Visit
The Emerging Commercial Union
What began in the early 1800s as subsistence agriculture characterized by a combination of dispersed farmlands in the valley bottoms and tree-shrouded rolling hills above was eclipsed by the rise of plantations in the 1840s and 50s. Farmers and planters in the area grew and traded with their neighbors as part of a diverse cottage economy. This space will explore the period up through the Civil War. We also see the rise of local townscapes.
Managing Townscapes
The rise and fall of local business following the second World War played a vital role in the development of Franklin and small towns alike throughout Middle Tennessee.
The Industrial Landscape
After the Civil War, the process of industrialization accelerated connecting the region through new forms of transportation infrastructure. The first railroad in Williamson County was the undeveloped Tennessee and Alabama (Decatur) line, completed in 1859.
Additional Experiences
Enjoy 9 unique experiences like the ones above, including:
- White's Tavern
- Ascent and Decline of the Indigenous People
- Middle TN Moments: A Local Spotlight
- Between The Great Wars
- The Global Landscape
- The Vanderbilt History Lab & Storyteller's Studio
