This will be the latest exhibit from Moore-Morris History & Culture Center’s series Museum Without Walls, and will explore Minnie Pearl’s life, legacy, and deep connection to Williamson County
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (September 9; updated October 1) — A beloved piece of Tennessee history is coming to Franklin this fall as the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center and Heritage Foundation of Williamson County present The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl, an interactive exhibit celebrating the life, legacy, and enduring influence of one of the state’s most iconic entertainers.
As part of the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center’s Museum Without Walls initiative, The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl will open to the public at The Harpeth Hotel from October 26 through October 28. The three-day residency will be free and open to the public, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the interactive exhibit and learn more about Minnie Pearl’s life, legacy, and connection to Franklin and Williamson County.
“We are so excited to open the next Museum Without Walls and offer the community a unique, immersive experience,” said Bari Beasley, president and CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. “Through The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl, we’re able to bring an important piece of our community’s history directly to the people who live here and visit Williamson County.”
Featuring four interactive panel boards and a collection of photographs, memorabilia, and archival material, The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl traces the life of Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon (1912–1996) from a small-town Tennessee girlhood to one of the most recognized figures in American entertainment. The exhibit follows the woman behind the hat — daughter, wife, mentor, and advocate — and the character she performed for more than fifty years, while exploring her enduring connection to Middle Tennessee. Visitors leave knowing both Minnie Pearl the comedian and Sarah Cannon the philanthropist, and how a role invented in 1939 became a lasting part of the region’s cultural history.
The exhibit is part of the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center’s Museum Without Walls initiative, which brings history exhibits and programming into the community rather than limiting them to a traditional museum setting. By taking collections and stories beyond the walls, the initiative creates new opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with the people, places, and moments that have shaped Williamson County.
Following its presentation at The Harpeth Hotel, the exhibit will move to The Factory at Franklin from October 28 through November 5, followed by the Brentwood Library from November 5 through November 19. Additional locations and dates will be announced later this fall.
Wilson Bank & Trust is the exclusive sponsor of The Many Hats of Minnie Pearl.
For more information about the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center and its Museum Without Walls initiative, visit: https://williamsonhistorycenter.org/event/the-many-hats-of-minnie-pearl-exhibit/
ABOUT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY
Since 1967, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has been dedicated to preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic and cultural heritage as well as promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. Thanks to its visionary stewardship and the support of donors throughout the community, notable projects include The Franklin Theatre, Roper’s Knob, parts of the Franklin battlefield and the Old, Old Jail. Events and festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation such as Main Street Festival, the Heritage Ball, PumpkinFest and Dickens of a Christmas bring an estimated 300,000+ locals and visitors to downtown Franklin each year that creates more than a $10 million economic impact annually. The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County owns and operates The Franklin Theatre, Downtown Franklin Association, Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens, and its newest historic adaptive reuse project: The History & Culture Center of Williamson County. For more information about the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, visit www.williamsonheritage.org.
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County continues to fundraise for the full construction and completion of Franklin Grove, which will be one of the premiere landmark destinations that creates a sense of place, timelessness and beauty for all people to engage with education, art, history, nature and community.
In addition, it relies on support from the community to put on its popular free festivals such as Pumpkin Fest, Main Street Festival, and Dickens of Christmas, as well as to drive vital preservation initiatives and education opportunities. For more information on donating, visit: https://williamsonheritage.org/donate/
About The Moore-Morris History and Culture Center of Williamson County
The Moore-Morris History and Culture Center of Williamson County is the newest division of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN, joining The Franklin Theatre, Downtown Franklin Association, and Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. Currently operating as a “Museum Without Walls,” the Center brings Williamson County’s story into parks, squares, and neighborhoods across the community through mobile programming and pop-up exhibits, as it prepares for its future home within the historic LeHew Mansion at Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens. The Center honors and shares the stories of the people, places, and events that have shaped this community — and continue to shape it today. For more information, visit https://williamsonhistorycenter.org/.
