Belle Meade Plantation

In the early 19th century, Belle Meade Plantation was no more than a log cabin sitting on 250 acres just outside of downtown Nashville. The property, owned by the wealthy Harding family, was mainly used for breeding horses until the 1850s, when the cabin was upgraded to the sprawling Greek revival mansion that now punctuates the grounds. Currently a museum, the remaining 30-acre property is open for tours where visitors learn about the Harding family and their history as one of the largest slave-holding families in the Civil War.