Franklin Grove Estate and Gardens

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Franklin Grove Estate and Gardens

Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens will be a haven of history, art, nature, culture, and education within the heart of Williamson County.

Just a few blocks from downtown Franklin, a former 5.1 acre school campus is in the midst of being transformed into the Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. Complete with an art museum, natural gardens, historic Rosenwald schoolhouse, community gathering space, and entrepreneurial center, Franklin Grove will serve as yet another charming, historic, distinct, and inspiring destination for locals and vi

sitors to cherish and explore. ART MUSEUM: A historic mansion repurposed as a home for local and international art exhibitions. NATURAL GARDENS: Acres of green space, horticulture, water displays, and places for peace and serenity. HISTORIC ROSENWALD SCHOOL: The story of segregation era African-American education told through the Lee-Buckner Rosenwald School. INNOVATION CENTER: An incubator for local entrepreneurs and start-up businesses housed in the LeHew Innovation Center.

09/03/2026

Building a place for the community takes a community 🌿

Our Franklin Grove Capital Campaign Committee gathered for a Second Meeting recently, continuing the work of bringing this historic five-acre property into its next chapter.

As the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County’s single largest preservation project to date, Franklin Grove is being shaped not only by a vision for the land, its historic structures, gardens, and educational spaces, but by the people committed to seeing that vision through.

We’re grateful for this committee’s time, leadership, and belief in what Franklin Grove will mean for generations to come. 🤎

A place in the making, made possible by community. 🌱 If you’d like to know more about how to get involved, please email [email protected].

08/04/2026

Meet Bo Segers, Board Chair of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County 💡

As Franklin Grove continues to take shape, strong leadership and a shared vision are helping guide every step of this exciting journey.

Bo is a passionate advocate of the Foundation’s work and the Franklin Grove project. He helps guide our work as we plan for a campus that will inspire connection, art, nature, education, and community here in our town.

You’ll continue to hear more from Bo as he shares his perspective on the vision for Franklin Grove, why this project matters, and what’s still to come.

Stay tuned!

07/31/2026

The Lee-Buckner Schoolhouse is key preservation project for the the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. This is Part 2 of our Lee-Buckner restoration story.

When Franklin Grove opens, visitors will be able to step inside the restored schoolhouse to learn from the stories of its students and teachers.

Franklin and its visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the legacy of resilience and education that deserves, and that is our responsibility, to remember.

07/29/2026

The Lee-Buckner Rosenwald School is the last remaining Rosenwald School in Williamson County. 📚

The schoolhouse served Black students in the Duplex area beginning in 1927. Built through the visionary partnership of the Rosenwald School program, Booker T. Washington, local community members, and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, schools like Lee-Buckner helped expand educational opportunities for African American children across the segregated South.

In 2024, after countless hours of planning, meetings with Lee-Buckner students, and months of preservation efforts, the school was carefully relocated to the Franklin Grove campus, where it will be restored and become a permanent exhibition to honor this important chapter of Williamson County’s history.

Stay tuned for Part Two!

07/24/2026

The future of Franklin Grove is built through the people who believe in its mission.

Recently, we officially kicked off our Franklin Grove Capital Campaign Committee, bringing together a dedicated group of community leaders, supporters, donors, and advocates. Each of the committee members are deeply committed to helping preserve and shape this exciting chapter at Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. 🌿

This campaign represents more than restoring a historic place. It is about creating a lasting legacy where history, education, and community can continue to thrive for generations to come.

We are grateful to each committee member for their leadership, generosity, and shared vision. Together, we are building something that will have a meaningful impact for years to come. 🌳

Stay tuned as we share more about the campaign and the exciting opportunities ahead. If you’d like to get involved or are interested in providing a financial gift, please email [email protected] to connect with us.

07/23/2026

Did you know Franklin Grove’s story began long before the estate we know today?

In the early 1830s, the property was home to the Female Seminary of Franklin Grove, a girls’ academy founded by Canelm and Sarah Hines. At a time when educational opportunities for women were limited, the seminary emphasized intellectual subjects while offering sewing, music, and other ornamental arts as electives, making it a progressive institution for its era.

As neighboring properties grew and changed through the 19th century, this property became intertwined with the history of Williamson County, reflecting stories of education, agriculture, the Civil War, and the people who shaped our community.

Today, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County honors those beginnings by working to restore the Franklin Grove campus and buildings in the pursuit of creating a place where history continues to bring people together with education at its core.

Every chapter of Franklin Grove’s past helps shape its future. Keep an eye out for more “Franklin Grove Files” and read more about the history of the property on our website to dive deeper. 🌿

07/20/2026

At Franklin Grove, every decision is guided by a long-term vision for Williamson County and the generations to come. 🌳

In this development update, Franklin Grove Project Chair and local attorney David Garrett shares a look at the thoughtful progress happening across the property, from protecting mature trees and historic features to preparing the site for the next phase of construction.

As work continues across these 5.2 acres, we’re grateful for the community that has supported this vision from the beginning. There’s still much more to come, and we’re excited to continue sharing the journey with you. ☀️

07/10/2026

Education has always had a home on these 5.2 acres.

Long before we created the vision for the Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens, this property inspired generations of artists, designers, and creative thinkers as the home of O’More College of Design. Founded in Franklin in 1970, O’More later was acquired by Belmont University in 2018 and courses were moved to Nashville. This began a new chapter for the College of Design and left behind an extraordinary legacy of learning here in Franklin.

Today, that legacy continues.

As Franklin Grove takes shape, education remains one of the guiding pillars of this historic campus. Through exhibitions, lectures, school partnerships, and lifelong learning opportunities, these 5.2 acres will once again be a place where curiosity is encouraged, creativity is celebrated, and our community comes together to learn.

While the buildings and programs may evolve, the purpose of this place endures. Education has always belonged here, and we’re honored to carry that legacy forward.

Photos from the Tennessean’s article “O’More College of Design through the years”

05/28/2026

Education has been part of this land for generations.

From early learning spaces in the 1800s to its history as a seminary and later a college of art, this property has long been connected to creativity, learning, and opportunity.

That legacy continues to shape the future vision for Franklin Grove.

Introducing two more core pillars of the Franklin Grove experience: Culture and Education. 📚

Future programming, exhibitions, and community-centered learning experiences will build on the foundation already rooted here, creating opportunities for connection, conversation, and discovery for generations to come.

We look forward to sharing more stories, updates, and behind-the-scenes moments as this vision continues to evolve. We’re glad you’re here! ☀️

05/26/2026

There are moments at Franklin Grove where everything slows down.

Maybe it’s the shade from a 200-year-old tree or the sound of birds in the early morning. Maybe it’s simply the feeling of being connected to the land and the people around you. 🌳

Introducing another core pillar of the Franklin Grove experience: Nature. 🌱

Franklin Grove is being thoughtfully designed with gardens, green space, and gathering areas meant for slowing down, connecting, and enjoying time with the people and places that make Franklin feel like home.

Throughout construction, there has been, and will be, a strong focus on protecting the natural character of the property, including preserving mature trees and caring for the 5.2 acres that make this space so special.🌷

We’re grateful to continue stewarding this land alongside the community that surrounds it.

Address

423 S. Margin Road
Franklin, TN
37064

Telephone

+16155918500

Website

https://williamsonheritage.org/divisions/franklin-grove/

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