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Step Inside the Past. Witness the History.

Walk Through History. Relive the Stories Of The Lotz House.

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Built in 1858, the Lotz House museum is a window into the rich history of the American Civil War. A few years after construction, the Lotz family home was at the epicenter of the pivotal Battle of Franklin. The Lotz House suffered structural damage from cannonball fire, and after the dust settled, it served as a hospital for both sides of the War. To this day, visitors can see evidence of the battle inside. Come visit an American Civil War museum rich in history.

History About Lotz House

History in the Heart of Franklin

Built in 1858, the Lotz House museum is a window into the rich history of the American Civil War. A few years after construction, the house would be part of the epicenter for the pivotal Battle of Franklin. The Lotz House suffered structural damage from cannonball fire, and after the dust settled, it served as a hospital for both sides of the War. To this day, visitors can see evidence of the battle inside. Come visit an American Civil War museum rich in history.

History About Lotz House

History in the Heart of Franklin

Lotz House Tour

Experience the rich history of our past in Franklin, Tennessee.

SCHEDULE A HOUSE TOUR

Lotz House Specialty Tours

There’s a tour for everyone! Check out our Visit page for more information.

LEARN MORE

Lotz House Tour

Experience the rich history of our past right here in Franklin, Tennessee.

SCHEDULE A HOUSE TOUR
× Advance reservations are required for the following specialty tours. Please call (615)-790-7190 or email info@lotzhouse.com to book tickets.

Lotz House Specialty Tours

There’s a tour for everyone! Check out our Visit page for more information.

Learn more
When you are travelling. You hope you will discover something you will never forget. The Lotz House Museum. Unforgettable…

 

-Dennis Ferrier

Went to the Lotz house with my parents and partner and enjoyed a wonderful tour led by Evan. Evan was friendly, informative, charismatic and brought the stories of the Lotz family and the Battle of Franklin to life. A true gem in Franklin and well worth a visit for tourists and local history buffs alike.

 

-Josh R

Chuck was our tour guide. His passion for the history of the Franklin battle and his detailed explanation of how the Lotz House and family was dead center of the conflict was brought to life with great stories and full of character. I wish I had him as my high school history teacher, I might have paid attention. Thank you sir.

 

-Aidan B

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.

 

-Hal W

Being a relative newcomer to Tennessee, I wasn’t sure what a “Lotz House” was, but I’m very glad that I gave it a look-see. In a very informative 45+ minute tour of the house, I learned about the Battle of Franklin, the German immigrant master craftsman who built the house, and his extraordinary family – including his daughter Matilda – a world-renowned painter of animal life. Thanks to Will and Thomas!

 

-Alan C

We went on a Lotz House tour that focused on womens’ history – both locally and nationally during the Civil War era. It was incredible, and we all loved our tour guide, Kelly Kautzman. She was full of knowledge and enthusiasm. She immediately got a feel for our interests, and aligned her information and presentation based on that. The house is beautifully restored and preserved, and the story behind it is fascinating, as is much of Franklin’s rich Civil War era history.

 

-Cindy

Wow! I love when guides are passionate about their history! Thomas was one of the best tour guides if not the best we have ever had on a tour! He knew all his information plus extra! We learned so much! Make sure to take a tour of the Lotz house if you are ever in Franklin!

 

-Debbie A

We visited this week and were surprised to get a tour just by ourselves with Thomas, their resident Civil War expert. He shared the history of the house and the Lotz family, but he also answered all the our questions about the house and the battle. It was really great. I had an ancestor who fought at the Battle of Franklin and he told me facts about the company and where they fought and the details of the battle. Amazing. We got a wonderful tour and more details than we ever expected. Loved it and will return!

 

-Dan B

When you are travelling. You hope you will discover something you will never forget. The Lotz House Museum. Unforgettable…

 

-Dennis Ferrier

Went to the Lotz house with my parents and partner and enjoyed a wonderful tour led by Evan. Evan was friendly, informative, charismatic and brought the stories of the Lotz family and the Battle of Franklin to life. A true gem in Franklin and well worth a visit for tourists and local history buffs alike.

 

-Josh R

Chuck was our tour guide. His passion for the history of the Franklin battle and his detailed explanation of how the Lotz House and family was dead center of the conflict was brought to life with great stories and full of character. I wish I had him as my high school history teacher, I might have paid attention. Thank you sir.

 

-Aidan B

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.

 

-Hal W

Being a relative newcomer to Tennessee, I wasn’t sure what a “Lotz House” was, but I’m very glad that I gave it a look-see. In a very informative 45+ minute tour of the house, I learned about the Battle of Franklin, the German immigrant master craftsman who built the house, and his extraordinary family – including his daughter Matilda – a world-renowned painter of animal life. Thanks to Will and Thomas!

 

-Alan C

We went on a Lotz House tour that focused on womens’ history – both locally and nationally during the Civil War era. It was incredible, and we all loved our tour guide, Kelly Kautzman. She was full of knowledge and enthusiasm. She immediately got a feel for our interests, and aligned her information and presentation based on that. The house is beautifully restored and preserved, and the story behind it is fascinating, as is much of Franklin’s rich Civil War era history.

 

-Cindy

Wow! I love when guides are passionate about their history! Thomas was one of the best tour guides if not the best we have ever had on a tour! He knew all his information plus extra! We learned so much! Make sure to take a tour of the Lotz house if you are ever in Franklin!

