Heritage Foundation announces history and culture center at McConnell House in Franklin

The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County will turn the McConnell House property into the History and Culture Center of Williamson County, Tennessee, the organizaiton announced Monday. The space at 108 Bridge St. in Franklin will feature interactive historic exhibits and host organization gatherings and private rental events.

"The History and Culture Center of Williamson County, Tennessee, is a destination for revealing our past and reveling in the present,” Heritage Foundation president and CEO Bari Beasley said Monday. "It's our goal that by exploring multiple perspectives and sharing local stories through the regional and national lens of Williamson County, this place will inspire exploration, critical thinking and a sense of community."

The new history center is set to open in spring or summer 2023. Beasley said the ticketed destination will give the Heritage Foundation another way to capitalize on Franklin’s profitable tourism industry.

The Heritage Foundation completed the purchase of the property in March. With the purchase, the organization reiterated that it will not pursue construction of an events hall at the Franklin Grove property. The Heritage Foundation is developing a preservation site at that property and previously received community backlash about a proposed event space there.

McConnell House: Heritage Foundation of Williamson County to buy McConnell House, ditch Franklin Grove event space

"This building has long been a place for creating historic moments," Beasley said, referencing the McConnell House. "Since we now own this magnificent building, there is no reason to build a hall or seek rezoning at Franklin Grove."

The McConnell House property, which has most recently been a private event space, has seen several uses over the years. Throughout the 19th century, the land housed White's Tavern, but the land was purchased by Williamson County around the turn of the century. The county demolished the tavern and built a three-story brick jail there, which opened in 1905.

That jail was replaced by the Old, Old Jail by 1941. The Old, Old Jail is now known as LeHew Magid Big House for Historic Preservation, and both jail structures are now antiquated and owned by the Heritage Foundation.

"Who'd have thought we'd own two jails?” Heritage Foundation board chairman David Garrett quipped Monday. “Not exactly something I aspired to, but we're so glad."

Cole Villena covers Williamson County at The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network — Tennessee. Reach Cole at cvillena@tennessean.com or 615-925-0493. Follow Cole on Twitter at @ColeVillena and on Instagram at @CVinTennessee.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Heritage Foundation to open history center at McConnell House in Franklin