History:

In 1998, a group composed of former employees and other interested persons established the Bemis Historical Society with the intent to bring together those people interested in the history and preservation of Bemis, Tennessee and to discover and collect any materials which contribute to the history of the town. A 501(C)(3) status was granted to the Bemis Historical Society by the Internal Revenue Service in November of the same year.

Soon after it was incorporated, the Bemis Historical Society had an opportunity to acquire the building and grounds of the Bemis Auditorium. Following negotiations with the former owner, a warranty deed for the property was issued on March 19, 1999. The Bemis Auditorium was built in 1922 as the social and cultural centerpiece of the model industrial town of Bemis, Tennessee. Designed by Andrew Hepburn, who was later retained by John D. Rockefeller as the lead architect for the reconstruction of Colonial Williamsburg, the Bemis Auditorium was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places as a part of the Bemis Historic District.

Since that time the Society has worked actively to develop a plan for the restoration and development of the Auditorium that will fulfill the mission stated in the Society's charter to present the remarkable story of this small mill village as a reflection of the national history of textile manufacturing. In response, the Society retained the services of Hopkins & Associates of Memphis, Tennessee, to assist the organization with an analysis for the restoration of the building and its development for future service as a museum dedicated to the history of Bemis, Tennessee.

Mission Statement: To acquire and make accessible important historical documents and artifacts pertaining to the history of Bemis, Tennessee, a mill town forged in the cotton field by world-renowned entrepreneurs, engineers and architects.