Construction on Rattle and Snap Plantation Mount Pleasant Tennessee started in 1842 and was completed in 1845 by George Washington Polk and his wife Sallie Hilliard Polk. Rattle and Snap Plantation is one of only five original Polk buildings that have survived the test of time and is the largest mansion in Maury County, Tennessee.
The grand mansion has been restored to museum quality and is furnished with magnificent period antiques, many of which are from the Polk family homes. Gardens, horse stables, an ice house and the carriage house are but a few of the interesting features surrounding Rattle and Snap.
Work commenced in 1842 on Rattle and Snap and was finished in 1845. Restored to its original character and furnished with period antiques, the grand mansion is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States. Rattle and Snap is designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior.
Why is it called Rattle and Snap? Rattle and Snap is a game of chance with dice – similar to craps – played in the early frontier states. And, it’s how Rattle and Snap Plantation got its name – Polk’s father won the land playing the game.
At its height, Rattle and Snap Plantation comprised over 5,600 acres of land and the Polk family was one of the largest landowners in Tennessee.
Rattle and Snap Plantation Mount Pleasant Tennessee
Rattle and Snap Plantation is privately owned and offers guided tours by appointment only. Reservations are required to tour Rattle and Snap and must be made at least three days in advance of your visit.
There is a four person minimum on all guided tours at Rattle and Snap Plantation. If your group has less than four people, please call as soon as possible to see if there is another tour group you can join that day.
Rattle and Snap was first listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and is a private residence owned by the Kaslow Family. The Kaslows, originally from Mount Pleasant, purchased Rattle and Snap in 2005 and have restored the mansion to its pre-Civil War elegance.
Visit Rattle and Snap Plantation
Rattle and Snap Plantation is located in the small town of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee about 15 minutes west of Columbia. Parking is free at Rattle and Snap and the mansion is easily accessible by car, bus and motor home.
- Visit Rattle and Snap Plantation online at RattleAndSnapPlantation.com
- Address – 1522 N. Main Street, Mount Pleasant, TN 38474
- Phone – 931-379-1700
- Open – By advanced reservations only
- Closed – Call prior to tour for dates
Tennessee Antebellum Trail Tour and Itinerary
We invite you to come visit the Tennessee plantation homes from a bygone era and make sure you allow yourself ample time to enjoy your trip. The Tennessee Antebellum Trail is a completely self-guided and self-paced tour so you can visit all the homes and sights on the trail at your leisure.
The following sample itineraries are just a guide to help you plan your trip. One of the favorites on the Tennessee Antebellum Trail is the Two Day Tennessee Antebellum Trail Experience, where you tour Rattle and Snap Plantation and seven other beautiful Antebellum plantation homes while taking a relaxing drive through the beautiful Tennessee countryside.
For history loving Civil War enthusiasts, the Tennessee Antebellum Trail Civil War Tour sample itinerary will help guide you along as you go from plantation to battlefield and from cemetery to monument.
For all the thrill seeking spooky history fans and fanatics, there is a tour made just for you – the one of a kind Tennessee Antebellum Trail Ghost Tour! Walk The Hermitage mansion and cemetery grounds by lantern. Conduct a paranormal investigation at Rippavilla. Take a candlelit evening cemetery tour in Franklin. So, if you’re looking for ghosts, you can find plenty of them on the Tennessee Antebellum Trail!