Lotz House, Franklin

About Lotz House

The Lotz House is a museum in Franklin, Tennessee that preserves a home built in 1858 by German immigrant Johann Albert Lotz, a master carpenter and piano maker. Visitors tour the residence to explore its exceptional craftsmanship and Civil War history. The home displays three intricately carved fireplace mantels, a free-floating black walnut staircase, and an inverted piano leg serving as the newel post. Hand-carved acorn finials and decorative cartouches ornament the exterior. The house sits at the center of the pivotal Battle of Franklin, and visitors can observe cannonball damage to the structure itself. After the battle, the residence served as a hospital for soldiers from both sides, and bloodstains remain visible on the floors. Guided tours are available through the venue's website, and specialty tour options are offered by advance reservation.