The Public Square

The square’s commercial architecture is an eclectic mix of 19th and 20th century styles. The earliest buildings date to ca. 1820. On April 15, 1869, a fire destroyed the square’s west side, and a tornado demolished and damaged other buildings in 1913. Although these disasters changed the face of the square, many historic buildings and much of the original design remain.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the square was a bustling place. The courthouse and surrounding businesses drew residents from across the county. Popular businesses included the Princess Theatre (now demolished), Goldstein’s Department Store, Woolworth’s, Elrod’s French Shoppe, and many others.

Despite the challenges of segregation, a thriving African American business district operated near the square’s southwest corner. However, following the passage of the National Housing Act of 1949 and the city’s plans for urban renewal, many businesses and homes in the Black neighborhood were razed to build Broad Street in the 1950s and a new City Hall and Civic Plaza in the 1980s. Remnants of this historic neighborhood survive at the intersection of East Vine and South Maple Streets.

In the 1980s, preservation efforts helped transform the downtown into the revitalized square that you see today. Main Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford County, established in 1984, coordinated streetscape improvements including brick sidewalks, period lamp posts, sidewalk furniture, and the re-creation of the original town well. Pop into the shops, restaurants, and businesses to enjoy historic architecture and support local businesses.