History & Culture Center of Williamson County, TN

Home
United States
Franklin, TN
History & Culture Center of Williamson County, TN

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

A beautiful and historic building exhibiting the county's storied history and hosting private events.

10/28/2026

So much love for a Franklin icon! 👒

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the The Harpeth Hotel to see “The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl” exhibit during its first residency, and a special thank you to all who joined us on opening day this past Monday.

Seeing our community come together around Minnie Pearl’s story is exactly what our Museum Without Walls initiative is all about. The initiative comes from the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center, a division of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County dedicated to preserving the character and culture of Williamson County.

A big thank you to our sponsor, Wilson Bank & Trust, for helping bring her story to Franklin.

Her hat is on the move! 📍 Starting today at 2pm, the exhibit heads to the Factory at Franklin, near the Liberty Hall entrance, for its second residency.

🗓️ Now through November 5
🕖 Open daily, 7am–10pm

Come explore the interactive panel boards and one-of-a-kind collection, and bring a friend!

10/26/2026

You guessed it — it's Minnie Pearl! 🎉

Franklin and Williamson County's beloved comedic legend is getting the spotlight she deserves.

This fall, the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center brings her story to the heart of downtown Franklin with "The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl" Exhibit. It will kick-off with its first residency at The Harpeth Hotel, starting TODAY, before it moves to other locations in the area from October through December. This exhibit is part of our Museum Without Walls initiative that takes exhibits out of traditional museum spaces and into the places where our community already gathers.

📍 The Harpeth Hotel, Franklin, TN 🗓️ October 26–28 🕘 9 AM – 7 PM daily (Weds, 9 AM - 1 PM)

*Please note: The residency will be moved from The Harpeth Hotel to The Franklin Factory at 1pm on October 28th for its second residency spot.

Check out this cool exhibit at The Harpeth Hotel today through 1 PM on Wednesday! Swing by on your lunch break or whenever you’re in downtown Franklin. Stay tuned for where it’s headed next!

“The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl” is made possible by our sponsor, Wilson Bank & Trust. We’re grateful for their support in bringing Minnie Pearl’s story to our community.

Image courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry Archives.

10/11/2026

👀 Franklin, we need your help.

A figure of great significance to Franklin and Williamson County is about to take center stage... though for now, we're only revealing a part of her.

Her legacy runs deep through our community, and her signature accessory will be instantly recognizable once we reveal more.

Who do you think this is? Drop your guesses in the comments below 👇 We'll reveal her identity soon.

Image courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry Archives, from the Jim McGuire Collection.

09/28/2026

A Message from the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN President & CEO, Bari Beasley, on the Passing of Ed Silva:

Franklin lost one of its great ones today.

You'd know Ed Silva's voice anywhere. No amount of time in Tennessee ever softened that unmistakable Boston accent, and he never tried. A Boston College graduate, Ed served as a U.S. Navy officer aboard the USS Constellation in the Western Pacific and Vietnam, reaching the rank of lieutenant.

As a founding member of Hartzog & Silva, Ed practiced law for more than forty-five years from a historic building in the heart of downtown, becoming one of Tennessee's most respected family law attorneys and mediators. He wasn't born in Franklin, but few people have ever loved it more or given more to protect it.

His devotion to this community was recognized many times over. A founder of the Downtown Franklin Association. Two-time chair of the Heritage Foundation board of directors. Honorary chair of the 2025 Heritage Ball. Franklin's Citizen of the Year. Heritage Foundation Legacy Award recipient. Heritage Ball Patron Award honoree. Co-chair and lead donor of the Franklin Grove Estate and Gardens capital campaign. Tireless champion of historic preservation and the small businesses that give this town its heartbeat.

Ed had a rare gift for making longtime neighbors and newcomers feel like they belonged to the same place, because they do. Together with his wife Susu, he gave time, heart, and resources so that Franklin could keep its character while it grew into its future.

To Susu and the entire Silva family, our hearts are with you.

Ed chose Franklin. Lucky for all of us, Franklin chose him right back.

09/18/2026

This National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re proud to highlight local leaders making a lasting impact in Williamson County.

We sat down with Luis Sura, Founder and Executive Director of Better Options TN, to learn how his organization helps newcomers navigate complex language and systemic barriers. Through legal literacy workshops, coordinated legal support, and practical digital and language Learning Labs, Better Options TN equips local families with trust, reliable support, and actionable steps toward independence.

Watch the video to hear Luis share more about their work, and join us as we honor and celebrate the vibrant contributions of our Hispanic neighbors this month!

*This feature is in partnership with The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County.

09/09/2026

🎉 Two days away! Timeless Tales' Hispanic Heritage Month celebration hits The Franklin Theatre this Friday, September 11th at 9 AM.

Guest reader Ana Martinez of Better Options TN joins us to read “How Do You Say? / ¿Cómo Se Dice?” by Angela Dominguez — a bilingual story of two young giraffes and the friendship they build together.

After the story, kids jump into music, dance, and interactive fun honoring Hispanic culture.

Spots are filling up — register now and bring the whole family!

RSVP Today → bit.ly/TimelessTalesCelebration

08/31/2026

📚 Save the date! Timeless Tales is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a special bilingual story hour.

Join us at The Franklin Theatre on Friday, September 11th at 9 AM as we read “How Do You Say? / ¿Cómo Se Dice?” — a heartwarming 1984 tale by Angela Dominguez about two young giraffes discovering friendship across language.

We're proud to partner with Better Options TN for this celebration, with guest reader Ana Martinez (Programs Director, BetterOptionsTN) bringing the story to life. BetterOptionsTN helps newcomers and community members build independence by navigating language and system barriers.

Kids will follow the story with music, dance, and hands-on fun celebrating Hispanic culture.

Mark your calendars — RSVP today: bit.ly/TimelessTalesCelebration

08/27/2026

Last week, 310 Third Avenue N. was packed for a SOLD OUT Once Upon a Main Street! Thank you to everyone who joined us—your energy is what keeps downtown thriving.

Seeing our community come together like that captures the heart of our Museum Without Walls initiative. Since launching, the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center has taken history beyond our walls—bringing pop-up exhibits, hands-on learning, and special events straight into the neighborhoods and storefronts of Williamson County.

Speaking of history beyond our walls, save the date for our next big exhibit: “The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl!”

Join us at the Harpeth Hotel from October 2–10 to explore interactive panels and a one-of-a-kind artifact collection tracing this Franklin legend's incredible life and legacy before it hits the road as a floating exhibit across Williamson County.

➡️ Exhibit info: bit.ly/MinniePearlExhibit

08/11/2026

School is officially back in session! 📚 Keep the learning momentum going outside the classroom with a fun, hands-on local adventure.

The America's 250th Scavenger Hunt — part of the Museum Without Walls hosted by the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center — is a free, self-guided history journey through Downtown Franklin. Perfect for weekend family outings or after-school exploration, you can grab the hunt sheet along with free classroom guides, historical activity sheets, and recipes to bring local history to life all school year long.

👉 https://buff.ly/3JaSbyp

07/27/2026

Did you know 250 years of American history can be explored throughout Downtown Franklin? 🇺🇸

The America's 250th Scavenger Hunt — part of the Museum Without Walls hosted by the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center — is a free, family-friendly adventure that brings those connections to life. Grab the hunt plus free bonus resources, including historical recipes, activity sheets, and classroom guides.

👉 http://bit.ly/JointheScavengerHunt

Address

108 Bridge Street
Franklin, TN
37064

Telephone

+16155918500

Website

http://www.williamsonhistorycenter.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when History & Culture Center of Williamson County, TN posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.