Founded in 1807 by John Harding, “Belle Meade” translates to mean beautiful meadow in old English and French. The property began with just a single log cabin and 250 acres. The estate quickly grew to become a 5,400 acre thoroughbred horse farm complete with a Greek Revival Mansion, deer park, train station and rock quarry which supported five generations of owners, their servants and enslaved workers.
Today Belle Meade Plantation retains 34 acres of its original property and several outbuildings including the Mansion and original homestead. Today’s site functions as an educational resource dedicated to the preservation of Tennessee’s Victorian architecture, history and equestrian history. Visitors can enjoy tours, educational outreach programs, shopping, dining, wine tastings, weddings and other happenings knowing that their patronage supports the educational mission of Belle Meade Plantation.
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