Journey to Jubilee Guided Tour at Belle Meade with Wine Tasting
Description
Embark on a 1-hour journey into Belle Meade with its Journey to Jubilee historic tour. Join us as we take an honest look at the lives and stories of the African Americans who were enslaved, and later employed, at Belle Meade with intentional respect and empathy. Our Journey to Jubilee tour is intended to honor the legacy and sacrifices of the individuals held in legal bondage on this property from 1807 until emancipation in 1865, as well as to explore the complexities of their new freedom in the post-Civil War years. Using a unique approach that includes reading aloud from primary sources, and engaging dialogue with the audience, this experience creates a forum for exploring the history of slavery in a new way. Enjoy a complimentary Wine Tasting after your tour and access to the Grounds for a self-guided tour. Please Note: This tour is guided, but it does not include access to the main Mansion portion of the estate. Please book your Guided Mansion Tours separately.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Journey to Jubilee is a discussion based tour abouth the history of enslavement in the American South. The tours shares the stories of Black Americans who were enslaved, formerly enslaved, and who were contract laboreres after the Emancipation. The tour shows how vital their presence was to the existence of the property. These men and women were here from enslavement to freedom. They endured, and we want to honor them by telling their story. In this tour, nearly one-hundred years of their history is explored through the research of primary sources. Come trace their existence through the history of Belle Meade on their Journey to Jubilee. The tour includes access to the 30 acres of grounds (you can explore the property after the tour of before), a complimentary wine sampling (this helps us raise funds for historic preservation), and the guided tour which lasts one hour and a half.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Free On-Site Parking Available
- Arrive 20 minutes before your tour time and redeem your voucher at our Visitor Service desk. They will direct you to your tour
- Due to the intensity of the subject matter and our interpretive approach, this tour is limited to those aged 12 and older.
- Takes place outside and involves walking and several sets of stairs.
- Please Note: Guided Mansion Tours are not included with this ticket. Mansion Tours are also available to purchase separately on this website.
- Not recommended for travelers who cannot stand/walk for extended periods of 30 minutes or more
Reviews(410)
Kelsey was an excellent guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about sharing the history. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and were grateful to celebrate Juneteenth through such a meaningful experience.
A must see & hear part of the Belle Meade visit Tom our guide brought the slave and slave owning experience of the plantation vividly to life in powerful ways sharing fascinating anecdotes and stories.
I think it’s absolutely essential to go on a tour that presents life from the perspective of the enslaved, and this was excellent fair and balanced and honest very worthwhile
So much information. Beautiful property.
This was in incredible tour. We learned so many amazing things like about Robert Green! My fiancée and I cannot recommend this enough!
Great guide sad that the actual enslaved peoples building were torn down and I think the mansion should be included in the tour
Taegen did a wonderful job teaching us about the historic grounds and the importance of the history there for the state of Tennessee. She was extremely knowledgeable, very polite and patient, and was happy to answer all of our questions. We didn’t feel rushed at all. We are from California and would 100% recommend learning about a very different part of the US and its cultural importance.
This tour (1 of 3 we did that day) covered the enslavement history of the property and the efforts to continue to find out more of the history of the 136 (or more in other years) enslaved in 1860. Very well done. Wine tasting after each tour is a fun way to wrap up and think about what you've learned.
Great experience with our tour guide, Tayghan. She was very knowledgeable. Learned so much history about this place. The live music after the wine tasting was a vibe. I enjoyed myself.
What an eye opening, history rich tour of Belle Meade. Not only was the tour guide encouraging of questions, she made the tour a safe space for all. One of the best tour guides I have ever encountered! The free wine tasting afterwards was pretty great too.
