Tennessee State Library and Archives Breaks Ground

Tuck-Hinton's Kem Hinton, far left, participates in the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Tennessee state officials

“Tennessee has a strong and rich history and it is important to preserve our past to pass on to future generations.”

— Gov. Bill Haslam

The State of Tennessee officially broke ground on the Tennessee State Library and Archives building during a ceremony held Monday, December 11, 2017. State officials, including Governor Bill Haslam, Lt. Governor Randy McNally, Speaker Beth Harwell, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett, were on hand for the ground-breaking. The new 165,000 square foot facility will house state government archives, records, books, and photographs, and feature classrooms, meeting space, and rotating exhibits designed to make state archives more accessible to the public.

“The new building ensures Tennessee’s history will be preserved for generations while making it more accessible. This world-class facility will blend the necessity of historic preservation with the ever-increasing demand for digital access.”

— Sec. of State Tre Hargett

The building will be constructed at the corner of Sixth Avenue North and Jefferson Street in Nashville, adjacent to Tuck-Hinton-designed Bicentennial Mall. The building's location helps fulfill the original plan for Bicentennial Mall, which called for public buildings to line the park extending north from the state capitol building.