Williamson County Archives and Museum

Williamson County Archives and Museum Williamson County Archives and Museum is a department of Williamson County, TN Government. www.wcarchives.org Museum admission is always free for all visitors.

Williamson County Archives’ mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to county records with enduring administrative and historical value. Our permanent records date back to the founding of Williamson County, Tennessee, in 1799, and include multiple record groups. We also collect other documents of local historical value and make them available to the public. In addition to providing acc

ess to county records, the Archives Department maintains a county museum filled with objects and artifacts highlighting Williamson County's rich history. Please come explore our displays and exhibitions to learn about Williamson County's history and people. In 2013, the archives building was dedicated the Louise G. Lynch Archives and Museum, in honor of the first County Archivist.

To mark National Dog Day, let the archives and museum share appearances of dogs in our collections. Even repeat visitors...
08/26/2026

To mark National Dog Day, let the archives and museum share appearances of dogs in our collections.

Even repeat visitors to the county museum might have missed the carved dog at the bottom of the Victorian parlor table on exhibit in the Crockett Parlor.

The archives also has its own fair share of dogs. There is a dog register from the early 1900s, which is digitized and viewable in our reading room. The page shown below from 1907 includes pups named Josie, Minnie, and Georgie.

Come see the archives and museum in downtown Franklin!

08/26/2026
Folklore Day is here!Williamson County has lore of its own. In 1845, there were claims that the skeletal remains of a ma...
08/22/2026

Folklore Day is here!

Williamson County has lore of its own. In 1845, there were claims that the skeletal remains of a man standing at 16 feet had been found in Williamson County. The remains even went on tour as far as New Orleans. It was an extraordinary find, but the remains were not human. The skeleton of a young mastodon was being exhibited and arranged with additional artificial wooden parts to appear human like. What happened to the mastodon fossils is currently unknown.

Image: Advertisement for the “Monster Tennessean,” Republic Banner 12 Dec. 1845.

08/18/2026
Did you know the archives has historic and modern obituaries and death notices in the collection?Researchers can view th...
08/12/2026

Did you know the archives has historic and modern obituaries and death notices in the collection?

Researchers can view these records in our reading room. Check out our online index: https://archives.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/indexes/about

Come research with us.

Image: Obituary for Amanda Bingham Parker published on February 3, 1927 in the Review Appeal

Reminder! Art Crawl is tonight. Come see the work of Jennifer Pack! See you then.
08/07/2026

Reminder! Art Crawl is tonight. Come see the work of Jennifer Pack! See you then.

Art Crawl on Friday! Come join us at the archives and museum on August 7th! See the work of Jen Pack!
08/05/2026

Art Crawl on Friday! Come join us at the archives and museum on August 7th! See the work of Jen Pack!

08/04/2026

The Black-owned Century Farm in Williamson County is planning a 2027 public opening

07/24/2026
The archives photograph collection is available to view online. Researchers can search over 9,000 images. https://willia...
07/23/2026

The archives photograph collection is available to view online. Researchers can search over 9,000 images. https://williamsoncountytn.pastperfectonline.com/Photo

Image: The photo is part of the Charles C. Johnson 8th grade graduation in 1965. Left to right: Sara Evans, Linda McKissack, Shirley Carlton, Juanita Cannon, Linda Carter, Lynetta Prince, Barbara Morton, Carolyn Menifee, Cassandra Williams, Mary Secrest, Alma Alexander, Betty Gentry, and Claudia Booker. The photo is part of the Fred Williams Collection.

Address

611 W Main Street
Franklin, TN
37064

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16157905462

Website

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