Historic Murfreesboro Cemetery School Reopened as Museum
The restored 1941 building on Old Nashville Highway now serves as the Washington Family Museum.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in African-American
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The historic Cemetery School in Murfreesboro has officially reopened as a museum to honor its legacy of educating Black children for over 80 years. The site now functions as the Washington Family Museum, featuring preserved artifacts from its original era.
Why it matters
The restoration efforts preserve a vital piece of local history, ensuring the legacy of the Cemetery School remains accessible to the community. By transforming the site, organizers aim to maintain a space dedicated to education and cultural celebration.
The school served Black students for over 80 years before closing in 1962, and the current structure dates back to 1941. Restoration work maintained the original desks, blackboards, light fixtures, piano, and flooring.
The players
Vincent Windrow
He began serving as the caretaker of the historic property in 2019.
Washington Family Museum
This newly established museum operates within the restored schoolhouse to preserve local history.
The details
A descendant of a former student led the restoration of the building, which has been converted into workshop space and a museum. The facility will now host educational camps, field trips, community tours, and local Juneteenth celebrations.
Timeline
The school structure was built in 1941.
The institution closed its doors in 1962.
Vincent Windrow took over as the site caretaker in 2019.
The museum officially reopened on October 9, 2026.
Culture Shift
This project reflects a broader societal movement toward preserving historic sites that document the educational experiences of Black Americans. By converting the structure into a public museum, the effort aligns with the national trend of safeguarding legacy buildings to prevent the erasure of local history.
Residents can now visit the museum to participate in educational programming, including upcoming tours and Juneteenth celebrations. For specific visitor inquiries, the public can contact the facility at 615-785-4237.
The takeaway
The restoration of the Cemetery School offers residents a tangible connection to the past while providing a new resource for community education. Visiting the site provides an opportunity to support the preservation of local history through direct engagement.
Further reading
Learn more about local cultural preservation at the African-American section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WKRN News 2.
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