: Cristallo Azul quartzite. Faucet: Barber Wilsons & Co. Pendants: Balsamo .

Butler’s Pantry

A deep Kohler sink turns a storage room into a convenient space for arranging flowers. Pendants: Remains Lighting Company . Countertop: London Silk quartzite, Triton Stone Group .

Across from the utility sink, cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore Sandblast (frames) and Sherwin-Williams Blustery Sky (shelves) and backed in Zak + Fox wallpaper hold Stern’s ceramics.

The “catbird seat” is what Cypress calls this idyllic corner off the kitchen for everyday meals. The blue ceiling makes the cheerful space feel even more connected to the outdoors.

Pendant: Soane . Shades: Zak + Fox fabric with Bruder trim . Banquette: custom, Room, in Casal (body) and Perennials (cushions) fabrics. Table: Christophe Delcourt . Chairs: Schwung .

Dining Room

Stern wanted to host parties, not just dinners. Paneling painted in Farrow & Ball Skylight lets her hang art salon-style. Nearby are a dining table slash pool table and a piano. Wall plaster: Brique, Domingue Architectural Finishes . Chairs: Rose Tarlow .

The “very heavy” sink was a Facebook Marketplace find; the Chicago Faucets taps were de-plated to let the unlacquered brass show. Paint: Seapearl (walls), Pilgrim Haze (trim), and Blue Note (door), all Benjamin Moore . Pendants: Currey & Company .

Primary Bedroom

A Dennis Miller bed upholstered in Rose Tarlow fabric introduces a cozy mix of prints. Nightstand: Brett Design . Sconce: Soane . Bedding: Libeco Home .

The Peter Fasano wallpaper inspired a natural palette. Beds: custom, in Fine Paints of Europe GC603 lacquer . Nightstand: Made Goods . Coverlets: custom, in Osborne & Little fabric .

The primary bathroom (left) features a gilded papier-mâché Fisher Weisman chandelier and a Victoria + Albert bathtub with Barber Wilsons & Co. tub filler . Café curtains: custom, in Etamine fabric. Rug: Eliko Rugs .

The guest bathroom (right) is a jack-and-jill shared by two guest bedrooms. The Lacava trough sink allows Stern’s daughters to share the space easily. Paint: Farrow & Ball De Nimes (trim). Wall tile: Tabarka Studio . Ceiling light: Remains Lighting Company . Sconce: Circa Lighting .

A Hartley Botanic Victorian plant house serves as a potting shed and prep zone for herbs from the garden.

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A Nashville guide for those brought here by Beyoncé: Visit these Music City gems

B eyoncé's new album "Cowboy Carter" appears to be a reclamation of country music, and it's led to interest from fans who haven't tuned in to the genre before. Naturally, those listeners are considering trips to the heart of country music — Nashville.

As a new resident of the city, I ventured to some beloved places around town and talked to some local experts to create a simple guide meant to appeal to new fans. It features unique places in Music City, some of which have greatly influenced country music past and present.

Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa

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This lively eatery and honky-tonk is considered the first female artist-inspired restaurant and bar on Lower Broadway. Inspired by chart-topping country music superstar Miranda Lambert, the Tex-Mex eatery highlights her career and reflects her Texas roots.

The establishment spans multiple floors with unique pink decor. On a Saturday afternoon, a live country band played while patrons dined. The singer's influence is evident in the menu and art displayed throughout the place.

Of course, the Beyhive has been buzzing with speculation about whether artists like Lambert or Dolly Parton will be featured in some capacity on the new album, which comes out March 29.

Daniel X Diamond 

Longtime Los Angeles-based stylists Daniel Musto and Lani Lupton eventually arrived in Music City and founded the Daniel X Diamond clothing line. The brand is known for its cowboy core staples, mainly statement pieces embellished with fringe and rhinestones.

The brand has been sourced to some of the most prominent artists in the music industry, including Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. Beyoncé's oldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, was spotted in a Daniel X Diamond jacket in the 2023 "Renaissance" film.

