WOMEN'S HISTORY TRAIL • FRANKLIN NC
From Clay to Bronze • "Our Journey"
Both the Trail and the sculpture began as thoughts in the fertile mind of Barbara McRae. Barbara was a journalist, a historian, a naturalist, a visionary, and a trailblazer. She had particular interest in researching the lives of significant Macon County women whose accomplishments and influences had been unknown or forgotten. In 2017, Barbara met the sculptor, Wesley Wofford, a chance encounter that sparked the creation of Sowing the Seeds of the Future. Barbara had been thinking about the interconnected lives of Na-ka Rebecca Morris, Harriet Timoxena Siler Sloan, and Salley, the enslaved woman, trying to imagine what their everyday lives might have been like in early-19th century Franklin. Wesley immediately embraced the challenge of bringing them to life in a work of art. In May 2018, he presented the maquette – the miniature prototype – of Sowing the Seeds of the Future to the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County and he was enthusiastically commissioned to go ahead with the sculpture.
The slide show depicts pictures of the journey from a miniature clay creation to the 7-foot bronze sculpture you see today.
VIEW or DOWNLOAD PDF FILE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS » (Photos by Odyssey Wofford)
This quote from Janisse Ray, an author who grew up in a small town in Georgia, gives a great description of the importance of art and our goal in the creation of Sowing the Seeds of the Future, as pinned by sculpture Wesley Wofford: “To acknowledge and celebrate women’s contributions, to inspire future generations of girls and women to pursue their dreams, and to challenge us all to learn from the past and aspire for a more equitable future.”
WHT Sculpture Community Celebration Day
The Folk Heritage Association of Macon County and Women's History Trail saw hundreds of people join in the celebration and dedication of the "Sowing the Seeds of the Future" sculpture at Women's History Park on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
The Unveiling Ceremony, Sculpture Dedication, WHT Trailhead Designation and Donation to the Town of Franklin were all featured during the celebration that began at 11:00am.
Blue Jazz thrilled those in attendance with their music and a special rendention of the Sam Cooke classic, "Change Is Gonna Come". Click here to read all about the celebration and view photos from the day's activities.
Presented with Support from the Town of Franklin, TDA, TDC, Arts Council of Macon County, Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center & Individual Donors.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the many community donors, both individuals and businesses, that made Women's History Park and the "Sowing the Seeds of the Future" Sculpture possible.
FHAMC Women's History Trail Heritage Projects
"Walking in Her Steps"
Women's History Trail
The Women’s History Trail (WHT), a project of the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County, is dedicated to discovering and sharing the stories of the county’s remarkable women through public art and a marked trail. As visitors travel to each of the sites, they will be able to experience history in a deeper, more personal way giving a greater sense of identity to these women.
Park & Sculpture
This sculpture tells the story of three women - a Cherokee woman, an enslaved woman, and a pioneer woman - all connected by a specific piece of property that was on the Little Tennessee River across from the Noquisiyi (sometimes rendered as Nikwasi) Mound. It represents these historical women but also symbolizes each group of women and their cultural contributions that helped forge modern-day Franklin – and modern-day America.
Macon Matriarchs
The Women’s History Trail (WHT) project of the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County (FHAMC) adopted an activity in 2018 that continues each March as a part of Women’s History Month. This annual celebratory event honors a special “WHT Macon Matriarch” and her role as trailblazer to help shape a better future for Macon County.
Barbara McRae Scholarship
To encourage young women in their pursuit of educational goals, the WHT Barbara Sears McRae Academic Scholarship is given annually to a graduate who embraces community involvement, volunteerism, and academic achievement thus leading the way for advancement as they prepare for the future.
Other WHT Projects
FHAMC's Women's History Trail continues to seek ways to recognize the accomplishments of women in Macon County. Future projects will include educational components that tell their stories as well as guided Trail tours, monologue portrayals, and more historical events. Please contact us - the WHT Leadership Team welcomes the opportunity to share more about our projects.
Support the Women's History Trail
We encourage you to step forward and become part of our efforts by donating to the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County and the Women's History Trail.
The Folk Heritage Association of Macon County (FHAMC) is dedicated to preserving and sharing the culture and folkways of our Southern Appalachian Mountains. In this world of instant gratification and communication, unique and important lessons can be learned from the lives of those whose survival depended on ingenuity, hard work, and mutual help and support from their neighbors.
We encourage you to step forward and become part of our efforts, for it is about each of us, both native and newly arrived; those who lived it, and those who wish to understand it.
» Download a Project Donation Form (PDF)
» Download the FHAMC Brochure (PDF)
You can also support us by donation securely through PayPal.