COMMUNITY
Days Gone By
FRANKLIN WALKING TOURS
Keeping
spirits
the Alive Through Historical Storytelling BY ANNA ROBERTSON HAM
“I’ve always loved a good ghost story. In my family, even backyard camp outs or indoor sleepovers meant a scary story or two. I was never what you’d call a true believer, though, until I started leading tours and seeing certain things over and over again. Then, at some point, I had to admit something was happening I couldn’t explain,” says Alicia King Marshall. Alicia is the founder of Franklin Walking Tours, where she gets to tell the storied past of our beloved city. “I’ve been leading tours in historic Franklin for years. Unfortunately, the company I was working for closed in 2020, then sold,” she explains. “I missed it terribly, so I decided to open Franklin Walking Tours earlier this year. I am thrilled to be back out there, talking about Franklin’s fascinating past and exciting present.” Alicia finds the city of Franklin to be perfect for the tours she provides due to its uniqueness and history since 1799. “How many small towns can trace the steps of three former presidents through their streets and buildings the way we can? Is there another town anywhere that’s been home to more celebrities per capita? So many guests book a tour expecting to hear nothing but the Battle of Franklin, which we can do,” she says. “But we have plenty of stories from before and after November 30, 1864.” Franklin Walking Tours offers a variety of tours for a variety of audiences and history buffs. 52 FALL 2021
Celebrating 10 Years
Franklin Walking Tours
“My morning tour is called Franklin Charm. It’s a two-hour stroll through downtown, as I describe the major events that shaped Franklin and visit the places where significant past residents lived and worked,” she says. “We meet business owners and learn about their shops and their buildings’ history. We go inside at several stops, covering historical events that took place long ago or famous musicians who played there last week. We end at a local bakery, where each guest gets a treat before we say goodbye.”
Alicia says that more and more influencers are coming here, and they want content and unique backdrops. “My Picture Perfect tour is the answer. I show them all the best spots - some classic, others hidden. We talk about whatever interests them as we move from spot to spot - history, hauntings, true crime, etc. This tour is also popular for birthday parties, girls’ weekends, and even a proposal! Guests can schedule a professional photographer when booking, have their guide take their photos, or take their own.”
