McKinney Center awarded Tennessee American 250 Grant

Jonesborough's past will take center stage next spring as a new community play kicks off Tennessee's America 250 celebrations with help from a state grant. The Town of Jonesborough and McKinney Center are recipients of a $19,250 grant for Tennessee America 250 initiatives from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, according to a press release from the town. The grant award will be used for a new community play featuring stories from Jonesborough's storied past. This original play will premiere at the McKinney Center on Feb. 27 and run through March 8. It will also be the kick-off to the 250 celebrations in Tennessee's Oldest Town, according to the release. 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 activities. The first round of the Tennessee America 250 grant programs was a highly competitive process. In total, the Commission received 220 applications, totaling $3,995,982 in requests. The Commission has made full or partial awards for 80 grants across the state, representing 37 counties, for a total of $1,566,325 awarded, according to the release. "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 McKinney Center and its StoryTown program are dedicated to bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to strengthen our community and enrich the lives of those who live here through the power of our stories," said Program Manager Anne Mason. "There is so much history here in Jonesborough. We're the oldest town in the state, and we were almost a part of the State of Franklin. We're the home of The Emancipator, the first publication in the world dedicated solely to the cause of abolitionism. All the big, national events — the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement — have played out on the community level." "I'm excited to put John Sevier's story onstage alongside more local stories like Storytelling Festival founder Jimmy Neil Smith and small business owner Beverly Jenkins," she said. "This play will be all about connecting the past to the present and looking ahead to the future. "It's so important that we know our history and come together as a community to talk about what the next 250 years may be like for the United States," she said. To learn more, visit www.tn250.com.