The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County today announces plans to establish The History & Culture Center of Williamson County in the former McConnell House building in Downtown Franklin. The historic building will be transformed into Williamson County’s first state-of-the-art, interactive exhibition space dedicated to telling its comprehensive countywide history.
The future home of The History and Culture Center of Williamson County, TN
Housed within a National Register of Historic Places building dating back to 1905, The History & Culture Center will honor and share stories of the people, places, and events that comprise the fabric of our community today and influence our region and nation by stewarding, interpreting, and exhibiting artifacts and immersive narratives related to the social, economic, and cultural history of Williamson County. Exhibition concepts are not finalized at this time but will endeavor to support a mix of consistent and rotating experiences that may include explorations of Native Americans, African Americans, pioneer families, Revolutionary and Civil War periods, and the evolution of the county over generations. The Heritage Foundation plans to utilize the building to host educational events for the community such as local and national speakers, workshops, field trips, and symposiums. In order to sustain The Center and Foundation’s nonprofit endeavors, the restored, 6,000-square-foot, three-story building with brick and hardwood detail will be accessible to the community for private event use.
President and CEO Bari Beasley
“Today is a landmark day in the 55-year history of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County,” stated Bari Beasley, president & CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. “The History & Culture Center becomes our fourth division alongside The Franklin Theatre, Downtown Franklin Association, and Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. It is another shining example of preserving a historic place and ensuring that it will benefit the entire community for generations to come.”
The anticipated timeline for The Center is for it to be available for private event rental starting in July this year, with historic exhibition experiences to open in Spring or Summer of 2023. For more information visit www.WilliamsonHistoryCenter.org.
ABOUT THE BUILDING
The property originally housed White’s Tavern & Inn which circa 1803. It welcomed locals and travelers including famous individuals such as Andrew Jackson, and James K. Polk, Felix Gundy who was a Congressman, U.S. Senator and the U.S. Attorney General during the Martin Van Buren administration, in addition to U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Williamson County purchased the property, and in its place constructed a three-story brick jail that Nashville architect Clarence K. Colley built and opened in 1905. By 1941 the jail was considered antiquated, and next door the Old, Old Jail was built (now called the LeHew-Magid Big House for Preservation).
In 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1980, the Tennessee Historical Commission recognized the building’s historic renovations as a distinctive method of adaptive reuse and awarded it a Certificate of Merit. Then from the 1980s until recently, the building had been home to a community center, the Matrix Enterprises cable TV company, Battle Ground Brewery, Monell’s Restaurant, and the McConnell House event venue and catering headquarters.
NATIONAL PRESERVATION MONTH
News of The History & Culture Center of Williamson County is one of many initiatives The Heritage Foundation is undertaking during May to celebrate National Preservation Month – a time to engage with and show appreciation for the places we cherish throughout our nation. The community is encouraged to participate and learn more at www.WilliamsonHeritage.org/PreservationMonth. Events include:
- May 7: 5th Annual Preservation Symposium. Join us at the Williamson County Enrichment Center for “Perspectives in Preservation” as we delve into the practical and economic impacts of
historic preservation on communities. Get your tickets HERE! - May 7: Preservation Awards. Winners of our annual celebration of preservation projects and individuals who made significant contributions within the field of historic preservation will be
announced. - Sites to Save. The 2022 Sites to Save nominees will be revealed this month, identifying local historic places that are vulnerable to demolition, development, or neglect.
- May 12: Warwick Lecture Series. Free presentation: Dr. Tiffany Momon discusses “Black Craftspeople on the Tennessee Landscape.” Register HERE!
- May 19: Practical Preservation Series. Free presentation: Nancy Williams, Executive Director of Tennessee’s Main Street Program, addresses the “Hospitality and History of Main Streets of Tennessee.” Register HERE!
- May 20: “THE MAJESTIC” movie at The Franklin Theatre. A “pay what you can” movie screening featuring a brief pre-show talk about the history of The Franklin Theatre. This 2001 Jim Carrey film is about “The Majestic” – a historic movie palace that gets restored and helps return joy to a small town. Directed by Academy Award nominee Frank Darabont (The Green Mile; The Shawshank Redemption). Get your tickets HERE!