The 19th century was a time of great change in women's fashion. The century began with high waistlines and straight skirts, and by the 1850s, the style had evolved into a more natural waistline and full skirt. Adelicia Acklen's clothing choices showcase the most fashionable trends from Europe and North America during that time. Follow Belmont Mansion as we embark on a nine part series showcasing the dresses, jewelry, and fashion choices of Adelicia Acklen. --- This Venetian-made Shell demi-parure was purchased by Adelicia in Naples, Italy, when she went on her Grand Tour of Europe in 1866. This set would have been considered costume jewelry and therefore not worth much monetary value, howeve

The 19th century was a time of great change in women's fashion. The century began with high waistlines and straight skirts, and by the 1850s, the style had evolved into a more natural waistline and full skirt. Adelicia Acklen's clothing choices showcase the most fashionable trends from Europe and North America during that time. Follow Belmont Mansion as we embark on a nine part series showcasing the dresses, jewelry, and fashion choices of Adelicia Acklen. --- There is no doubt that Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham was known in Nashville, if not in American society, for her fashion choices. She made quite the domineering impression in 1866 when she and her French driver, dressed in fu

Bonne Crigger, Board President; Dr. Albert Wardin; and Mark Brown, Executive Director with The Commissioner's Award, May 10, 2017, Nashville, Tennessee On Wednesday, May 10, 2017, the Metro Nashville Historical Commission honored Founding Member Dr. Albert Wardin and Belmont Mansion Executive Director Mark Brown with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their work with Belmont Mansion. Belmont Mansion's journey towards a historic home and museum began in 1971 when then history professor, Dr. Albert Wardin, worked to have the site placed on the National Register of Historical Places. Dr. Wardin's passion for the beautiful antebellum home situated in the middle of Belmont College's campus was the c

On April 21st and 22nd, Belmont Mansion hosted the annual Tennessee Decorative Arts Symposium. In celebration of Adelicia Acklen's 200th birthday, this year's topic was: "200 Years of Adelicia Acklen." The weekend was dedicated to the art, architecture and lifestyle of Adelicia Acklen and her Belmont estate. Speakers for the weekend included Jim Hoobler, Senior Curator of Art & Architecture, Tennessee State Museum; Dr. Rachel Stephens, Assistant Professor of American Art, The University of Alabama; Jerry Trescott, Curator of Collections, Belmont Mansion; and Mark Brown, Executive Director, Belmont Mansion. Approximately 50 guests, many from Tennessee and Alabama, attended this year's Symposi

"May these headstones bear witness to their lives, of Salley and London, and the hundreds of others buried here who like them were born in slavery and knew no freedom on this earth, for they only knew freedom after crossing the River Jordan." - Mark Brown, Executive Director, Belmont Mansion On Tuesday. May 2nd, together with the Nashville City Cemetery Association, Belmont Mansion Association dedicated headstones for two formerly enslaved residents of Nashville: London & Salley. London & Salley were enslaved people working on the Acklen estates: London at the city home in downtown Nashville, and Salley at the country estate Belmont Mansion. While records of enslaved people at Belmont Mansio