Lotz House

This is one of the best historical tours I have ever been on! My husband and I took our tween boys, who went begrudgingly. Our tour guide was so good that he quickly had them fully engrossed! The home is beautiful, extremely interesting, and full of history of course! We especially enjoyed the original paintings by Matilda Lotz, and were able to purchase a very nice print of one of those works in the gift shop. I will close by admitting my husband is difficult to impress, but he loved this tour! Don’t sleep on this one, just go!

The house is well kept and the history is amazing. Chuck was our guide and he was very knowledgeable and personable. Kelly ia one of the other guides and she’s sweet and knowledgeable, too. We loved visiting. We highly recommend it. Franklin has many other historic sites to see as well so you can make a whole day of it!

Fantastic tour of an incredible, historic home! The tour was reasonably priced and the home has a lovely gift shop. Evan was our tour guide and he is so knowledgeable. Thank you, Evan!

Our visit to the Lotz House in Franklin, TN was nothing short of extraordinary. We knew we would enjoy learning about the local history, but we did not expect to be so deeply moved — or to leave feeling like we had stepped through time with fresh understanding. A huge part of what made our experience so meaningful was our guide, Chuck. His knowledge, warmth, and ability to bring the human stories behind the history to life was remarkable. We were especially thrilled to discover that we could converse with him not only in English, but also in German and French — what an unexpected delight! It added a personal connection that made the tour even more engaging. What stood out most was the balanced and thoughtful narrative presented throughout the tour. In a time when so many historical sites can lean toward one interpretation or another, the Lotz House honored all sides of the conflict with sensitivity and respect. The story of the Lotz family and the harrowing events of the Battle of Franklin were shared in a way that acknowledged the complexity of the past — not glorifying, not erasing, but helping us see the humanity of those involved, then and now. We left with a deeper appreciation not only for this beautiful and historic home, but for the lessons it offers us today. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Franklin — and if you get Chuck as your guide, you are in for a true treat!

I cannot say enough good things about the people who operate this museum. You can tell that they are so passionate about the history and love to tell the story. Our tour was led by JT, but every single person there was extraordinarily caring, sweet, and educated on all the history. As a local from just down the road in Spring Hill, I’m actually sad that I never experienced the tour sooner. This is absolutely a must do!

Definitely different than any other guided tour we've taken. Chuck was great, he made it fun for everyone. He was engaged with his audience and made it personable for all, we were in a larger crowd too-5 or 6 different parties, around 12 to 15 people total. Very impressed.

Money wasted at this place. The house is quite beautiful, and can be seen in 3-20 minutes, but the tour is with a guide and he spends an hour talking about unnecessary things, because he has nothing to say. He takes us outside the house to show the obvious, windows, doors, etc. If there wasn't a guide and we could visit at our own pace it would be ideal, I believe that's why they have almost no customers. If it continues like this they will close, because the guided tour is very boring.

We're so thankful that we stopped by and were able to hop on a tour of The Lotz House. The craftsmanship, story of the home, city and Lotz family, original war artifacts and Lotz family artifacts were extremely eye opening and truly breathtaking. Evan was our guide, he was extremely knowledgeable and has a great energy. You can tell he really cares about the history of this home, family and town. I would highly recommend a tour of this home should you find yourself in this area. War buff or not, this is a one of a kind experience.

My 14 year old son & I did this fabulous tour on 7/26/25. It was a full 2 hours of stories that made us feel like we were back in time at the Battle of Franklin. Our tour guide was wonderful! She was so knowledgeable and passionate about the Lotz Family and their beautiful home. The horrendous tales of all that this family endured along with the soldiers that lost their lives was very powerful. We live in Franklin and have done tours of Carton Plantation & the Carter house. The Lotz house tour really brought all of the history to life - Ground zero of this tragic battle. Please support this amazing museum and take the tour & tell your friends. We sure are!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Lotz House in Franklin, Tennessee, and it was truly an exceptional experience. This remarkable museum offers a vivid window into Civil War and American history, preserving the stories and artifacts that shaped the region. Our tour guide, Evan, was outstanding--his depth of knowledge and passion for history brought every room to life and made the visit both engaging and educational. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to explore this historic landmark, and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling through Franklin.

First off Evan , thank you for a very informative and knowledgeable tour of this beautiful 160 year old home that is incredibly preserved. The story of the people that lived in this house was told with such reverence and respect of their lives. What a time they lived in and through. The history of this era may not date back far but it's an important part of history and the lives that were lost and the ones that moved on from it and that lived through it. The History of this home is amazing. The hardships and the conquests of what happened right outside the walls of this home. The men that fought , lived and died outside the doors of that home. You must see this as well as the Carter house and the carnton plantation. This battle was huge.

