Robert Hicks was a force in Franklin’s historic preservation, a captivating storyteller, and a man whose presence left a lasting...

Built in 1826 by former Nashville mayor Randal McGavock, Carnton holds a profound place in Franklin’s history. Once a prominent...

In late 1864, the United States was deeply entrenched in the Civil War, with over 600,000 dead and the nation's survival at stake. On...

BRENTWOOD Brentwood's history begins with early Mississippian Culture inhabitants and later Revolutionary War settlers like the Sneed,...

In this special edition of YOUR Williamson, as we reflect on the history of Williamson County, we are reminded of the strength,...

Despite the construction debris around it, the historic Merrill-Williams home somehow retains an air of dignity and importance. It’s one of those houses that seems to reach out to the sidewalk, entreating passersby to stop and listen to its stories. Indeed, this property has much to say about Franklin’s African American history, from the ugly days of slavery to the travails of Jim Crow and beyond.

photography courtesy of the Rick Warwick Collection In 1815, Franklin was in the bloom of adolescence. The town was only sixteen years...

On a cool March morning in 1821, a young Sam Houston – future Governor of Tennessee and Texas, and first president of the Republic of...

Williamson County is more than just a place on a map. It’s a rich landscape of culture and history, shaped by the many remarkable people...

Photography Courtesy of Rick Warwick & Katie Shands Despite the construction debris around it, the historic Merrill-Williams home somehow...

Toward the end of her life, Kittie Sneed sat in a chair, resting her tired legs, and told a local lawyer her life story. It was the fall...

The spartan, cinder-block building in Franklin’s Hard Bargain neighborhood has seen better days. Large cracks zig-zag between the...

Photos Courtsey of Heritage Foundation of Williamson County In the wee hours of February 2nd, a flatbed truck carried unusual cargo...

Experts have called it one of the most significant historic buildings in the South, but the Hiram Lodge No. 7 Masonic Hall now stands weathered and oft-overlooked. It sits on Second Avenue South in downtown Franklin behind a plywood barrier as water damage threatens the integrity of its front wall, the interior of which is covered in Civil War-era graffiti.

About sixteen years before esteemed architect Hugh Cathcart Thompson designed the Ryman in Nashville, he was hard at work on a different project: the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee. Like the Ryman, this little church would go on to build a remarkable musical legacy with ties to many renowned artists, including Elvis Presley.

One day in the 1860s, Annie Briggs carefully put on her mother’s long cape and mourning veil before leaving her family’s home in Franklin. The twenty-something woman had an errand to run, but this wasn’t a trip to buy groceries or sundries. She was on a secret mission, one that could cost Annie her life if things went wrong.

Perched on a hill overlooking New Highway 96 West, Centennial Hall looks as if it has always been there. However, the home is a Williamson County transplant, originally built in Nashville and later transported to its present site by horse-drawn wagons.

Today, soda fountains are few and far between, but in the forties and fifties, they formed the backbone of America’s Main Streets. Franklin was no exception.

An entire community is mourning the loss of William Robert “Bob” Canaday, Jr., a beloved photographer who made it his personal mission to...