Exciting Projects Underway at THC State Historic Sites

Thanks to the support of the Governor and the Tennessee General Assembly the Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) State Historic Sites Program has approximately ten capital projects either being programmed, designed, or under construction. These ongoing projects represent over $35 million dollars in capital work at the State Historic Sites across the state and are the culmination of more than a decade of work. STREAM (State Real Estate Asset Management) is the state entity that THC coordinates with for project administration once the State Building Commission (SBC) and state architect formally approves the project. Architects for the projects are ultimately chosen by the SBC, with THC involvement. The THC provides expensive guidance on project designs, especially regarding historic aspects and site and building historical interpretations. THC initiates projects in planning sessions with STREAM and these generally have a 4-5 year, out-year projection.

THC State Historic Site Program operates as unique public/private partnerships. The state owns the sites and provides for all major maintenance, capital projects, and provides a yearly partial operating grant to the non-profit that runs the site under a contract and management agreement. (The exception is Sabine Hill State Historic Site in Elizabethton, which is operated in partnership by our colleagues at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park.) The non-profits are entrusted with operating these properties, and this requires their raising additional funds and keep them open and promote their history to the public.

THC’s largest capital project to date is Rock Castle State Historic Site’s $11.3 million dollar improvement project currently underway in Hendersonville. That amount includes $4.1 million in Historic Property/Land Acquisition Funds (HPLAF) allocated by the board of the THC to support the project. In addition to repairs to the exterior and grounds of the historic mansion, a much-needed event center is being built that can host 500 participants and can seat 300. Site improvements include expanded paved parking, a new storage barn, improvements to the caretaker house, cemetery repairs, historic fence repairs, expanded electrical service, road and drive improvements, state of the art AV technology, and performance accommodations. Prominently featured in the event center is a museum with rotating exhibits, with museum design coordinated with TSLA and the State Museum. The project is expected to be complete in the fall of 2025.

Tipton Haynes State Historic Site in Johnson City is currently undergoing a $2.46 million dollar project to repair and expand its visitor center and catering facilities, provide general repairs to some of the historic structures on its grounds, and a special historical rehabilitation of its historic home and law office. The special rehabilitation of the historic main house has involved historic paint specialist Matthew Mosca and historic interior specialist Jean Dunbar. Reconstructions involve replacing historic wallpaper, oil cloth, Brussels carpets, and historic paint and HVAC additions to the house and law office. This will be a very special and unique interior interpretive reconstruction.

At Carter House State Historic Site in Franklin (and as detailed elsewhere in this issue) THC is constructing a new $8.5 million dollar visitor’s center, which includes an additional $2 million from the HPLAF fund. The building is modeled to look somewhat agricultural in character, and to blend into the landscape. It will be covered in a special acetylated wood in a board and batten pattern. This will greatly benefit THC’s most visited state historic site.

The $8.8 million funded project for Cragfont State Historic Site in Castalian Springs has been fully designed and is going out to bid. Work includes a new pavilion and event center, and the project also includes rehabilitation of the garden. The historic exterior of this exceptional c. 1798 stone mansion will be repaired and includes historic window and door restoration work based on remaining sashes found in the attic. Just down the road, a $200,000 Castalian Mounds development study is also underway. This study will determine the future of a possible facility for the integration of Cragfont, Wynnewood, Hawthorn Hill, and the Castalian Mounds Archaeological site.

The $2.7 million Sabine Hill State Historic Site visitor center in Elizabethton is in development and also includes a state-of-the-art facility that will allow for public use of the grounds and support regular tours of the previously rehabilitated mansion. There is an additional threshold project of $510,000 for maintenance of project for the mansion to coincide with this capital project.

At Burra Burra Mine State Historic Site in Ducktown the $5.2 million dollar capital project is currently in redesign to address the historic Hoist House masonry repairs, rehabilitation of the Office/Museum, and replacement of the fence at the gorge overlook. 

The $620,000 Sparta Rock House State Historic Site capital project is well underway. The project includes restoration of the porch, interior, and exterior of the structure. Their Executive Director, Pamela Wood, recently received an award for her work in preserving the site.

It will take several years to complete the current projects, and depending on additional funding of the project requests THC will be involved with major preservation projects for the foreseeable future. The historic sites are being developed for the next generation in exciting and transformational ways, ushering an exciting new era in the stewardship for the THC State Historic Sites.

This article was published after the retirement of the author, Dan Brown, who had worked with the Tennessee Historical Commission since 2011.