5 Historic Preservation Plan In 1960 four properties associated with the Battle of Franklin were designated National Historic Landmarks. In 1972 the Franklin Historic District, the original sixteen-block town plat, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance. Architectural surveys completed in 1976 and 1982 in Williamson County noted 37 rural properties in the City of Franklin. In 1982, the area known as Hincheyville was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1986 the first survey of architectural resources was completed for Franklin and resurveyed in 1999. As a result of the 1999 survey, the Franklin Historic District was expanded, and several other properties were listed on the National Register including the Adams Street Historic District. Today visitors to Franklin enjoy an award-winning Great American Main Street town. The Franklin Main Street program began in 1978 as a project of The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. The Foundation, concerned about economic decline and disinvestments in the downtown area, organized field trips to learn how other cities were dealing with downtown revitalization. Property owners completed twenty-eight building rehabilitation projects stimulated by 25% Federal Tax Credits. The Foundation assisted with renovation projects by advocating for money to replace broken sidewalks and curbs and by organizing volunteers to donate materials and labor. The downtown buildings were marketed to investors who renovated them to house restaurants, shops and professional offices. The preservation community’s efforts were recognized when Franklin became an official Tennessee Main Street Town in 1984. Today, the Victorian commercial district, with commemorative brick sidewalks and beautifully renovated historic buildings housing elegant shops is the heart of Franklin and Williamson County. A once solely agricultural community, Franklin has gradually evolved into an active suburb of Nashville. The area still retains strong vestiges of its agricultural roots – farm implement dealers, horse farms, and fields of corn and beans. Along with the concentrations of historic buildings and sites, these surrounding landscapes are also important elements in the historic character of Franklin.
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