The Gilliland Historical Resource Center, Inc
The Gilliland Historical Resource Center, Inc. is the only African-American Cultural Arts Center in Shelbyville and Bedford County. We are committed to providing multicultural experiences and activities that meet the needs of an ever-diverse and ever-changing community.
The Gilliland House, as it is often referred to, was purchased from the late Garland and Ruth King in 1996. This unique facility was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This historic site is named in honor of James Gilliland, who in 1898 constructed this log cabin before erecting the fifteen-inch thick limestone bearing walls around it.
This phenomenal treasure is located at 803 Lipscomb Street, Shelbyville, Tennessee. This special project was envisioned and brought back to life by the late Mrs. Mai Dee Hendricks, founder, assisted by her husband Frederick “Pete” Hendricks, co-founder.
The Gilliland Historical Resource Center, Inc. is a collection and preservation of African-American stories, history, artifacts, and documents relating to the lives of Tennessee African-Americans.
We wish to keep the dream and the legacy alive by continuing to promote this cultural arts center and provide wholesome, innovative, and enriching activities for our community.
Activities
- MLK annual luncheon
- Open House and Cabin Tours
- Juneteenth
- Christmas at Gilliland
- Special programs, lectures, exhibits, and tours
- Black History Display at Shelbyville-Bedford County Public Library
- Local Radio and television airtime
- Ancestry Day