Rose Mont was built by Judge Josephus Conn Guild (1802–1883) for his family. It was begun in 1836 and completed in 1842. All of the materials for its construction were obtained on the property. Rose Mont's architecture is a blend of
Greek Revival and
Palladian styles. These architectural styles not commonly seen in
Middle Tennessee homes of the era, which is typified by
Federal or
Georgian-style houses with a front entry hall containing a staircase to the second floor. Judge Guild's departure from the local architectural fashions was due to his favorable impression of the
Creole-style houses he had seen on frequent trips to
Louisiana. Creole elements in Rose Mont include the use of
loggias and
galleries to connect separate wings, wide
porches, open-air halls and staircases, large windows, a raised basement, and an over-hanging roof. The house's main facade employed a classic Italian design by
Andrea Palladio, whose influence is seen in the design of many mid-19th century plantation houses in the
southern United States. Rose Mont faces the east, so hot summer sun never falls on the main parlor, keeping it cooler. The name of the house derived from a large
rose garden that Judge Guild's wife, Catherine Blackmore Guild (1803–1875), maintained on the north side of the house. In its early years, the house was the center for a working farm that raised
thoroughbred horses and
longhorn cattle. In 1978 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name "Rosemont". It was occupied by members of the Guild family from its construction until 1993, when it was acquired by the City of Gallatin and the Rose Mont Restoration Foundation. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays for guided tours from April 15 through October 31. The mansion and its reception hall are available for rental to the public. ==In popular culture==