MTSU Center for Historic Preservation

06/25/2026

Laura Holder and Dr. Torren Gatson welcomed 80 attendees from MTSU Alumni Association ’s Alumni Summer College to the Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County yesterday. Their presentations kicked off three days of Alumni College events across the county. Thanks to MTSU for including us in this fantastic opportunity to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary!

06/24/2026

Our own assistant director, Dr. Antoinette van Zelm, will be speaking at Linebaugh Library this Saturday as part of the America 250 Lectures Series. Come hear her discuss "Heroines Aplenty: Portrayals of Revolutionary-Era Women in Tennessee Over the Years." It's free and open to the public!

06/18/2026

MTSU center, alums key in ongoing preservation of Cemetery School, which preps to celebrate Juneteenth [+VIDEO] by Nancy DeGennaro 17 June 2026 Featured Content MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Seated inside historic Cemetery School, elementary students colored worksheets atop tables decorated with stars-and...

06/11/2026

Last week, Century Farm families from across Tennessee gathered at the Tennessee Agricultural Museum for a special celebration of the Tennessee Century Farms Program.

The June 2 reception honored families whose farms have remained in continuous agricultural operation and family ownership for 100 years or more. Today, the program includes more than 2,300 farms representing all 95 Tennessee counties.

We were proud to celebrate these families and the generations of hard work, stewardship and commitment to the land that have strengthened Tennessee agriculture.

The event also marked the launch of Dr. Carroll Van West’s new book, Tennessee’s Frontier Century Farms: An Enduring Legacy of Family, Farming, and Community, which highlights the lasting legacy of Tennessee farm families and rural communities across the state.

Thank you to the families who joined us, the Tennessee Agricultural Museum for hosting, and our partners at MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation for administering the Century Farms Program and helping preserve Tennessee’s agricultural heritage.

View the full photo album: 139218170@N08/x40s0X8Y8J" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/gp/139218170@N08/x40s0X8Y8J

06/09/2026

This Saturday!

06/05/2026

06/03/2026

Yesterday evening, CHP Programs Manager Amy Kostine, was honored to be invited to the dedication of Tennessee's 65th State Park! The Cherokee Removal Memorial Park at Blythe Ferry is now the Cherokee Trail Of Tears State Park!

The dedication kicked off with the arrival of this year's Remember the Removal riders. It was a beautiful and memorable evening full of thoughtful remarks, the sounds of Cherokee National Treasure Tommy Wildcat playing the flute, songs from singer and songwriter Becky Hobbs, and a beautiful rendition of Sister Sledge's "We Are Family," sung in Cherokee by one of the Remember the Removal riders.

We wish the the Remember the Removal riders a safe journey to Tahlequah, and we look forward to seeing this new state park evolve under the direction of its new manager, Lainie McCoy!

06/01/2026

For those of you who are planning to join us on Wednesday, June 3 from 4:00-6:00pm for Dr. West's retirement reception at the Miller Education Center Atrium at MTSU (503 East Bell Street), here are some helpful parking instructions. If you plan to attend, and haven't already, please RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/53z7e3cc

05/20/2026

YOU'RE INVITED!!

Join us on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 from 4:00-6:00pm for a retirement reception to celebrate Dr. Carroll Van West for his 41 years of dedicated service to Middle Tennessee State University! The event will be held at the Miller Education Center Atrium, 503 East Bell Street, in Murfreesboro. If you plan to attend, please RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/53z7e3cc

Photo courtesy of Kristen Luetkemeier.