Warren County Heritage Alliance and Main Street McMinnville will present a 2012 Historic Preservation Week Awards program on Thursday, May 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 214 E. Main Street.
Guest speaker for the event will be Lee Curtis from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, one of the leaders among state organizations in the United States tourism industry. Tennessee’s tourism industry generates a $14 billion economic impact to the state’s economy. More than 170,000 Tennesseans are now employed in the state’s tourism industry.
Lee works with counties and communities statewide to assist them with the department’s programs and initiatives. As a board member of the Sesquicentennial Commission, she helped plan and launch the Tennessee Sesquicentennial Signature Events.
The program will be held in one of McMinnville’s renovated and restored historic downtown buildings. Built in 1920 by James Delaney “Big Jim” Elkins, a well-known businessman who served as both president of People’s National Bank and later as president of the board of City Bank and Trust. He was also mayor of McMinnville.
An informal reception and tour of the historic building will be given by Faye Breedlove at 5:30 p.m., followed by a program on the Civil War Sesquicentennial and the Civil War Trails Program presented by Curtis.
Awards will be presented to businesses, organizations and individuals who made significant contributions to historic preservation, downtown revitalization and community spirit in 2011.
The public is invited. Please RSVP by calling 506-5335.