Winstead Hill didn't play a significant role in the Battle of Franklin but it commands a sweeping view of the town and the battlefield and it was Confederate General John Bell Hood's command post, where he observed his troops advancing on the Union line, in one of the bloodiest and most devastating attacks of the Civil War. It destroyed Hood's army and opened up the South for Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's capture of Atlanta and March to the Sea. Today, Winstead Hill Park is almost as it was when the Battle of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864. Located at 4023 Columbia Pike, two miles south of downtown Franklin, south of Mack Hatcher Parkway, it is a 61-acre historic battle site with a 3/4-mile walking trail and a sweeping view of two miles of open valley separating the hill from the town, offering no cover. The crest of Winstead Hill is 840 feet above sea level and 200 feet above the city of Franklin. The landscape consists of open meadows, wildflowers and large stands of trees, including Eastern Red Cedar. In 1948, a memorial was established to the Confederate soldiers. In 1954, a stone wall quarried from limestone bedrock on site was erected with steps leading to a lookout shelter at the highest elevation housing a bronze relief map depicting troop movements during the battle. It is still accessible today. It is a U.S. National Historic Landmark area and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Winstead Hill Park was the place where Confederate General John Bell Hood observed the Union positions before the Battle of Franklin. Unfortunately, that view is obscured. The park is small but quiet. If you are in Franklin, it's worth to add to your itinerary. There are also monuments to Confederate soldiers. There is a box if you'd like to donate to the Sons of Confederate Veterans since they are responsible for the preservation.

We really enjoyed this stop and felt it was well planned and well maintained. The bathroom was clean for a public rest stop type bathroom too.

It was interesting reading the perspective of the civil war Battle of Franklin according to each southern state that was a part of it.

On a recent road trip, we decided to visit this Civil War site. I had done very little research and so did not know what to expect. We found the park to be well kept. The information provided near the parking area was well done. We looked up the hill to where the overlook was located but after going up the stairs found that the walkway was too unstable to go further to avoid a possible fall. Nevertheless, I would say that this is a mildly interesting stop for those interested in the history of the Battle of Franklin.