15 Dark Facts About Adelicia Acklen: Tennessee’s Wealthiest Woman Who Sold Plantations to Build a Prison

14. Belmont Mansion’s Hidden Histories

For decades, tours of Belmont Mansion focused on architecture and opulence, rarely mentioning the enslaved people who built and maintained it. Only recently have curators begun to address these hidden histories, acknowledging the suffering and exploitation tied to Adelicia Acklen’s legacy. This shift reflects a growing demand for honesty about the mansion’s—and Nashville’s—true past. Read more