The Knights of Pythias Pavilion in

Franklin, Tennessee Franklin is a city in and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. About south of Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee. As of 2020, its population was 83,454 ...

, also known as Carlisle House, is a

Classical Revival architecture Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...

building designed by

Henry Gibel Henry Gibel (June 1858 – August 23, 1906) was a Swiss-born American architect. He designed many buildings in Tennessee, some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Early life Henry Gibel was born in Zürich, Switzerla ...

and built in 1897. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1988. According to a 1988 study of Williamson County historical resources, conducted by staff of the

Tennessee Historical Commission The Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) is the State Historic Preservation Office for the U.S. state of Tennessee. Headquartered in Nashville, it is an independent state agency, administratively attached to the Department of Environment and Con ...

An unusual addition to the county's architecture in the 1890s was the Knights of Pythias Pavilion which was moved to a hill west of Franklin (WM-996). The pavilion was originally located on the grounds of the
Tennessee Centennial Exposition The Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition was an exposition held in Nashville from May 1 – October 31, 1897 in what is now Centennial Park. A year late, it celebrated the 100th anniversary of Tennessee's entry into the union in 17 ...
in Nashville which was held in 1897. It was purchased after the exposition and moved by wagon to its present location off Highway 96. The building is of Neo-Classical design and features a prominent red dome. (page 31)

Later the same study describes again:

One of the most significant frame residences in the county is the Knights of Pythias Pavilion (WM-996) which was originally constructed in Nashville for the 1897 Centennial Exposition. The pavilion was part of the Centennial complex and after the Exposition came to an end it was purchased and moved to Williamson County. The house has Colonial Revival detailing and a prominent central projecting dome. The house has not been altered and is one of the most unusual designs in the county. (page 43)

References

{{National Register of Historic Places Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee Neoclassical architecture in Tennessee Infrastructure completed in 1897 Buildings and structures in Franklin, Tennessee Knights of Pythias buildings Clubhouses in Tennessee World's fair architecture in Tennessee Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition National Register of Historic Places in Williamson County, Tennessee Relocated buildings and structures in Tennessee