Belmont Mansion

The grounds were very pretty, and the staff and tour guides were amazing! They were very friendly, and a plethora of information. I would rank it as one of the top sites to see in Nashville!

Belmont Mansion is a beautifully presented and interpreted historic house. The fact that it is surrounded by other university buildings is part and parcel of why it still stands today. What was once a country estate is now in the center of town and would have surely vanished if it were not for a series of schools on the property. The university has spent huge sums of money toward the restoration of the house and while there is much more to be done, what is there is nothing less than splendid and remarkable. The facade was recently refinished and must have easily cost a million dollars. The fees paid by visitors would scarcely cover any of the expense of restoration projects. Supporters and donors have been very generous for many years to help fund this enormous project. The house represents the largest domestic ediface built prior to the Civil War in Tennessee and is architecturally unsurpassed by few houses of it's era anywhere in America. Of all the museum houses in Nashville, Belmont is certainly the most unusual and entertaining. It is the very embodiment of Nineteenth Century excess and a wonderful mixture of elegance and exuberence. For old house enthusiasts it is a 'must see' and for history buffs, it is a glimpse into a world of exceptional privilege, power and pride. It points to the prominent role Nashville played in the development of the 'West' and it's importance as a financial and cultural center of its time. I think often visitors to houses that are a 'work in progress' are disappointed that things are not pristine and fully restored as is the case at places like Biltmore (which has it's own history of ongoing restoration.) In fact, I think one of the most interesting things about this museum is witnessing the contrast between the unrestored areas and those that are finished. It is inspiring to see the level of scholarship, research and craftsmanship that goes into restoring this house to its original appearance. The curators and university are to be congratulated.

because i like oldesh mansions like this one, it reminded me of the Built Moore. The time i went was around June 5 because it was around my moms bithday and she loved it. It is good for any age.

This is a beautiful house that is poorly maintained by the university. There must have been fifty people there during our visit, and the whole time I was there I kept wondering why wasn't this money being used to maintain the place. The worst part was the fact that adjacent modern university buildings have almost completely swallowed this historic structure. It was sad to stare out the window at an ugly building that was blocking what had once been a view of Nashville. And whose Idea was it to connect new buildings to the house?