So much history to be learned from this tour. Such a brutal battle of the civil war. Our guide, Tony was excellent! Very engaging and informative. Highly recommend.

Great tour by Chuck today. I'm not a Civil War buff and learned so much about the Battle of Franklin and the residents of the house.

What a story! Kelly our guide was absolutely wonderful. We went to several tours while in TN and this one by far was the most fascinating.

The Lotz house tour is amazing! It is quite outstanding that not only the original items to the house but all period items displayed are authentic. The history of Lotz family (that impacted the whole nation and the world as well) was fascinating to say the least. What an example of resilience in the face of repeated tragedy and adversity! Well worth the visit, to be sure!

Such a wonderfully informative tour. It lasted two hours and Chuck, who is a retired high school history teacher, taught us more about this location of the Civil War than we ever imagined. Called ground zero of the battle of Franklin, the stories are horrendous. You will come away with a love for Matilda Łótz's artwork. This family endured much but got back up and kept moving. No photos are allowed in the museum.

I'm not even a fan of civil war history but really enjoyed this tour. The guide, Chuck, is personable and really knows his history. Even the goodies from the gift store were great- highly recommend the Jack Daniels coffee.

If you love Civil War history, this is a must-see attraction in Franklin TN. Evan, our guide, did an incredible job and made the history of Lotz House come life in a way you thought that you were in the middle of the battle and could hear the voices of the family and artillery fire from both sides all around you. This is one museum tour I had the complete pleasure of attending. THIS IS A MUST SEE ATTRACTION!

What a wonderful history lesson ! I have visited this house several times , and always enjoyed listening the the tour guide Chuck. Chuck is such an awesome knowledgeable guide ! It's a must see when visiting guide ! Highly recommend ! Ask for Chuck

We had a great tour and learned the Lotz Family was pretty amazing. Tour guide Will did a great tour and was very informative about the civil war battle and the family. I would recommend it.

We had a lovely tour with Evan. It was a spur of the moment visit, and we are so glad we went...it made our trip to Nashville even more special. Evan was extremely knowledgeable about not only the house and family, but about the Civil War. He was personable, funny and humble. The house was filled with fabulous artifacts, paintings and history. So cool to be there and to imagine if walls could talk....a must see in Franklin.

My wife and I took the tour this afternoon. Chuck, the tour guide, was very impressive. He knew so much about the Civil War and about the Lotz House and Franklin Battlefield you would have thought he was there. He made you feel like you were actually in the house during the battle. We highly recommend the Lotz House as a place to visit when you're in Franklin!! Well done!!

Took a tour here today & loved it! To see the beauty of the house, furniture & paintings was amazing. Like stepping back in time. And our tour guide, Chuck, really brought it to life! My husband, his best friend and I all loved it! Highly recommend it!

On their recent visit to Nashville, I took my sister and brother-in-law to the Lotz house, since we had been to Nashville's historical houses and plantations, but none in Franklin. Chuck was our tour guide, and from his opening remarks, we knew we were in for a treat. He brought us into the lives of the people who lived in the house, which itself, became a character in the story through the beautiful woodwork of Johan Lotz. Chuck wove historical facts into the story of this particular family, juxtaposing hope in starting a new life in America with the traumatic effects of being in the middle of a battle of the Civil War to rebuilding their lives. Chuck's knowledge, wit and ability to bring history to life was fabulous. We were enthralled and highly recommend a tour of the Lotz house by Chuck.

The Lotz House Museum is a must see. It is a true inspiration of hope of the American Dream was realized: From the ashes of the Battle of Franklin a young girl became a world famous artist! Chuck was our tour guide and I was amazed at his historical Civil War knowledge. By the end of the tour I was more informed about the magnitude of the Battle of Franklin and had a deeper appreciation and respect for those that fell that day and those that survived. Marguarite's journey from war torn America to storied artist on multiple continents only to have her life culminate with the start of the Great War that engulfed the world, WWI. A prolific family of true artisans whether with wood or oil paintings. The Lotz family was the epitome of the American Dream building a life from nothing, then to lose it all and then regroup and rise from the ashes to be successful again. I was humbled by Chuck's oration and the passion he brought to our tour. He made me want to learn more about that time in our history. There was great tragedy but also great accomplishments. We all should learn from Chuck's message, learn more not just about the past but those fateful souls who overcame such tremendous adversity. Chuck, thank you for an amazing adventure!!!

Chuck was our guide. Not only was he informative, he also was a pleasure to listen to. We enjoyed the tour and the history of the house. It is a great way to learn more about the Franklin Battle and the area. There were so many significant stories associated with this home.

