Public displays have been erected of community champions such as Jimmy Gentry, national icons, and Franklin’s namesake Benjamin Franklin, and the United States Colored Troops Statue in the Public Square, which works to tell a more complete history. There are a number of organizations that work to collect and share Franklin’s Human Stories, including Leadership Franklin, the African American Heritage Society, the Heritage Foundation, and the Williamson County Historical Society, alongside many other passionate individuals. The stories are commonly individually stored, and not all are readily accessible to the public or known to the public to exist. ARCHAEOLOGICAL HISTORY AND NATIVE AMERICAN SETTLEMENT During the 21st Century, limited additional work has been done to further advance or interpret archaeological work of early history in Franklin. When an archaeological feature is discovered, all proper State and City policies are followed to ensure proper research and preservation of the sites. In 2010, archaeologists from Middle Tennessee State University documented the Glass Mounds site as part of a private development project at the Westhaven Golf Club. The THC erected a historical marker at the site in 2014, and the Glass Mounds Archaeological Site was listed on the NRHP in 2015. Additionally, the property owner donated an easement to the Tennessee Ancient Sites Conservancy to ensure its preservation.61 61 Smith and Deter-Wolf, 2014; Smith and Deter-Wolf, 2020:92–93. Preservation Accomplishments Franklin has been recognized over and again as a national model for its preservation leadership. In 1984, the National Trust for Historic Preservation designated Franklin a National Main Street Town and, just 11 years later, in 1995, the city was the recipient of a Great American Main Street award, one of the first five to be awarded in the country. In 2009, the National Trust gave Franklin a Distinctive Destination Award. And in 2024, it awarded Rudy Jordan with a Great American Award for her lifelong efforts in preserving Franklin’s historic resources and her efforts on behalf of the town of Franklin. But beyond awards, Franklin has demonstrated that each period of its history deserves recognition – especially in telling the stories of people and events that have previously been left out. And Franklin has demonstrated that preservation is a story of collaborative efforts: It has been at the forefront in harnessing private sector and public sector financial resources and in using the tools of public policy to preserve one of America’s great small cities, and to constantly prepare itself for a future that celebrates its past. Most of Franklin’s preservation successes were built through partnerships and Franklin’s preservation future depends on sustaining this ethos of collaboration. Implementing a reciprocal partnership approach is neither simple nor quick; it requires patience, negotiation, and a deep respect for shared authority. Yet, this model has proven to be Franklin’s greatest asset in ensuring preservation success over the long term. The work of preserving and revitalizing the downtown and historic districts continues through the Third Phase of the Preservation Story. The second phase continues to rely on determined actors who saw opportunities where others saw risk. 96 FRANKLIN, TN | PRESERVATION PLAN
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