Click the table to sort by category, or use the search bar to find a specific property.
Click the table to sort by category, or use the search bar to find a specific property.
_edited_e.jpg){kind=logo}
Franklin Historical Museum
About Us
​The Franklin Historical Museum collects, preserves, and provides access to materials connected to the vibrant history of the Town of Franklin. Through its archives and various collection materials, the FHM seeks to create a greater appreciation for the people, geography, and events in Franklin history to cultivate an understanding that knowledge of the past brings about a better tomorrow.
The Museum is operated by the Franklin Historical Commission, the Town Archivist, and dedicated volunteers
Our Story
The Franklin Historical Museum was originally founded in 1972 at the former Old South Congregational Meeting House on Washington Street. It was intended to be a way to collect and preserve the history of the Town of Franklin and moved to its current building, the town's original, Town Hall, in May of 2010. It houses a collection of approximately 4,000 objects dating from the last 300 years to the present, including furniture, paintings, textiles, agrarian tools, photographs, instruments, and historical documents. Some items related to indigenous peoples are believed to be much older. The building itself was constructed in 1842.
​
The programs and exhibitions of the FHM tell the stories of the Town with the aim of bolstering a greater understanding and enduring respect for its peoples and its history. The Museum’s programs usually include a monthly Second Sunday Speaker Series, elementary school field trips, and participation in Town cultural festivals such as the annual Harvest Festival. The permanent exhibits housed in the FHM include a timeline of Town history, a tribute to Town veterans, a Federal Parlor room based on one of the Town’s oldest home, and a timeline of the life of its most famous son, Horace Mann, who was born in Franklin in 1796. The FHM also creates temporary and revolving exhibits which have included Franklin Bridal Gowns, Military Uniforms Then and Now, A Tribute to Eddie Grant (Major League Baseball player born in Franklin who died a hero in World War I), Elections in Franklin, and Women in Franklin.