The Factory at Franklin’s historic programming wins awards of excellence from Tennessee Association of Museums

Historian Carris Campbell leads a group of visitors on an historic tour of The Factory at Franklin to explore the iconic landmark’s industrial past. Photo credit: The Factory at Franklin.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (April 3, 2024) — The Factory at Franklin was recently recognized by a statewide alliance of museum professionals for the quality of its cultural exhibits and historical programming.

For the first time in its history, The Factory submitted nominations for three separate programs to the Tennessee Association of Museums’s Award of Excellence competition. Each submission was judged individually for mission relevance, execution based on the scope of the submitting institution’s resources, and its impact on visitors and the community at large.

The Factory received an excellent ranking, the competition’s highest honor, for two of its submissions:

• Franklin and The Factory: Molding the 20th Century is a historic walking tour launched in May of 2023 and the very first historic programming launched by The Factory showcasing its origins from 1929 to present-day operations. The tour has received positive engagement from guests since its inception and will be updated with new stops later this spring.

• Look Up!, the premiere of Brian Siskind and Isle of Printing Bryce McCloud’s documentary on Calvin & Marilyn LeHew in the Turner Theater. An audience question and answer with the Lehews followed the film, and event details including catering and featured cocktails were selected to highlight the couple’s legacy both at The Factory and throughout the Franklin community.

The Factory also received an award of commendation, the competition’s second-highest honor, for its temporary stove display, The Stove Stop, which shares the story of the property’s industrial past through a variety of products that were made there in the past. The stop has been moved to the newly opened Building 8 lobby, and plans to enhance the exhibit are currently being developed.

A behind-the-scenes photo catches a glimpse of the filming of Look Up!, a documentary that follows the story of Calvin and Marilyn LeHew and their impact on Franklin. Photo credit: The Factory at Franklin

About The Factory at Franklin

Originally built in 1929, The Factory at Franklin served its surrounding community as a manufacturing hub before transforming into a vibrant mixed-use dining, retail, and entertainment center. Located just 20 miles south of Nashville in the picturesque city of Franklin, Tennessee, The Factory spans a historic 20-acre campus featuring dozens of locally owned shops, restaurants, and art venues alongside a variety of event spaces available for weddings, conferences, and more. The Factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 and has been owned and operated by Holladay Properties since 2021. Plan your visit at factoryatfranklin.com.