I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon to try on some of the bedazzled pieces and speak with Musto, who referred to his business with Lupton as "our Sasha Fierce." Of course, the hive knows this references Beyoncé's alter ego.

"I've been a fan of Beyoncé forever, [and] I'm so excited now I can tell Alexa to play Beyoncé and all different genres of music pop up," he said. "She did all the really cool house music, country, and obviously pop, R&B and hip-hop."

Musto said the Grammy-award-winning singer began wearing this clothing style with her "Renaissance" album.

"She was introducing country-western through fashion only," he said. "If you think about it, she used fashion to tease music."

And while he is excited about Queen Bey's foray into country music and fashion, he acknowledged the lifestyle's roots.

"I just want to talk about Black culture in general, because that's where country music began," he said. "We always have to nod our cowboy hats to those who started something that's turned into this multibillion dollar business. And I think it's magical the woman at the top of the music industry is going back to her roots of Houston."

The Grand Ole Opry House

Dubbed the home of country music, the Grand Ole Opry has become a cultural landmark. Initially founded in 1925 by George D. Hay as a one-hour live radio show on WSM 650 AM, the Opry is the longest running radio broadcast in the U.S. Since 1974, the radio show has been housed in the Grand Ole Opry House — a 4,400-seat Opryland area venue that hosts several shows each week featuring some of country music's biggest names and rising stars. Artists including Dolly Parton, Darius Rucker, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood have graced the stage.

The Opry holds several types of venue tours daily throughout the year. This month, it offered a Women of Country tour. Guests were greeted with mimosas before they journeyed through the halls where country music legends changed backstage and performed in front of thousands. This tour was a deep dive into all the women who have paved the way in the industry. Of course, guests didn't leave without stepping on the famous circle in the floor of the stage.

Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria

Slim & Husky's is a Black-owned pizza shop. One location of the Nashville-area chain is located in the city's heart at the Fifth + Broadway complex. Amid the country music scene, the eatery boasts a love for hip-hop and R&B culture — not unlike Beyoncé.

"It's Music City, so we wanted to make sure we represent all music genres in Nashville," said co-founder Derrick "Mo" Moore. "R&B, hip-hop and soul happen to be [genres] we're attracted to, as well as country music."

Co-founder Clint Gray said it was important to open the location downtown.

"There's so many different Black country artists here in Nashville, and to have Beyoncé put a light onto country music from an African-American standpoint, just give them a big opportunity to grow, kind of shift that genre, you know, back to its roots," he said.

House of Adora

The House of Adora , or the "pink house," is a not-so-hidden gem East Nashville tucked into a residential neighborhood. Social media Beverly Griffith painted her home in 2021. Since then, it has become a Music City staple and an Instagram-worthy attraction.

Griffith rents out her home for photoshoots, video shoots and everything in between. The pink house has been a go-to location for Nashville-favored country and pop singers like Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Yola.

Station Inn 

The Station Inn is a small but mighty concert venue located near Nashville's Music Row and notable recording studios. The establishment has been deemed America's bluegrass hub. Bluegrass is a particular style of country music influenced by jazz and blues. It is often characterized by banjo and guitar playing coupled with high-pitched vocals.

Beyoncé's hit track "Texas Hold' Em" features MacArthur Fellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Rhiannon Giddens on the banjo and viola. Before starting her solo career, Giddens founded and played in the country, blues and old-time music band the "Carolina Chocolate Drops." The group became the first Black string band to play the Grand Ole Opry. She has dedicated her career to educating the nation about the banjo and its roots in Black culture before becoming a predominantly white instrument.

Giddens also educated folks about the history of bluegrass, not solely a descendant of Scottish and Irish music but incorporating banjo and fiddle players from Africa, as well.

Marcus Dowling contributed to this story.

Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on  Instagram ,  TikTok  and  X  as @cachemcclay .

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: A Nashville guide for those brought here by Beyoncé: Visit these Music City gems

Nashville airport: No set timeline to demolish building once home to Monell's at the Manor

There's no set timeline — yet — for plans to demolish the historic mansion that was once home to Monell's at the Manor restaurant to clear a path for the expansion of Nashville International Airport .

