Imagine a beautiful and intimate museum of art right in the heart of Williamson County. The plans for Franklin Grove include repurposing the historic Perkins-Winstead Mansion into the Robert N. Moore Museum of Art. This iconic location will curate the artistic works of local and national artisans with a rotating display of painting, photography, sculpture, artifact, furniture exhibitions, and be a place for education opportunities connected to the exhibitions and the mission of Franklin Grove.
The Museum of Art further aligns with the history of the property and will help preserve and honor the property’s legacy as a center for visual art education during its years as the O’More College of Design.
(note: representational stock photo only)
Historic writings about the property cite “...lofty trees of Elm and Poplar, beautiful flowers of almost every description, extensive and well laid-out gravel walks”.
To uphold this past, 3.5 acres of the Franklin Grove estate will offer a haven for the natural beauty of Middle Tennessee’s horticulture. Current plans for the gardens include open green spaces, water displays, seasonal plant and flower exhibits, formal gardens, secluded spaces for peace and reflection, and beautiful landscaping throughout the grounds that also highlight the signature, estimated 200-year-old McDowell Oak Tree. We envision a place where thoughts meander, senses ignite, and tranquility abounds.
(note: representational stock photo only)
Originally the site of a post-Civil War Freedmen Bureau school, Franklin Grove is steeped in African American history. This historical thread is tied to more recent history through the circa 1927 historic Lee-Buckner Rosenwald School. Following its relocation from Spring Hill, TN to Franklin Grove, this immersive experience will allow guests to sit at desks, look at artifacts, discover stories from students, and reveal the lasting impact educational pursuits have had on Williamson County.
The Rosenwald Fund, which supported the efforts to build Rosenwald Schools to educate African American children across the rural, segregated South, was established through a unique partnership between Booker T. Washington (Founder of the Tuskegee Institute) and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald (CEO of Sears & Roebuck). The effort has been called the most important initiative to advance Black education in the early 20th century. Today, only 10% of the 5,357 schools constructed between 1917-1932 have survived, and The National Trust for Historic Preservation lists Rosenwald Schools on its 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list. Lee-Buckner is the last remaining Rosenwald School in Williamson County (read its history here).
The Moore-Morris History and Culture Center, Williamson County’s first state-of-the-art, interactive exhibition space dedicated to telling a comprehensive countywide history, is relocating from its original location on Bridge Street to the historic Haynes-Berry House, now LeHew Mansion at Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. This move places the Center at the heart of the Franklin Grove campus, where it will receive prime attention as a signature destination for exploring the people, places, and events that have shaped the county, state, and nation.
During the transition, the Center’s mission continues through a “museum without walls” model, offering mobile exhibits, school field trips, and special programs across the community while the new galleries are being prepared inside the Mansion. Once fully installed at Franklin Grove, the Center will pair immersive, technology-forward storytelling with the historic character of the LeHew Mansion, creating an engaging space for residents, students, and visitors to encounter Williamson County’s diverse and evolving story in a deeply connected campus setting.
Imagine a beautiful and intimate museum of art right in the heart of Williamson County. The plans for Franklin Grove include repurposing the historic Perkins-Winstead Mansion into the Robert N. Moore Museum of Art. This iconic location will curate the artistic works of local and national artisans with a rotating display of painting, photography, sculpture, artifact, furniture exhibitions, and be a place for education opportunities connected to the exhibitions and the mission of Franklin Grove.
The Museum of Art further aligns with the history of the property and will help preserve and honor the property’s legacy as a center for visual art education during its years as the O’More College of Design.
(note: representational stock photo only)
Historic writings about the property cite “...lofty trees of Elm and Poplar, beautiful flowers of almost every description, extensive and well laid-out gravel walks”.
To uphold this past, 3.5 acres of the Franklin Grove estate will offer a haven for the natural beauty of Middle Tennessee’s horticulture. Current plans for the gardens include open green spaces, water displays, seasonal plant and flower exhibits, formal gardens, secluded spaces for peace and reflection, and beautiful landscaping throughout the grounds that also highlight the signature, estimated 200-year-old McDowell Oak Tree. We envision a place where thoughts meander, senses ignite, and tranquility abounds.
(note: representational stock photo only)
Originally the site of a post-Civil War Freedmen Bureau school, Franklin Grove is steeped in African American history. This historical thread is tied to more recent history through the circa 1927 historic Lee-Buckner Rosenwald School. Following its relocation from Spring Hill, TN to Franklin Grove, this immersive experience will allow guests to sit at desks, look at artifacts, discover stories from students, and reveal the lasting impact educational pursuits have had on Williamson County.
The Rosenwald Fund, which supported the efforts to build Rosenwald Schools to educate African American children across the rural, segregated South, was established through a unique partnership between Booker T. Washington (Founder of the Tuskegee Institute) and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald (CEO of Sears & Roebuck). The effort has been called the most important initiative to advance Black education in the early 20th century. Today, only 10% of the 5,357 schools constructed between 1917-1932 have survived, and The National Trust for Historic Preservation lists Rosenwald Schools on its 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list. Lee-Buckner is the last remaining Rosenwald School in Williamson County (read its history here).
The Moore-Morris History and Culture Center, Williamson County’s first state-of-the-art, interactive exhibition space dedicated to telling a comprehensive countywide history, is relocating from its original location on Bridge Street to the historic Haynes-Berry House, now LeHew Mansion at Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. This move places the Center at the heart of the Franklin Grove campus, where it will receive prime attention as a signature destination for exploring the people, places, and events that have shaped the county, state, and nation.
During the transition, the Center’s mission continues through a “museum without walls” model, offering mobile exhibits, school field trips, and special programs across the community while the new galleries are being prepared inside the Mansion. Once fully installed at Franklin Grove, the Center will pair immersive, technology-forward storytelling with the historic character of the LeHew Mansion, creating an engaging space for residents, students, and visitors to encounter Williamson County’s diverse and evolving story in a deeply connected campus setting.
You can make a direct impact on the county’s future by helping to preserve its past. Monetary contributions make a critical difference. Though the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County continually raises funds through programs, events, and memberships, donations are essential to our preservation efforts.
To learn more about opportunities to financially support Franklin Grove, please email franklingrove@williamsonheritage.org.
Thank you for your support!
