Our Tours

Think you hate history? That's because you've never experienced our special blend of education and entertainment we call edu-tainment.  Sometimes we think that a lot of history is just gossip that's over 100 years old! We offer a variety of tours for just about every age and interest and put our special "stamp" on Franklin's history that you won't get anywhere else. 

Daytime Tours

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

Our new Civil War tour explores Franklin's Civil War experience though the eyes of civilians as well as soldiers. 

For visitors who are interested in The Widow of the South, a special Widow of the South tour package with Carnton Plantation explores the real people, places and events that appear in the novel. 

Evening Tours

After dark we explore the other side of Franklin with our popular ghost and crime tours.   

Our family-friendly Haunted Franklin  tour is suitable for most ages and is a spine-tingling 90 minutes in length.

Our newest ghost tour is Ghosts of the Battlefield at the Lotz House museum. 

Our new Murder and Mayhem on Main Street tour is all crime all the time and definitely not for kids. Get a babysitter and learn about the seamy underbelly of Franklin's past.

Visitors will learn about the lives of some of Franklin's always interesting, often tragic and sometimes shocking folks on our Grave Matters tour. This tour is also available during daylight hours.

Children's Tours and Programs

Children are some of our best customers and they love our tours! 

Brownies and Girl Scouts:  Need help with your Listening To the Past Try -It or your Local Lore badge?  We offer programs that meet most of the requirements for these two achievements.  

The Listening To the Past Try-It begins in the old city cemetery where we examine old tombstones and draw old markers.  Then it's down to Franklin's town square to learn about old buildings, hear some fascinating stories, and play a bit of I Spy.  We'll be together for about an hour.

The Local Lore badge begins at the Heritage Foundation office where we learn about historic preservation and the uses for old buildings.  

Then we explore the town and learn about the different architectural styles in some of the buildings in Franklin. This program takes about 90 minutes.  

Each program costs $7.50 per participating scout, with no charge for non-participating siblings or leaders.  The tours are scheduled by the troop leader at the troop's convenience.  

I Spy!

I Spy Downtown Franklin can best be described as a scavenger hunt for the eyes. Children who participate in I Spy count objects and find dates, make a brass rubbing, learn about and draw historical doors, look for architectural details on buildings around the Square and down Main Street, and have fun! It's an active, hands-on program that takes about an hour. 

I Spy is great for kids who are at least beginning to read (usually ages 5 - 6) through about age 10 or 11.  Children who do not yet recognize letters and numbers generally do not find the program engaging.  

I Spy costs $5 for each participating child.   There is no charge for non-participating younger siblings and parents.  Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.  

I Spy is available by arrangement for groups of 6 or more.  Think scout outing, birthday party, or neighborhood event.  Give us a call at 615- 400-3808 to schedule your tour. 

   Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts:  Cubs love the I Spy program.  We'll schedule it for your troop of six or more boys.  We'll give Boy Scouts in uniform a discount off the regular price of the Classic Franklin tour.

These Brownies loved Listening to the Past

For information only, contact us at franklinonfoot@comcast.net.

Heritage Classroom Program

Under the aegis of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, Franklin on Foot brings a number of local history programs to public, private and home schools in Williamson County.  For a complete listing of the programs available, click here.  

All tour require a reservation. Call 615-400-3808. Click here to purchase tickets. 

Franklin is a Preserve America Community