Airport operator Metro Nashville Airport Authority aims to extend one of the airport's four runways to accommodate heavier airplanes so it can offer direct flights to major Asian cities. But the proposed 4,000-foot runway extension must first be deemed necessary by the Federal Aviation Administration, and the required studies could take months or years to complete. Early estimates for construction begin in 2028, granted the airport receives FAA permission.

The Colemere Mansion, a 1920s-era building that housed Monell's since 2011, lies in the path of those expansion plans.

The airport would have to demolish the building at 1400 Murfreesboro Pike along with 19 homes and relocate the former Central State Hospital graveyard before construction could begin. The airport authority did not renew the restaurant's lease, which ended April 30, despite pleas from community members and Metro Council members for the airport to reconsider.

Metro Council on Tuesday passed a resolution asking the airport authority and Nashville's codes department to provide written notice before taking action to demolish, relocate or permanently alter the building.

District 13 Council member Russ Bradford, whose constituency encompasses the airport and surrounding neighborhoods, sponsored the resolution in response to serious community concerns that the historic building could be razed without "proper due diligence." Though the resolution is non-binding, Bradford said his intention was "ongoing accountability" for the airport in the absence of commitments from the airport authority about its plans for the building.

"I felt like this is a good opportunity for us to go on record again requesting Metro Codes to keep an eye on any potential actions taken by the airport, and for that notice to be given to us so that we can have an opportunity to call it out or to try and work with the airport to save the building in some way," Bradford said.

The resolution passed 30-1, with Council member at-large Olivia Hill voting no and District 8 Council member Deonté Harrell abstaining.

Robert Ramsey, the airport authority's chief development officer, told Council members Monday that there has been "no determination" on a definitive timeline for any plans to demolish the manor.

The airport is "in the early stages" of an FAA environmental impact study that launched last week, Ramsey said. The FAA's runway justification study may be completed in about six months, and community outreach about the impacts of construction will follow.

When asked by Bradford if the airport would assist with efforts to relocate the building or commit to allowing adequate time for a relocation, Ramsey said the airport would "be willing to consider any written proposal provided to us."

It's not clear where the building would be moved, if that idea came to fruition.

Metro Nashville Airport Authority President and CEO Doug Kreulen said in March that the airport would not contribute to any potential costs to relocate the building. The authority is "not allowed to expend resources that doesn't benefit the transportation of passengers," Kreulen said, and the manor is "not benefiting the traveling public."

Metro Council deferred a routine piece of legislation related to the airport's Concourse D expansion at Bradford's urging in April. On Monday, Ramsey said further delay could impact the airport's construction schedule and overhead charges. The Council passed that resolution Tuesday, with Bradford, Council member at-large Delishia Porterfield and District 24 Council member Brenda Gadd abstaining.

"That deferral did … get the attention of BNA leadership and brought them to the table to begin discussing some of the issues that I've been seeing in my district in relation to airport expansion, airport noise, etc.," Bradford said, noting his abstention because "I still don't feel like we're quite there yet with the airport."

Sandy Mazza contributed.

( Engel & Voelkers Nashville; Leah Puttkammer/FilmMagic )

Country Singer Alan Jackson Just Picked Up a Gorgeous Nashville Home for $3M

Singer-songwriter Alan Jackson recently nabbed a new nest in Nashville, TN .

The country crooner laid out $3 million for the 6,003-square-foot, five-bedroom, 5.5-bath dwelling.

This newly built abode hit the market last spring for $3.7 million and received multiple price cuts before Jackson picked it up in January.

Previously, the musician owned a palatial property in nearby Franklin, TN . He put it on the market in 2020 for $23 million and reportedly sold it the following year for $19 million.

(Courtesy Engel & Voelkers Nashville)

(Engel & Voelkers Nashville)

Modern mansion

Situated in the desirable enclave of West Meade, this modern manse is a study in neutral elegance. Large, bright rooms are adorned with simple, quiet shades that showcase the home’s lines.

