The Tennessee State Museum Brings History to Life for Residents and Visitors Alike

The Tennessee State Museum is one of the state’s true gems – a collection of historical objects that relate to the political, social, economic and cultural history of Tennessee and Tennesseans. 
 

Discover the state’s rich past at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville 

The free Nashville museum, which reopened in 2018 in a larger space, offers a variety of ways to experience this important historical information through exhibits and educational events and cultural programming. 

In fact, the collection contains a representation of Tennessee, its land and its people, from prehistoric times to the present day. All kinds of significant artifacts related to the state’s history have been acquired over several decades, including art, furniture, textiles and photographs produced by Tennesseans.

The museum, which has both permanent and temporary exhibits that cover more than 13,000 years of Tennessee art and history, is often rated among the top three museums in Nashville and attracts an estimated 130,000 visitors annually.
 

Music Is the Thread That Connects Every Tennessee City in New Museum Exhibit

In late 2023, the Tennessee State Museum opened a new temporary exhibit (although it will be on view for five years and change each year) spotlighting the state’s musical traditions. “The Tennessee Playlist: The People, Places and Roots of Our Music” explores the diverse music heard across the state and focuses on the interplay of tradition and change over the years, ranging from Southeastern Indian tunes and spirituals to Kurdish songs and mariachi music – and everything in between.

The exhibition includes artifacts related to the state’s musical history and a variety of interactive displays to help visitors experience the various sounds of the state. Guests can expect to see memorabilia like radios, a WSM microphone, recording equipment and jukeboxes from the museum’s collection, as well as an original bench from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and a display related to Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in downtown Nashville. Other items on view include performance clothing worn by Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins and Isaac Hayes; a guitar owned by Dolly Parton; and a guitar made by master luthier Manuel Delgado.

It’s well known that Tennessee has been instrumental (pun intended!) in the music that resonates across our country, echoing from front porches, amphitheaters, nightclubs and studios – to name just a few places. In fact, the state is known for its role in seven different musical genres – country, bluegrass, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, soul, gospel and rockabilly, and all of which are featured in the show.

In addition, an online component called 95 Counties of Sound explores Tennessee’s musical history in every county in the state. A handy interactive map allows you to click on one of the 95 counties to learn more about the diverse stories from that area. You can also listen to playlists that complement the show on the museum’s Spotify channel.
 

Permanent Exhibits at the Tennessee State Museum Explore State’s History

Several of the permanent exhibits at the museum look back at the state’s history, from “First Peoples” and “Forging a Nation” to “The Civil War and Reconstruction,” “Change & Challenge” and “Tennessee Transforms.” Another popular permanent exhibit is the “Tennessee Time Tunnel” that combines artifacts, exhibits and stories from the permanent collection with engaging media and thought-provoking interactives for a multilayered experience. In addition, the “Natural History” exhibit chronicles the origins of Tennessee’s amazing landscapes, as well as its diverse animal and plant life.
 

Temporary Exhibits Also Highlight Different Aspects of the State’s History

The state museum offers rotating exhibits that change throughout the year that range from decorative art and military-themed shows to those that spotlight Black history and the suffrage movement. 

For example, a new exhibit opening in April 2024 and on view through the end of 2024 celebrates the museum’s vast furniture collection. The show features more than 40 pieces that range from some of the earliest furniture made in Tennessee to more contemporary pieces. The exhibit explains why furniture is an important part of the state’s history and what those furnishings can tell us about Tennesseans past and present.

Tennessee State Museum Online Exhibitions Are Also Offered

The Tennessee State Museum has an interesting array of online exhibits that are available for viewing. Subjects such as the anniversary of Tennessee statehood, landscape paintings in the museum’s collection and a celebration of Juneteenth can all be seen online and rotate throughout the year.

Children’s Gallery Is Geared for Tennessee’s Youngsters

The Children’s Gallery encourages young children to explore, play and discover Tennessee’s history and culture in a hands-on way. Primarily designed for kids ages 3-8, the gallery offers a tour of Tennessee by walking along a giant map of the state while stopping along the way to learn more about what makes the state so extraordinary. 

Children love the West Tennessee STAX Records area, where they can try on period and rock ’n’ roll costumes. The earthquake table allows young visitors to discover how Reelfoot Lake was created, and they can also play with trains, trace fossils and explore the wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Tennessee State Museum Offers Robust Calendar of Free Events

There’s always something going on at the museum, both recurring and special events – and they are all free! Some of those include children’s story time, arts and crafts activities, museum highlight tours, author sessions in conjunction with the Southern Festival of Books, speakers and lunch and learn sessions. Check the calendar of events for more information.

In addition, the museum hosts field trips and virtual field trips for schoolchildren from across the state. A program called Tennessee Traveling Trunks allows teachers to bring history to life in their classrooms. The trunks, covering topics such as Mississippi mound builders and the Civil Rights Movement, are shipped out free from the museum. Filled with real and reproduction artifacts, portraits, paintings, books, music CDs, DVDs and more, the trunks allow teachers to tap new and creative ways to experience social studies in their classrooms.

Finally, the Tennessee State Museum offers plenty of free parking, is handicapped-accessible and has a museum store full of handmade items from artisans across the state, alongside state history-related merchandise. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday and closed on major holidays.