Celebrating our 250th Bronze, Brilliance & History

Photos by Matt Bjorke: PLA Media

This year marks our nation’s 250th anniversary. Americans across the country are celebrating the courage, vision, and resilience that shaped the United States into what it is today and the freedoms we enjoy. Small towns and counties across Tennessee continue to preserve historic homes, battlefields, and architecture that tell the story of Tennessee’s past. This holds for both Williamson and Maury Counties, each having rich and robust histories.

Pamela Lewis, a Franklin resident, preservationist, and historian, wanted to find the answer to a question she had pondered for years: Why wasn’t there a meaningful tribute in Franklin fully connecting the city to its namesake, Benjamin Franklin? With the 250thanniversary approaching and so much history in Middle Tennessee, there was a unique opportunity on the horizon that Lewis would soon embrace that would connect the dots.

It may come as a surprise to some, but the city of Franklin was indeed named after Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers, and the story goes like this. Early settler Abram Poindexter Maury, namesake for Maury County, initially proposed the name Marthasville in honor of his wife, Martha. Rather than naming the town after herself, Martha suggested honoring Benjamin Franklin, noting his close connection to Dr. Hugh Williamson, a friend and fellow signer of the U.S. Constitution and namesake for Williamson County. The connection made Franklin a fitting name choice for the city and created a historical link that still ties the neighboring counties together today.

The spark that set Lewis in motion and would fully connect the city to its namesake occurred in early 2025. Lewis learned from her friend, historian Mary Pearce, that the city and the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) were discussing plans for America’s 250th anniversary, including the possibility of erecting a statue honoring Benjamin Franklin. She quickly joined the effort, brainstorming ideas and urging them to seek a sculptor capable of creating a detailed statue that would properly honor Franklin and reflect the community.

“This is not a novel concept to honor Ben Franklin. Moreover, everyone knows what Ben Franklin looks like. After all, we all have seen a dollar bill, so the artistry must represent a detailed likeness.” Lewis said. “There must be someone out there who has created a world-class Ben Franklin sculpture. Let’s find him, and I’ll pay for it.”

A fortunate twist of fate accompanied the city’s search for a statue when Buffie Baril, Lovely Franklin founder, discovered acclaimed sculptor George Lundeen. “It was learned that a private collector had recently passed away who owned the Ben on the Bench statue, and the family did not want to keep it, so Lundeen had bought his statue of Ben back,” Lewis said. “When Buffie reached out to George, he said he could have the statue ready in time for the unveiling in January 2026.”

The county agreed to accept Lewis’s generous gift, and meetings began to coordinate the unveiling scheduled for January 17, 2026, Ben Franklin’s 320th Birthday. Ben on the Bench was intentionally placed outside the Williamson County Archives and Museum, located Downtown Franklin on West Main Street, near the city’s historic post office, a nod recognizing Franklin’s role as the first Postmaster General of the United States. Adding to the significance of the unveiling, a joint proclamation from the city and county declared January 17 Ben Franklin Day.

To coincide with the statue unveiling, Lewis released two new books published by Traitmarker Media, about Benjamin Franklin. A full-color commemorative guidebook for all ages, Benjamin Franklin: America’s First Rockstar is a hip, engaging collection of facts and anecdotes about Franklin, interspersed with quotes from other famed and historic figures, emphasizing fun. The children’s book, Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for a Day, is a warm and whimsical story featuring 60 original sepia-toned illustrations by Isabella McKaskill, who grew up in Franklin after being adopted from India by her parents. McKaskill now lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with her husband and two children.

“I have fond memories as a youth ambassador to Japan during our country’s bicentennial celebration,” said Lewis. “The whole world was tapped into the excitement. I wanted to spur that same enthusiasm for America’s 250th — and show my love for my adopted hometown.”

The books purposely take a fresh and playful approach to Franklin’s life and legacy. America’s First Rockstar weaves in quotes from luminaries across the ages — from Eleanor Roosevelt and Shakespeare to Frida Kahlo and Rumi — painting Franklin as a timeless Renaissance man and cultural icon. Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for a Day imagines the Founding Father dropping in on his Tennessee namesake city with its sepia-toned renderings leading the way for young readers.

“I thought, he is really America’s DaVinci — truly our first rockstar and Renaissance man,” Lewis said. “I wanted to amuse, connect the dots, and bring facts, fun, and quirky humor to a story that deserves to be told again.”

As Founder and CEO of PLA Media, Lewis has spent decades working behind the scenes on high-profile endeavors such as MTV and Garth Brooks, but since the unveiling of the statue and the release of her books, she’s the one in the spotlight. Franklinites and visitors alike have embraced the gifted statue and her two books, and the city’s shared history has sparked renewed excitement as a legacy is being built for future generations.

“Every generation inherits a story, but not every generation connects with it,” said Robbie Grayson III, publisher at Traitmarker Media. “Pamela Lewis has taken one of our most brilliant and complex figures and made Benjamin Franklin accessible, engaging, and alive again — for both adults and children. That is no small achievement.”

Lewis’s books are available at downtown Franklin outlets, Landmark Booksellers, The Carter House, Carnton, Denise Carolyn Boutique, Twine Graphics, Belmont Mansion in Nashville, and via online retailers. To learn more about Ben Franklin and our local history, visit the Williamson County Archives and Museum in person or online at  williamsoncounty-tn.gov/26/Archives-Museum.