A stunning kitchen offers a large island with seating plus glass-front cabinets and an adjoining scullery. Fourteen-foot ceilings grace the primary suite, which has space for a seating area and sports pretty views of the lush lawn. Meanwhile, the spa-style main bath includes a large soaking tub.

A home office, formal dining room, and a covered porch complete the layout.

Outside, there’s more than an acre for pets and kids to roam. A three-car garage completes the package.

Jackson is a prolific songwriter and recording artist who has released 21 studio albums. He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the winner of two Grammys and 16 Country Music Awards.

Randy White contributed to this report.

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Belle Meade Bourbon Experience

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• User Ages: Ages 21+
• Hour Glass Duration: 60 minutes

Join Our Whiskey Tasting Tour in Nashville!

Discover the world of Belle Meade Bourbon and indulge in a truly unique experience. Take a moment to relax in our historic Ice House and learn the art of savoring a bourbon neat. Immerse yourself in the history of whiskey as you sip on a delicious cocktail and finish your journey by learning to craft a signature beverage with the guidance of our expert bourbon stewards.

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• Ticket sales end 60 minutes prior to each start time.
• This event does not include a tour of the mansion.
• Please arrive 15 minutes before your reservation at Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery.  Simply check in at our Visitor’s Center, collect your wristbands, and head to the Ice House. Doors open at the scheduled reservation time. Additionally, guests may choose to explore the grounds, visit Belle Meade Meat & Three, or purchase tickets for other experiences.

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• This guided experience is 1 hour and every moment of that time is filled with history, knowledge and tasting. To reduce disruption to an event in progress, late arrivals are strongly discouraged and may not be accommodated.

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• Our 24 hour cancellation policy allows for a full refund to our guests when we are notified more than 24 hours in advance of your booked experience. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. For questions or concerns, call (615) 356-6164.

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Wine, Bourbon and Food Pairing Experience

Embark on an enchanting journey where the worlds of wine and bourbon intertwine. Prepare to indulge your senses and elevate your palate to new heights!

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Disney Jr. Live On Tour: Let's Play

• Date & Time Wednesday, November 27 6:00 PM
• Time 6:00 PM
• Venue Opry House
• Ticket Prices $25.00 - $65.00

Performances By:

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Steve Martin & Martin Short

Bonnie Raitt

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600 Opry Mills Drive Nashville, TN 37214

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‘Little House on the Prairie’ cast members celebrate 50th anniversary of show’s debut with tour

PEPIN, Wis. (WKBT) - It’s been 50 years since “Little House on the Prairie” debuted on TV.

Some of the cast members were in Wisconsin, where the show was set, celebrating that anniversary.

When “Little House on the Prairie” debuted in 1974, starring the late Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, Wendy Lou Lee, who played Grace Ingalls, said she never imagined the show’s legacy would continue decades later.

“I don’t think anyone thought that would happen, but Michael Landon, he predicted it that this would be here way longer than all of us would be here,” Lee said.

Friday kicked off Part 2 of the show’s 50th anniversary tour, highlighting the place author Laura Ingalls Wilder once called home.

“It started here. The story starts here, so that’s the whole thing. We wanted to pay tribute to the place where she was born and the Little House in the Big Woods book was written all about her time here in Pepin,” tour member Jackson Bishop said.

Cast members Jennifer Donati and Lee say the best part of it is now.

“We get to travel together at least once or twice a month and it’s really incredible. We do get to see Melissa Gilbert once in a while, but not that often,” Lee said.

For Pamela Roylance, who played Sarah Reed Carter, being on the show was a full-circle moment.

“I read the books when I was about 9 years old, and I loved the books. And I always wanted to be on the show. When I got on the show, it was a dream come true,” she said.

The actresses were asked what they thought Landon and Laura Ingalls Wilder would say.

“I’m sure Laura would be floored. I don’t think she could have even imagined all of this,” Donati said.

“And I think Michael Landon is smiling from heaven saying, wow, the work we did, and I’m gonna get emotional,” Lee said.

The celebration continued all weekend as fans came and met the participants.

Copyright 2024 WKBT via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

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