Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County, TN

Tennessee

Award Type: Honor Award

Among the largest and most successful preservation groups in the country, this grassroots organization has fought for 40 years to protect the county’s rural legacy from urban sprawl.

In the late 1960s, Franklin, TN was at great risk of losing its rural legacy to urban sprawl. The tipping point was the loss of one of the town's most important antebellum homes to make way for a gas station.  The loss roused citizens to action to form the Heritage Foundation in an effort to save hundreds of historic architectural sites throughout the county.  Forty years later, the Foundation is one of the largest and most successful preservation groups nationwide and continues to strengthen the county's rich past while ensuring an equally promising future.

Since its founding, the Heritage Foundation has relentlessly focused public attention on preservation practice and applying those concepts to downtown revitalization, building restoration and land management.  Thanks to the Foundation, and its hundreds of volunteers who donate more than 7,000 hours per year, 180 Franklin and Williamson County properties are now on the National Register of Historic places. 

Click here to read the full press release.