Franklin is located on I-65 between Nashville, Tennessee, and Bowling Green, Kentucky. Topics for an exploration trip range from historic sites in Franklin to the Simpson County Murals and a tour about bourbon production. You can choose the focus based on your own interests, whether that means architectural history, art or a specific experience.
Murals tell a story
The Simpson County Murals consist of eight realistic murals depicting scenes from 200 years of Simpson County history. They are located on a 200-foot-long retaining wall on US Highway 31W, near I-65 Exit 2 and next to the Simpson County Tourism Commission’s office and visitor center. The murals therefore combine a specific historical focus with a precisely identified location. Franklin itself has three historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Buildings and museums in Franklin
The dates mark different chapters in the area’s architectural and local history. Octagon Hall was built in 1847 as the home of the Andrew Jackson Caldwell family. The 1882 Italianate courthouse, together with the town square, defines Franklin. The Sandford Duncan Inn’s construction and use took place at different times: it was built in 1819 and opened as an inn on a highway in 1822. These dates help place the buildings in context not only by their style, but also by their former function.
The Simpson County Archives and Museum is located in the historic Jailer’s Quarters, which served as a jail from 1830 to 1879. The Simpson County History Center is a museum with artifacts from Franklin’s history. Along with the Old Jail and the Jailer’s Residence, it is one of Franklin’s historic visitor attractions. Check current visiting options before you go.
Art and exploring the town
For art lovers, the Gallery on the Square offers a different way to experience the local cultural scene. A 2025 visitor guide mentions works by more than 90 artists from Kentucky and Tennessee who are members of the Simpson County Guild of Artists and Craftsmen. The guide also describes exhibitions that change every six weeks and shows spanning all art forms. This timeframe is useful if you want to include art in your travel plans.
Franklin’s Historic Downtown District includes shops and boutiques selling art, antiques, clothing and jewelry. This adds a broad selection of objects and goods to the view of art offered by exhibitions. If you are more interested in the area’s history, you can consider this perspective alongside the three listed historic districts and the museum attractions. The possible areas of focus therefore differ, without assuming a single tour or a fixed order.
Bourbon, events and scenery
Dueling Grounds Distillery offers tours that explain the production of Small-Batch-Linkumpinch bourbon. The landscape offers a different focus: Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course has views of Drake’s Creek from holes 12 and 13.
The Summer Nights Concert Series may also be useful when planning your timing, if music is among your interests. In 2025, the series offered free concerts on Friday evenings in Franklin’s town square. If a concert is important to your travel dates, check the schedule for the relevant year.
Each of the options mentioned has its own focus, and they do not all need to be part of the same travel plan.
Discover more destinations: Franklin, Lawrence County, Boyd County, Grant County, Barren County, Montgomery County, Knox County and Taylor County.
For the main travel overview: Kentucky.
