of Franklin’s history during the Civil War (Figure 4). Automobile tourists passed by several plantations and battlefield sites – such as the Carter House, Lotz House, and Winstead Hill – on U.S. 31 as they traveled through Franklin. In the 1950s, the Tennessee Historical Commission began erecting roadside markers at historic places in Franklin. It was during this period that Franklin began to see economic opportunities associated with the preservation of historic landmarks, particularly those associated with the American Civil War. 25 State and Federal Initiatives, 1910s–1950s In the early twentieth century, the historic preservation movement in the U.S. marked the beginning of organized, government-supported protection of historic and cultural sites. The movement was driven by the efforts of conservationists and members of patriotic interest groups who were focused on protecting places associated with national and cultural heritage. Their advocacy resulted in the first federal legislation, the Antiquities Act of 1906, and the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916. 25 Bailey 2015:141–145. Automobile Tourism, 1910s–1950s In the early to mid-twentieth century, automobile tourism had a significant impact on the historic preservation movement in Franklin. In the 1910s and 1920s, the antebellum turnpike connecting Franklin with Nashville to the north and Columbia to the south evolved into an important state and federal highway connecting Franklin with states in the Midwest, Northeast, and the Deep South (Figure 3). Designated U.S. 31, the transportation corridor carried the Jackson Highway, a national highway connecting Chicago and New Orleans. Established in 1911 and named for President Andrew Jackson (1767–1844) of the Nashville area, the Jackson Highway brought automobile tourists, both Black and white, to Franklin from throughout the U.S. Automobile tourism led to the development of roadside businesses such as service stations, motels, and tourist homes. In the 1930s, Ruth Gaylor advertised her tourist home on Natchez Street (NRHP 2004) in the Negro Motorist Green Book. During this period, travelers were introduced to the charm of Franklin’s architecture, commercial district, and historic sites. The prominent location of the Confederate Monument in the center of the Public Square ensured that travelers along U.S. 31 were aware Jackson Highway connected Franklin with Chicago, Buffalo, New Orleans (Source: Official Automobile Blue Book, 1917, Vol. 4:123) Postcard showing the Confederate Monument at Franklin, circa 1925 (Source: Tennessee State Library & Archives, Postcard Collection) 65
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