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Civil War
Tennessee's Civil War history is a study in contrasts: a secessionist state with staunch Union loyalties, divided cities held by both Union and Confederate troops, constant danger and hardship, and nagging uncertainty about friends, neighbors and families, about who was friend or foe.
Tennessee's Civil War tale is one of divided loyalties, crucial battles, and the wide-reaching devastation of "total war." People throughout the state were completely immersed in the economic, social, and physical effects of the conflict, subject to violence and terror, disease and malnutrition, heartbreak and loss, and military rule by both sides. Many grim reminders of the war—as well as hopeful symbols of heroism and kindness—stand today as testament to the war's far-reaching toll.
Use these links to learn more about trails, markers and other interpretive sites; battlefields, and the many Civil War-related museums and other attractions designed to help travelers understand the legacy of the war in Tennessee.
Union Monument
"<p>On the grounds of the courthouse is a marker signifying that here was the location of the Unionist Convention, which opposed joining the Confederacy and advocated the creation of a new Unionist ...more
City: Greeneville, TN
Upper Cumberland Tourism Association
"The Upper Cumberland is the "somewhere" you've been looking for. It is a place to relax and reflect, to become acquainted with the real Tennessee.
Enjoy breathtaking waterfalls, sparkling lakes, lush hills and historic town squares…Follow our winding roads to antique shops, arts and crafts stores, quilt trails and shows, and gourmet eateries. Trace your family’s history in heritage museums.
Stay ...more
City: Cookeville, TN
Phone: (800) 768-7066
Veteran's National Cemetery
"Established immediately after the siege of Knoxville, this cemetery contains Federal casualties from the Battle of Fort Sanders and members of 1st Heavy Artillery, USCT. Open ...more
City: Knoxville, TN
Vonore Heritage Museum
"On display are artifacts used by the people of Vonore from the late 1800s through the 1950s. Artifacts include Civil War pieces; WWI and WWII uniforms; trophies; plaques; and pictures from the now-closed Vonore High ...more
City: Vonore, TN
Phone: 423-884-2989
Walking Tours of the Historic Homes of Fayetteville
"Maps and home descriptions are available at the Chamber of ...more
City: Fayetteville, TN
Phone: 888-433-1238
Wartrace
"This village was headquarters of the Confederate right wing commanded by General William “Old Reliable” Hardee. ...more
City: Tennessee Backroads, TN
Phone: 800-799-6131
Wessyngton Plantation
"One of the great tobacco plantations of the South, Wessyngton was the estate of the Washington family, one of the state’s largest slave owners. In 1860 the family owned 13,000 acres and their 274 slaves raised 250,000 pounds of tobacco. Once the occupying armies came, many Wessyngton salves escaped and joined the U.S. Colored Troops in the region. This National ...more
City: Cedar Hill vicinity, TN
Phone: 615-384-3800
West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center
"An Authentic Southern Experience!
Just off I-40, Exit 56, (behind McDonald's) in Brownsville, Tennessee, is the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. Opened in 1999, the center offers visitors a taste of what West Tennessee has to offer — a staging area for your West Tennessee adventure.
Learn more about Brownsville's Historic Homes, the famous "Mind Field," Dunbar Carver Museum, the ...more
City: Brownsville, TN
Phone: 731-779-9000
Wheat Community African Burial Ground
"A 1850s slave cemetery with more than 90 unmarked graves. Believed to be part of Gallaner-Stone Plantation, formerly the Wheat ...more
City: Oak Ridge, TN
Phone: 800-887-3429
White County Heritage Museum
"Located just one block from the courthouse, this
artifact-filled museum features
permanent and temporary exhibits
that celebrate the rich history of the
Highland Rim region of Tennessee, from
pottery and music to military and railroads.
Open Thurs.-Sat.; free ...more
City: Sparta, TN
Phone: 931-837-3900
White House Inn Library & Museum
"Replica of the original White House Inn, a stopover between Nashville and Louisville in horse and buggy days. Museum has antiques and artifacts of White ...more
City: White House, TN
Phone: 615-672-0239
White Lightning Trail
"The White Lightning Trail is waiting for you: a picturesque drive through the fertile valleys and rustic charm of the Tennessee hills. After leaving the city limits, you’ll pass through the Great Smoky Mountains into historic country music — Maynardville — home to country music greats like Chet Atkins and Roy Acuff. Heading north, you’ll travel along the same route ...more
Williamson County Convention & Visitor Bureau
"Named to Southern Living's "Best Small Town" top ten list, Franklin is a charming suburb of Nashville, Tennessee. Experience a beautiful blend of upscale urban development and cultural history rich with hip places to shop and eat as well as historic attractions that tell the story of the Civil War's Battle of ...more
City: Franklin, TN
Phone: (866) 253-9207
Wilson County Museum
"Fite/Fess Enden House, built in the Federal style, now holds artifacts from Wilson County's 200-year history. Free ...more
City: Lebanon, TN
Phone: 615-444-9127
Winchester, Dechard and Estell Springs
"At Estell Springs (Allisonia during the war) there is a railroad bridge which was the site of the crossing of some of the Army of Tennessee. Also located there is a historical marker for the Camp Harris site, a Confederate training camp named after Tennessee’s wartime governor, Isham G. Harris a Franklin County native.
Decherd is the site of the engagement ...more
Phone: 800-799-6131
Upcoming events
Date: May 23, 2013
Test and Tune
Location: Millington, TN
Date: May 23, 2013
Smokies Baseball
Location: Kodak, TN
Date: May 23, 2013
Nine to Five
Location: Crossville, TN
See more May events »
Horse Country
There are more horses per capita in Shelby County than any other county in the United States.











