GRANT WILL BE USED TO PRODUCE A HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWCASING LAWRENCE COUNTY’S SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN AMERICAN HISTORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2025
LAWRENCEBURG, TENN. – The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce has been awarded a $20,000 grant for Tennessee America 250 initiatives from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial.
The grant will fund the production of Lawrence County: The Original Frontier, a historical documentary highlighting Lawrence County’s place in the broader American story from the Revolutionary era to the present. The film will connect local heritage to the nation’s journey, tracing stories from David Crockett’s years in Lawrenceburg to the county’s role in Tennessee’s industrial and cultural rise.
The documentary will explore Lawrence County’s early pioneer roots, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the influence of the James D. Vaughan gospel music enterprise, and the region’s ongoing contributions to American life and culture. It will also feature living traditions like Tennessee’s Amish Country as examples of how rural communities continue to preserve heritage while shaping the state’s modern economy.
Upon completion, the film will premiere locally in Lawrenceburg, with public screenings, community discussions, and educational resources made available to schools, libraries, and museums across Tennessee.
“The America 250 celebration is an opportunity to tell our story to the nation—to show how places like Lawrence County helped shape America’s democratic experiment and continue to define its character today,” said Ryan Egly, President & CEO of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. “We’re honored that this project will help preserve our history and inspire pride in what it means to be from Tennessee’s original frontier.”
The State of Tennessee made available $6,435,000 to the Tennessee State Museum to administer on behalf of the Commission, with the majority of funding to be regranted to Tennessee communities to support statewide America 250 activities.
The first round of the Tennessee America 250 grant program was highly competitive, with 220 applications totaling nearly $4 million in requests. Eighty grants were awarded across 37 counties for a total of $1.56 million. A complete list of first-round grantees is available at www.tn250.com. A second round of grants will open for applications in mid-November.
“I am inspired by the excitement across the state to commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Ashley Howell, Executive Director of the Tennessee State Museum and Chair of the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. “Next year will be filled with exhibitions, programs, festivals, and preservation of our local and state history. We hope that these projects inspire Tennesseans across the state to engage with the anniversary in 2026.”
The Tennessee America 250 Project Support Grants and Community Support Grants had maximum request amounts of $20,000 and $25,000, respectively. All projects funded in the first round must be completed by April 30, 2027.
About the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce unites businesses, industries, governments, and community partners to foster economic growth, tourism, and quality of life across Lawrence County, Tennessee.
About Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial
The Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial was legislatively established by Public Chapter 384 of the Tennessee General Assembly in 2019. The Assembly created the Commission to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and recognize Tennessee’s integral role in that event and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future. For more information on Commission activities, please visit www.tn250.com.
About Tennessee State Museum
Celebrating its 88th Anniversary in 2025, the Tennessee State Museum, is the administrative attachment of the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. The Museum is located on the corner of Rosa L Parks Blvd. and Jefferson Street at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. It is home to thousands of years of Tennessee history, art, and culture. The Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on exhibitions and events, please visit TNMuseum.org.
CONTACT:
Destiny Gobble
Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
Destiny@LawCoTN.com
931-762-4911
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