The Tennessee Century Farms Program, created in 1975 by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as part of our nation’s bicentennial celebration, recognizes and documents Tennessee agricultural heritage. Since 1985, the Center for Historic Preservation has administered this statewide and ongoing program which now includes over 1,300 certified farms. The information collected is used to interpret the agrarian history and culture of the state and has supported a traveling exhibit and county displays, local museum exhibits, books and articles, brochures and booklets, and Web sites.

The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, a partnership unit of the National Park Service, tells the whole story of America’s Greatest Challenge, 1860-1875, through Civil War and Reconstruction-era sites and resources across the state. Administered by the Center for Historic Preservation, the Heritage Area uses partnerships to preserve, enhance, interpret, and promote the legacy of the Civil War and its aftermath. Researchers, educators, tourists, and citizens interested in learning more about Tennessee's Civil War and Reconstruction heritage can use the Web site to locate Civil War sites, organizations, and sources for interpretation and research materials.

Teaching with Primary Sources Across Tennessee, a program of the Library of Congress administered for Tennessee educators by the Center for Historic Preservation, empowers students and educators to shape their own learning experiences by engaging the world through primary sources—those letters, maps, photographs, scientific data, music, postcards, and documents that make up the materials of lives. Reaching across every discipline and learning level, Teaching with Primary Sources invites educators to see, listen to, learn from, and use the digitized items of the Library’s Web site to reach students in new and powerful ways.

The Tennessee Rural African-American Church Project is an ongoing survey of rural African-American churches administered by the Center for Historic Preservation. Sponsored by the Tennessee Historical Commission and MTSU’s Sponsored Programs, the initial 1997-1998 survey produced a contextual history of the significant events, people, and architecture associated with Tennessee rural black churches. Since that time, the survey’s research files have grown to include over 500 churches located in rural communities (population of 10,000 or less) that date from 1850-1970. Over twenty of these churches and cemeteries are now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

If you would like to share information about your church, a printable Rural African American Church survey form is provided below.