Battle of Franklin Trust 150th Anniversary

Battle of Franklin Trust Presents Battle Scarred

Special 150th Anniversary Exhibition to Open Aug. 2

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – On Aug. 2, The Battle of Franklin Trust will reveal Battle Scarred, an exhibition commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin. This special showcase will reside in The Fleming Center at Carnton Plantation and remain available to the public until April 26, 2015, marking another significant anniversary: the day Confederate Gen. J. E. Johnston surrendered the Army of Tennessee.

“We look forward to sharing Battle Scarred with the public as part of this sesquicentennial year,” said The Battle of Franklin Trust CEO Eric A. Jacobson. “The Battle of Franklin Trust curator Joanna Stephens dedicated two years to the planning of this impressive display, and has successfully collected many items that have not been viewed together for 150 years.”

Battle Scarred is a chronologically organized experience that will begin in 1860 and continue through the tragic events of November 30, 1864. Covering more than 1,600 square feet, this display will capture the ultimate cost of war and the importance of the Battle of Franklin as part of our national heritage. Thoughtful interpretation of eyewitness accounts guided the exhibit’s design, which incorporates graphics, light, sound and more than 100 artifacts.
Highlights of the tour include a variety of never before displayed items and enlistment cards for each exhibit visitor outlining the military service of a soldier involved in the Battle of Franklin. The enlistment cards are intended to help participants personalize the ramifications of such a battle, and the fate of each soldier will be revealed.
The average self-guided tour will last 30 to 60 minutes, and admission is $10 per adult. Tickets can be purchased on-site and do not include a tour of Carnton Plantation. The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Local families and visitors will have additional time to explore and enjoy the exhibit at monthly family nights sponsored by Williamson Medical Center. Each family night will have a unique theme. These educational evenings will take place after hours on the third Thursday of each month during the exhibit.

A host of other events will be held at Carnton Plantation in honor of the sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary, including a battle re-enactment on Nov. 15 and 16. Re-enactors from all over the country will come together to bring the Battle of Franklin to life. Camps will be open for visitors to explore and experience civilian and soldier life in the 1860s.
An annual illumination ceremony will be held on Nov. 30. Beginning at dusk, some 10,000 luminaries will be on display at Carnton Plantation, representing the casualties inflicted during the battle. For more information or to view a complete sesquicentennial schedule of events, visit www.BattleofFranklinTrust.org or call 615-794-0903.

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