HERITAGE · AMERICA 250
Tennessee Starts Here
Digital home for Rocky Mount State Historic Site and the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The project
Rocky Mount State Historic Site in Piney Flats, Tennessee was the first seat of government for the territory that became the state of Tennessee. In 2026, three anniversaries converge: America 250, Tennessee 230, and Sullivan County 247.
I led the branding, digital strategy, and web development — creating the "Tennessee Starts Here" identity, building the site's digital home, and coordinating a two-day America 250 kickoff weekend.
What I built
"Tennessee Starts Here" brand identity and tagline
Welcome experience with live weather integration (Open-Meteo API)
The 1775 Almanac — weather and wisdom feature rooted in 18th-century heritage
Rocky Mount Pantry section (heritage foods, Das Jam Haus partnership)
America 250 Kickoff Weekend (April 17-18, 2026)
Media Day press conference with four mayors and state agencies
Family Day — free public event with heritage programming
Press materials, run of show, and partner coordination
Sullivan County heritage tourism positioning brief
The brand
The challenge was making a 250-year-old story feel urgent in 2026. "Tennessee Starts Here" works because it's both historical fact and present-tense invitation. Rocky Mount is where Tennessee's government began — and the tagline asks you to begin your own visit there.
The brand hierarchy positions Sullivan County as "Where Tennessee Began" at the regional level, with Rocky Mount as "Tennessee Starts Here" at the site level. The visual language draws from 18th-century almanac typography — practical, grounded, built to last.
The two-day kickoff coordinated four municipal mayors, the county Director of Archives and Tourism, the America 250 Committee chair, and press from across the Tri-Cities region.
Next.js · Tailwind · Open-Meteo API · Vercel