Drive about an hour east of Nashville, and you’ll find a small town that couldn’t be more different from the boom and bustle of the state capital. Granville calls itself “Tennessee’s Mayberry Town,” and although the iconic television show wasn’t filmed here, it certainly looks as though it could have been. The town and its residents are big on history, both real and imagined. Its location on the Cumberland River helped establish it as a riverboat town in the early 1800s, and later, as an area for farming. Today, it’s a vacation or day-trip destination for its natural beauty and yesteryear appeal.
From the old-timey T.B. Sutton General Store, to Pioneer Village with its grist mill and blacksmith, to numerous museums dedicated to the past (classic cars, I Love Lucy, quilts and textiles), a trip to Granville can feel like stepping onto an old movie set, or traveling back to a different decade, especially during the town’s many festivals and events.
It takes an entire community and lots of volunteers—240, according to the town’s website—to bring the past to life. Some people serve as historic interpreters of sorts, demonstrating crafts like basketweaving, performing in staged adaptations of The Andy Griffith Show episodes, and leading tours of The Sutton Homestead, an original home from the 1880s. You could say that Granville is built for visitors—here are a few things to see and do while you’re here.
Start At T.B. Sutton General Store
This charming landmark opened its doors in the 1800s, and is still the heart of this community. Not only can you browse for old-fashioned candy, toys, and apparel, and get a hand-dipped ice cream cone or float, the store also functions as a restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and Saturday night dinners, along with live bluegrass performances. Upstairs, you’ll find work by local craftspeople, like baskets and pottery.
Explore Pioneer Village
If you see one thing in Granville other than T.B. Sutton’s, it should be this area, which offers several attractions devoted to life in the past. Auto fans will enjoy the Sutton Service Station and the Antique Car and Transportation Museum, which has vehicles from the 1920s to the 70s on display. Tour the Williamson Pioneer Cabin, which was built in 1820, as well as outbuildings including a smokehouse. Learn about farming history at the Webster Barn; watch corn get freshly ground at the Eller Grist Mill; and observe blacksmithing and basketmaking.
Sutton Homestead, the former home of T.B. & Ethel Sutton, dates back to the 1880s, is filled with period furniture and decor, including items belonging to the Sutton family.
Check Out Some Museums
The Tennessee Quilt & Textile Museum
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