Bradley Academy Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bradley Academy
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 415 S. Academy St., Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1918 |
| Architectural style | School building |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000914 |
| Added to NRHP | June 14, 1990 |
Bradley Academy Museum is a historic school building in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Today, it serves as a museum and a place for community events. It teaches visitors about the history of the area.
Contents
History of Bradley Academy
The First School (1811-1884)
The very first Bradley Academy opened in 1811. It was near Jefferson, which was the main town of Rutherford County back then. This was the first school in the entire county.
The school was named after John Bradley. He was a brave officer in the American Revolutionary War. John Bradley generously gave the land where the first school was built.
Later, the school moved to Murfreesboro. It taught students until the 1850s.
A New Purpose (1884-1955)
In 1884, Bradley Academy started again with a new and important purpose. It became the first school in Rutherford County for African American students. This was a big step for education in the area.
The building you see today was built around 1917 or 1918. It continued to be a school for African American children. This school served the community until 1955.
Changes and Restoration (1955-Today)
In 1955, the school moved to a new location. The old building then became a place for the Murfreesboro City Schools to store and fix things. It was used for maintenance.
In 1990, a group called the Bradley Academy Historical Association was formed. Their goal was to fix up the old building. They wanted it to be used by the community again.
That same year, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of important historical places in the United States. Being on this list helps protect old buildings.
The association worked hard to get money for the restoration. They received help from different groups and the government. Finally, in 2000, the building opened its doors as a community center.
Today, the Bradley Academy Museum shows exhibits about the history of Rutherford County. It especially focuses on the history of African Americans in the area.
Current Bradley Academy School
The name Bradley Academy is still used today. It is the name of a public elementary school in Murfreesboro. This school is located on Mercury Boulevard.