The house has a very interesting history with the battle of Franklin, what made the tour for my husband and I was the tour guide, Chuck. This guy has an obvious love of history, as he was a teacher of history but it is truly his passion. He is very knowledgeable on the battle, the house, the soldiers who fought and his passion and wit really make the tour come alive and make you feel the history. My husband and I highly recommend this tour!

My husband and I visited the Lotz house recently, and Will was our tour guy. He was very knowledgeable and funny. Thank Will for making our trip memorable.

"I shrink from butchery. Would to God I could tear the page from these memoirs and from my own memory. It is the blackest page in the history of the war of the Lost Cause. It was the bloodiest battle of modern times in any war. It was the finishing stroke to the independence of the Southern Confederacy. I was there. I saw it. My flesh trembles, and creeps, and crawls when I think of it today. My heart almost ceases to beat at the horrid recollection. Would to God that I had never witnessed such a scene!" -Pvt. Sam Watkins, 1st Tennessee Regiment Battle of Franklin

Great information about the Battle of Franklin and antiques from the time period. We learned so much and felt like we went back 150+ years. Thanks Chuck!

Will was super knowledgeable, patient, answered our questions, and showed me around the shop area - part of his job, I imagine, in hopes patrons finacially support. Highly recommend the tour. Crazy that 14 years back they found a canon ball still! and have it in the home...

I thought I knew a lot about the Civil War, but Evan enlightened me. He is at the top of the list of tour guides, with a presentation of the history of the battle and the history of the Lotz family, who preserved all adversity. Moreover, he sprinkled in a little humor. Thoroughly enjoyable.

We are staying in Franklin and we wanted to go tour some of the battle grounds. Stopped at the Lotz House. Seth was our guide. Wow! This guy is really knowledgeable on all things of the battle at Franklin. It was so informative and the house is just beautiful. And I totally enjoyed all the info on the battle at Franklin. What a nice guy too that Seth was. Very personable and sweet. And like I said before he really know EVERYTHING about the battle. Me. Lotz was a highly skilled woodwork and his daughter was quite the painter. I highly recommend going there. Great information.

The home itself is just beautiful. The collection of period furniture throughout is amazing, and the artwork is stunning. Everything was very well kept and maintained. Great little battle / civil war museum as well. Our guided tour was very affordable and really informative, our guide Will was super friendly and knowledgeable, you could also tell how passionate he and the volunteers were about the place! Bonus: there are bathrooms on both floors!

We've gone on many tours of historical houses and the tour of the Lotz House ranks with the best! The story of the house, which is located on a Civil War battlefield, is fascinating as is the story of the master craftsman who built it and the family that lived there. The house is filled with thousands of artifacts retrieved from the battlefield, plus furniture and other articles from this house and others of the period. Our tour guide, Will, was friendly and knowledgeable and offered a short history lesson of the battle, the house and the people who lived there. While many house tours require visitors to stand behind ropes while viewing the rooms, this tour allow visitors to enter and browse every room. Tours begin on the hour and, in our opinion, are a "must see" in Franklin.

The tour was exceptional and our tour guide , Matt was awesome. Highly recommend this historic home tour!

Informative guide recommend taking the tour if you are limited to a two hour stop. If you have a difficult time climbing stairs it may keep you from visiting the rooms above.

Such a great tour! Our tour guide was Will and he was so knowledgeable not just about the battle, but the Lotz family as well. We really loved hearing about Matilda's life after the war and all of her art. It's an hour long tour and so worth it. Will was the best!

What a great tour we had with Chuck. He is a retired teacher and made the stories come to life. Would highly recommend.

We visited the Lotz House on a recent trip to Nashville, Tn, June 21st, 2024. My wife and I, and one additional guest comprised the tour group that was led by Chuck. Rather than walking us through the halls and letting us look into the rooms, Chuck took us into each room and gave a history description of each piece of furniture and, also, the "war wounds" that the house suffered during the Civil War's Battle of Franklin. Unlike most tours of this type, where you were shown this and that, by the time that we were half-way through the tour, Chuck made us feel that we were in the house during the battle, watching the damage happen. By the time that the tour was over, I felt as if I actually lived in the house. If you are visiting the area, I highly suggest a visit to the Lotz House. It is a treasure, as is Chuck.

Had low expectations but the tour was very enjoyable. The tour guide was super enthusiastic. This is an interesting place to visit.

This is the most underrated civil war tour around. Got a two for one on Groupon. Had gone to The Hermitage and Lotz tour that day. By far Lotz was in every way better. Better value. Really experienced tour guide, Chuck( hey Chuck...... it's CA. I will bring my husband in near future!"). Chuck brought the tour to life like you were actually there! Tons of interesting information. This tour allowed you to get close to all the artifacts. If you are coming to Tennessee go see this tour w Chuck!!! Bring the whole group! I can't emphasize enough that Chuck made the tour better than anyone could. You can get still see the blood stained hardwood floors and the fine China the Lotz Family are off of.

