Williamson County, TN: Where History Comes Alive

Jeff Adkins

Across Williamson County, historic sites are valued by the community as reminders of the past and tools for educating future generations. Organizations that prioritize historic preservation in Williamson County are working hard to ensure there will still be a protected place for these important locations in a fast-growing Middle Tennessee. 

The Beauty of Brentwood 

In Brentwood, the Historic Commission helps identify, restore and maintain significant cultural sites around the city. 

“Preserving history is part of the culture here. In Brentwood, we take that seriously,” says Charles Booth, director of community relations for the City of Brentwood and city representative on the Historic Commission. 

City of Brentwood

The Ravenswood Mansion, built in 1825 and owned by James Hazard Wilson II, was named for Wilson’s friend Sam Houston, known by Cherokee people as “the Raven.” Preservation efforts included restoring the slave cabins on-site to serve as a reminder of the enslaved people who built the house. The mansion, which will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2025, is owned by the city and now serves as a venue for weddings, corporate events and private parties. 

The Cool Springs House, built in 1830 by the Carothers family, was originally located near Franklin. Once Brentwood acquired the house in 1985, it was a logistical feat to transport the house to Crockett Park, with mailboxes along the route being moved in order to accommodate the building’s journey. 

The Historic Commission works with architectural firms and historians to maintain historical accuracy and structural integrity in sites around the city, preserving pieces of the past. 

“We want to make sure that as the Middle Tennessee area grows, the city’s history, which is part of its identity, isn’t in danger,” Booth says. 

City of Brentwood

Franklin’s Forebearers 

Franklin is home to several beautiful historic sites that stand as monuments to its culture. The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has added over 130 sites to the National Register of Historic Places in its 57-year history. 

“We’re in the business of saving the places and the stories that matter in our community,” says Bari Beasley, president and CEO of the Heritage Foundation. 

The Moore-Morris History and Culture Center, a National Register site built circa 1905, now serves as an interactive space that uses technology to tell the story of the region’s history, from early Indigenous peoples through the Civil War and beyond. 

Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens, which is slated to open in early 2026, is situated on the former O’More College of Design site and encompasses two mansions and gardens on 5.2 acres. 

One of the mansions will be transformed into a world-class art museum, while the other will become an innovation center and incubator for new businesses. The last remaining Rosenwald school in the county, where African American children were educated before desegregation, will be preserved on the site. 

“To have that important piece of African American history – to move it to historic downtown, restore it, interpret it and be able to share it with the world – is a real gift,” Beasley says. 

The aptly named Preservation Park in Thompson’s Station sets aside 200 acres for public use, including hiking trails, picnic areas and views of the rolling countryside, creating a space where the natural beauty of the county can be appreciated. 

Jeff Adkins

Historic Preservation in Williamson County: For the Future 

Thanks to historic preservation in Williamson County, sites around the region attract all kinds, from history enthusiasts to curious passersby. The visual intrigue of historic buildings helps to beautify the community, but they serve as more than mere decoration. 

“Historic preservation makes way for placemaking,” Beasley says. “I think that when you have a lot of intentionality around preserving places, it creates a continuity that can go on from generation to generation.” 

As Middle Tennessee continues to grow, advocates like Beasley say it is very important to find a balance between growth and preservation, collaborating with developers to find solutions and ensuring a place in the future for the monuments of the past. 

“If we don’t save these places, they’re gone forever,” Beasley says. “And if we don’t understand our history and our past, it doesn’t help us best understand the future and how to move forward.”