5 minute read
MOORE-MORRIS
HISTORY AND CULTURE CENTER OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY
PHOTOS BY KATHY FOX AND KRIS RAE PHOTOGRAPHY
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County opened the highly anticipated Moore-Morris History and Culture Center of Williamson County to the public on February 6, 2024. The new center, which is housed in a 1905-era building that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, interprets and exhibits artifacts and immersive narratives related to the social, economic, and cultural history of the area.
“Opening the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center of Williamson County is a milestone moment,” said Bari Beasley, President and CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. “It is the first state-of-theart, interactive exhibition space dedicated to telling Williamson County and Middle Tennessee’s comprehensive history. It will honor and share stories of the people, places, and events that make up the fabric of this region and influence our national story and culture.
“We’re so thankful for the many supporters who stepped up to make this vision a reality, and we’re so proud to welcome our first visitors and expand on the understanding of the history that shaped our region,” added Beasley.
To lead the History and Culture Center of Williamson County, the Heritage Foundation has hired Nat Taylor as Managing Director. Before joining the History and Culture Center, Taylor worked for the Tennessee State Library and Archives, where he advised county governments across the state on improving the preservation and accessibility of their historical records.
The History and Cultural Center includes many state-of-theart exhibits that can be updated regularly with fresh historical information and artifacts. As guests make their way through each gallery, they’ll experience pivotal time periods in our history. From the emergence of our commercial union and the rise of industrialization in Middle Tennessee to the growth and evolution of our local townscapes.
The experience begins in White’s Tavern, a fully immersive technology-driven experience that replicates a tavern that once stood on the property. 3D mapping technology and digital portraits bring the tavern to life, using actors portraying real historic residents from Williamson County’s past reciting their own words from archived letters and writings. After the White’s Tavern experience, there are many more initial exhibits to explore.
The Emerging Commercial Union
FIRST FLOOR EAST GALLERY (1783 – 1865)
The transformation of Middle Tennessee’s landscapes by early white settlers is illustrated with a series of layered maps and narratives that highlight how these landscapes were altered through time. What began in the early 1800s as subsistence agriculture, characterized by a combination of dispersed farmlands in the valley bottoms and tree-shrouded rolling hills above, was eclipsed by the rise of plantations in the 1840s and ’50s. Farmers and planters in the area grew and traded with their neighbors as part of a diverse cottage economy. This space will explore the period through the Civil War, including the rise of local townscapes.
The Industrial Landscape
SECOND FLOOR WEST GALLERY (1866 – 1917)
After the Civil War, the process of industrialization accelerated connectivity in the region through new forms of transportation infrastructure. The first railroad in Williamson County was the undeveloped Tennessee and Alabama (Decatur) line, completed in 1859. The railroad presents an opportunity for a center diorama that is modernized with digital touchscreens or LED panels. The diorama will also have a removable cover, allowing it to be used as a buffet space for event rentals.
Managing Townscapes
SECOND FLOOR NORTH GALLERY (1930s – 1950s)
Expanding on what visitors learn in the Commercial Union exhibit, “Managing Townscapes” documents the rise and fall of local businesses following the Second World War, exploring their vital role in the development of Franklin and small towns throughout Middle Tennessee. The history of how townscapes evolved plays out on linked digital screens under the loft, embedded into the bar top, and living portraits. Stories about The Franklin Theatre, Gray Drug, Southern Discount, Wilkerson Hardware, Ike Bryan’s Dry Goods, and more will be brought to life. Also, along the side of the bar, the iron bars of the jail call visitors to hear the stories of prisoners from the next door Old, Old Jail.
Visitors will leave with a greater understanding of our collective past and how it impacts the region today. The Heritage Foundation hopes that the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center inspires its guests to take an active role in the preservation of their local cultural resources.
To sustain the Center’s nonprofit endeavors, the beautifully restored 6,000-square-foot, three-story building will also be made available for private events. Located just blocks from the square in historic downtown Franklin and across the street from The Harpeth Hotel, the Center will double as an exclusive event venue for weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, and more. The Center is a charming and distinct multi-configurable space, with brick walls, hardwood floors, tall windows, and fireplaces, making it a picturesque backdrop for important occasions.
The Moore-Morris History and Culture Center of Williamson County is located at 108 Bridge Street in Franklin, Tennessee. Its hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and is closed Sunday and Monday.
For tickets and more information, visit WilliamsonHistoryCenter.org and follow them on social media at @williamsonhistorycenter.