Wonderful visit! Had a great time and enjoyed a tour filled with a detailed description of the house, its people, and the neighbors. Our guide, Chuck, was not only charming, but a wealth of information. His presentation drew you in and made you feel like you were there. The stories of the families tenacity to repair and rebuild were humbling. After everything they had just been through, the community rose up and came together. Kelly, who we met in the gift shop, was also very engaging, friendly, and welcoming! You have to get a Moonshine Candle, also!!

What a phenomenal tour our guide, GT, led us on, he was passionate and had 20+ years knowledge and study of the Lotz family and the civil war era. It felt like he put us back in time and it's wild to see a home that was directly in the middle of one of the bloodiest battles in history. I really enjoyed learning the history of the family, the father being a carpenter and seeing the beautiful wood home he built and interior decor he crafted during a time with no power tools and learning about the 6yo daughter, Matilda Lotz, who went on to be a notable artist. Original art pieces on display and remake pieces for sale. My friend purchased our tickets on Groupon but worth the full price admission! Being a local, I will do this one again and plan to bring my parents when they visit! Also, want to shout out to Chuck for being so helpful before and after our tour!

Seth does a great tour! Encourages questions and is very knowledgeable about the history of the Lotz house and family. Definitely recommend a day trip from Nashville to Franklin to hear about the battle and the history of this small town!

This house has so much history! The Lotz family had an amazing story. Our tour guide, Chuck, is extremely knowledgeable , a good sense of humor, and really brings the story of the house, it's inhabitants, and the soldiers who fought and died here to life! Some of the small personal details he shared about the soldiers, and the Lotz family, really add to the feeling of being immersed in the time period. I only wish we would have had time to shop in the museum store afterward!! Fascinating story here, and Chuck tells it as if he was really there! Highly recommend this!!

Friendly and professional staff. I like how personable the tour guide was and was fascinated about the little details and artifacts in the home. I bought an old 1800s lock as a curiosity. A must see place & tour in Franklin.

What would be a fun, informative, historic tour was absolutely ruined by the inappropriate conduct of tour guide Kelly. This woman started the tour by saying she wanted to "bitch slap" her brother's children, screamed at an elderly man, refused to physically lead the tour, and then berated other guests for not knowing where to go -- because she wasn't leading the tour! I was frankly shocked by this behavior, it was really, really uncomfortable to witness and it ruined the entire tour. If there's any chance of having a face-to-face encounter with Kelly, I suggest visitors simply leave. Abhorrent.

The Lotz House Museum offers a captivating journey through American history, particularly focusing on the Civil War era. As you step into the Lotz House, you're immediately transported back in time to the mid-19th century, experiencing firsthand the lives of the Lotz family and their experiences during one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. It is a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the Civil War and its impact on American society. With its meticulously curated exhibits, immersive atmosphere, and insightful guided tours, it offers a truly unforgettable experience that will leave a lasting impression. Hope you are lucky enough to get Chuck as a guide; he is superb!! He is a retired history teacher and extremely knowledgeable!!

On Saturday night's The Lotz House does a Ghost tour. This is separate from the daytime history tour. The guide for the group Kelly was great! She had pictures and video from different investigations plus EVP audio! I had such a great time a couple of weeks later I went back for the regular history tour and it was a excellent time. The guide Chuck for the group knew so much about the Lotz family the home and the battle that occurred there. The guides really have a passion about the home and the Lotz family.

The Lotz Civil War House museum guided tour was extremely informative ! Our tour guide Chuck was amazing and provided so much information about the house and the civil war. He provided a detailed account of the battle of Franklin and helped us envision what it was like during the war. Highly recommend this visit!

What a great tour, Chuck has fantastic historical knowledge of the civil war era , was a history lesson brought to life! A must see when you are in the area.

Chuck was an amazing tour guide. Very knowledgeable and a great storyteller. This museum was a huge bang for our buck at only $14 for a ticket. I'm so grateful this historic site has been saved.

Thomas; thank you. It's like we traveled back in time the way he told the story. Highly recommend.

Amazing tour of a tragic story of a family caught in the middle of a really scary civil war battle. Chuck gave an awesome tour of the Lotz house and I will definitely be back to visit. Lots of history to learn and if you're visiting Franklin, stop by and have a visit!

Seth gave a very informative and thorough tour. He was entertaining and engaged the tour group. If you don't want gory details, he kindly tones it down. Note: the Yelp $30 for $50 deal didn't work. They don't know how to do this, is what we were told.

Excellent to visit and take the tour! Very informative regarding details of the civil war Battle of Franklin and specifically the house and family who lived there at that time.