Morton Family Exhibit at Grassmere Update

The Nashville Historical Foundation (formerly Metro Historical Commission Foundation) was honored to contribute to the creation of the Morton Family Exhibit at Grassmere Historic Farm.  Established in 1810 and most recently owned and occupied by sisters Margaret Croft (1889-1974) and Elise Croft (1894-1985), Grassmere and its grounds are now the Nashville Zoo campus. 

Grassmere was a working farm, and in 1919 Frank Morton (appx. 1874-1962) was hired to work as a farm laborer, which he did until his death. He and his wife Agnes Smith (appx. 1874-1930) raised nine children while they lived in this cabin. Albert (1913-1973) was their fifth child; he lived on the property for a time, and worked for the Croft sisters with his father, and after his father passed away.

The Morton cabin has been converted into an exhibit showcasing the lives of the Morton family. It opened to the public on Juneteenth 2021. It houses interpretive signage and photographs about the Morton family, their years at Grassmere, and their contributions to the farm.  Daily tours of the cabin are offered: a self-guided tour, and a Black History tour that focuses heavily on the Morton’s and their impact on Grassmere, along with the property's enslaved history.

The Morton Family Exhibit was awarded the Angela Peterson Excellence in Diversity Award by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 2022 and received a Leadership in History Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) in 2022.

By: Jill Meese