Programs

Legacy Dinner

Community Talks

Descendants' Reunion

Spring Hill and Franklin Anniversaries

Statement About Programs

In the 1980s and 1990s, as historic sites took advantage of growing numbers of history-minded tourists, many began to offer various events such as weddings, concerts, and other social functions.  Some sites also had holiday functions, teas, parties, and ghost tours.  Most everyone involved with such things did so because it helped to generate revenue and there was some tangible marketing value.  However, as the saying goes, time changes everything.

For many years Carnton was just such a site.  Over 20 years ago Carnton’s day-to-day tourism attendance was barely 10% of what it is today.  In recent years we have scaled back events, and now we are ready to take the next step.  Events have simply become a less necessary part of who we are, and that includes Carter House and Rippavilla.  Our focus must shift almost solely to the 100,000+ visitors who come out every year.  Our focus must be on the future and how to respectfully manage these important historic sites.

We will continue to have our annual Legacy Dinner and our commemorations of the Battles of Spring Hill and Franklin will continue.

The changes over the past 30-40 years are profound. Sites like Carnton, Carter House, and Rippavilla have an important role to play in the future. Great social upheaval and slavery led to the American Civil War, the war itself inflicted a terrible human cost, and we have charted a course for over a century and a half since then trying to come to grips with what happened. Great social upheaval in our time, over the past and the future, has created a reckoning at historic sites. It has also created tremendous opportunities.

If you have any questions, please contact CEO Eric A. Jacobson at eric@boft.org.

We look forward to seeing you very soon.

Battle of Spring Hill & Battle of Franklin Anniversaries: November 29-30, 2024

Each year we commemorate the Battles of Spring Hill and Franklin and their role in the American story. Through the perspective of the November 29-30, 1864 and the nearly 11,000 casualties, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the tragic cost of the American Civil War. More information will be available HERE.