 

-Debbie A

We visited this week and were surprised to get a tour just by ourselves with Thomas, their resident Civil War expert. He shared the history of the house and the Lotz family, but he also answered all the our questions about the house and the battle. It was really great. I had an ancestor who fought at the Battle of Franklin and he told me facts about the company and where they fought and the details of the battle. Amazing. We got a wonderful tour and more details than we ever expected. Loved it and will return!

 

-Dan B

History of the Lotz Family

Johann Albert Lotz brought his family to America from Germany and settled in Franklin, Tennessee. Johann was a master woodworker and used the Lotz house as a showroom for his successful business. On the eve of the battle, Johann took his family across the street to the safety of the brick Carter House. While they survived the night, the family couldn’t fully recover
after the war and were forced to head west. Eventually, the daughter, Matilda Lotz, would become a talented artist. More than a dozen of her original pieces still hang in the Lotz House in Franklin TN.

Living the American Dream

History of the Lotz Family

Johann Albert Lotz brought his family to America from Germany and settled in Franklin, Tennessee. Johann was a master carpenter and used the Lotz house as a showroom for his successful business. On the eve of battle, Johann took his family across the street to the safety of the brick Carter house. While they survived the night, the family couldn’t fully recover after the war and were forced to head west. Eventually, the daughter, Matilda Lotz, would become a talented artist. More than a dozen of her original pieces still hang in the Lotz House in Franklin TN.

Living the American Dream

From Our Gallery
A Glimpse into our Historic House

Cannon ball

In the gift shop guests can see where a cannon ball from the Battle of Franklin landed and burned an imprint into the wooden floor. Guests can also see on the second story where the flooring was repaired after the cannon ripped through the master bedroom. The battle scars are apparent throughout the house.

Blood stains

Following the Battle of Franklin, the Lotz House became a field hospital caring for the wounded. On the tour visitors can see blood stains where the injured were propped up against the walls, leaving a pudding of blood stains where they sat.

Relics

There are several displays of relics. Picked up off the battlefield in Franklin including personal items such as tin type photographs to forks, buckles, money and firearms.

Belter chair

The antiques in the Lotz House are some of the finest collections of 1820 – 1860’s American Victorian including this Belter chair. Top carvers including Belter, Millard and even two pieces by Johaan Albert Lotz himself are on display.

Lotz House Luminaries

Annually the Lotz House commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Franklin on November 30. Luminaries are lit to honor the 10,000 casualties of the battle and supporters gather to remember what happened on that historic day more than 160 years ago.

Staying Room

The Staying Room was where the family enjoyed playing games, sewing, reading and talking. Displayed on the table is an 1856 ladies’ carriage bonnet made of handkerchief linen. The wallpaper is a replica of the original paper that would have been in that room. Old Paris porcelain can be found throughout the house.

Table by Johann Albert Lotz

This table was handmade by Johann and he took it with him when he and his family left Franklin. In recent years, the Lotz family returned this magnificent piece of furniture to the Lotz House and travelled from California in a pickup truck to deliver it. In the background is a sofa, another original piece of furniture carved by Johann.

Exceptional Civil War Memorabilia on Display

Long time supports and friends Jean and Jo Ed Gaddes donated an exceptional piece of Civil War memorabilia which is now on display at the house. The wife of a soldier from Tennessee welcomed her husband home by presenting him with a very special wooden box. On the outside are his initials J-R-S, on the inside left it reads “To My Hero Husband” over a wreath of flowers and on the right-side Mary attached a handsewn battle flag.

Matilda’s Shoes

In Matilda’s room, guests can see her original shoes, toy and mittens that her family in California donated to the house. Matilda turned six years old the day before the Battle of Franklin when her life changed forever. She later grew up to become a famous portrait artist.

Hoop Skirt

This is the representation of a 19th Century hoop skirt which is displayed in the second story hallway next to a mirror where the ladies would have checked the hems of their skirts.

Grayline

Groups from all over the world visit the Lotz House which is the #1 attraction in Franklin according to TripAdvisor.

Falcon on the Roof

You never know who’s going to fly in to visit the Lotz House.

Mantle in the Keeping Room

The Keeping Room was reserved for special guests, and visitors can see one of three of Johann Albert Lotz’s mantles which he carved to showcase his work. The house served as his showroom to demonstrate his quality of work and levels of intricacy from simple to elaborate.

Brick wall

The brick fireplace is bullet-ridden with chips throughout, because of the Battle of Franklin. There are battle scars throughout the house including bullet holes, blood stains and cannon ball burns.

Drum found on the battlefield

The house showcases many items found on the battlefield and in the front yard including this drum. Other items include a corn cob wash board, soldier’s bible, belt buckles including one that has a bullet lodged in the center.

 Donating to the Lotz House helps safeguard history for future generations. Your support funds educational programs, exhibits, and the preservation of priceless collections, ensuring the museum continues to inspire learning and curiosity. Every contribution, big or small, plays a vital role in keeping history alive and accessible to everyone.

Donate to the past, present and future of the Lotz House

 Donating to the Lotz House helps safeguard history for future generations. Your support funds educational programs, exhibits, and the preservation of priceless collections, ensuring the museum continues to inspire learning and curiosity. Every contribution, big or small, plays a vital role in keeping history alive and accessible to everyone.

Donate to the past, present and future of the Lotz House

Check out The Lotz House in the news! Read what people have to say about this incredibly immersive museum.
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