The Carter House is a Federal-style brick farmhouse built around 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter. Situated near the center of the historic Battle of Franklin, it became a significant site during the November 30, 1864 conflict.  

During the battle, the Carter House was commandeered as the headquarters for Union General Jacob D. Cox, while the Carter family (and the Lotz family, who lived across the street) took refuge in the basement. 

The surrounding grounds saw some of the heaviest fighting of the Battle of Franklin. As evidence of that fierce conflict, hundreds of bullet and shrapnel holes remain visible on the house and outbuildings. 

The Carter House stands today as a National Historic Landmark and a cornerstone of the Franklin Battlefield district. 

The site is managed by the Battle of Franklin Trust in partnership with the Tennessee Historical Commission and is open to the public for guided tours most days of the week.