Confederate-themed street names in Forest Hills left vulnerable without historic preservation laws • Tennessee Lookout

Forest Hills, a wealthy suburb in Tennessee, has emerged victorious in its battle to rename streets with Confederate-themed names, setting a precedent for other cities and towns. The city, home to about 5,000 residents, has been fighting for two years to change names like “Confederate Drive” and “Robert E. Lee Drive,” drawing inspiration from the Civil War-era developers who named the streets.
However, the Tennessee Historical Commission initially denied the city’s petition to rename the streets, citing the Heritage Protection Act which categorizes street names as monuments and requires approval for any changes. Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal recently ruled in favor of Forest Hills, stating that the streets do not fall under the act’s definition of “memorial.”
This decision now allows Forest Hills to submit a new petition to the commission to change the street names, challenging the notion that privately named streets tied to historic events should be protected by the law. The ruling could have far-reaching implications for other cities and towns seeking to rename streets that honor Confederate figures.
Attorneys for the city have argued that the Heritage Protection Act should not apply to privately developed streets that were later adopted as public streets. They contend that the city had no say in the naming of the subdivision and should have the right to rename streets as they see fit.
While the Attorney General’s Office, representing the Tennessee Historical Commission, did not respond to requests for comment, the ruling could pave the way for a new approach to renaming streets with controversial historical connections in Tennessee and beyond.

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