Downtown Franklin, part of the Main Street America program, was among the first winners of a Great American Main Street Award in 1995, the award’s inaugural year. Once a “revitalization” project, downtown’s resurgence has led to vibrant and thriving historic places that evoke emotional connection with them. The Franklin Historic District (a National Register Historic District) represents a fine collection of architectural styles from the 19th through the mid-20th centuries. These architectural styles are evident in residential, commercial, and civic buildings throughout the district and illustrate change over time as community needs have evolved. These buildings are framed by tree-lined streets and a walkable downtown area. Residential buildings house families, and some office spaces, which are situated in adjacent historic districts that are walkable to Main Street. The walkability to schools, civic buildings, places of worship, restaurants, and businesses appeals to all who visit and reside within the city. Some define it as “living the simple life or the American Dream,” and it is a look into the past way of living that our parents and grandparents grew up. Downtown is the single most-visited destination in Franklin and the third most-visited destination in Williamson and Davidson Counties.6 The value of downtown Franklin reflects the combined assets of the 6 Source: Symphony Tourism Economics, 2024, via Visit Franklin. historic buildings, the quality of the public space, and the mix of commercial enterprises. These qualities can’t be teased apart. For example, a downtown with historic buildings but no businesses is a drain on the local economy, rather than a contributor. It is the productive economic use of historic commercial buildings that helps to assure their preservation. As a result of its unique businesses and visitor experience, downtown Franklin has managed to thrive through a tumultuous period of transitions to e-commerce and streaming entertainment where many historic downtowns have struggled. Visit Franklin is Franklin, and Williamson County’s Convention and Visitors Bureau and their brand messaging emphasizes the importance of authenticity, the need to preserve the integrity of historic resources, the need to document intangible heritage, the opportunity to create a variety of messages for different experiences, and the essential involvement of the residents in welcoming visitors to Franklin and Williamson County. These messages include A Great American Main Street, Telling Franklin’s Fuller Story, and Franklin as a Preservation Leader. The sense of community would not be intact without people within the community wanting to preserve the sense of place, the contributing architectural features of buildings, and consistently being advocates for each other and what they have helped to protect. Though these activists within the community are not only characters of the past, they are among current residents who know that Franklin is special and that it The South’s Most Charming Town 14 FRANKLIN, TN | PRESERVATION PLAN
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