List of museums in Tennessee facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This list is about museums in Tennessee, a state in the United States. Museums are special places where people collect and take care of interesting objects. These objects can be about history, art, science, or culture. Museums then show these collections to the public so everyone can learn from them. This list includes museums run by non-profit groups, government organizations, and private businesses. It does not include museums that only exist online.

Name	Location	County	Region	Type	Other Information
Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum	Harrogate	Claiborne	East	Biographical	Part of Lincoln Memorial University, Lincoln memorabilia and Civil War history and artifacts
Adventure Science Center	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Science	Over 175 hands-on science exhibits
Alcatraz East	Pigeon Forge	Sevier County	East	Crime museum	This museum explores the history of law enforcement and justice in the United States. It used to be in Washington, D.C..
Alex Haley House and Museum	Henning	Lauderdale	West	Historic house	This was the home and burial place of the famous author Alex Haley.
American Museum of Science and Energy	Oak Ridge	Anderson	East	Science	It focuses on energy, especially nuclear power.
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site	Greeneville	Greene	East	Historic house	This is the home and museum of President Andrew Johnson.
Archie Campbell Tourism Complex	Bulls Gap	Hawkings	East	Biographical	This museum is dedicated to the comedian Archie Campbell.
Art Museum of the University of Memphis	Memphis	Shelby	East	Art	It features contemporary art, ancient Egyptian items, and West African artifacts.
Austin Peay State University Art Galleries	Clarksville	Montgomery	Middle	Art	Three fine art galleries are part of the university.
Battles for Chattanooga Electric Map and Museum	Lookout Mountain	Hamilton	East	Military	It has a 3D electronic map that shows the Civil War history of Chattanooga.
Bays Mountain Park	Kingsport	Sullivan	East	Multiple	This nature preserve has a Farmstead Museum with old tools, a nature center with exhibits on animals and space, and a planetarium.
Beck Cultural Exchange Center	Knoxville	Knox	East	Ethnic - African American	This center celebrates African American history and culture.
Beechcraft Heritage Museum	Tullahoma	Coffee	Middle	Aviation	It showcases Beechcraft airplanes and their history.
Belle Meade Plantation	Belle Meade	Davidson	Middle	Historic house	A historic plantation mansion and its old buildings.
Belmont Mansion	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Historic house	This Victorian mansion is part of Belmont University.
Belmont University Galleries	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Art	The Leu Art Gallery and Gallery 121 display art.
Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art	Memphis	Shelby	West	Art	This museum features Asian and Jewish art.
Bessie Smith Cultural Center	Chattanooga	Hamilton	East	African American	It highlights the role of African Americans in American history and culture. It was formerly the Chattanooga African-American Museum.
Blount County Historical Museum	Maryville	Blount	East	Local history	This museum shares the history of Blount County.
Blount Mansion	Knoxville	Knox	East	Historic house	A mansion from the late 1700s.
Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center	Murfreesboro	Rutherford	Middle	Local history	It focuses on the African American history of the area.
Buford Pusser Home and Museum	Adamsville	McNairy	West	Biographical	This is the home and museum of Sheriff Buford Pusser.
Burkle Estate	Memphis	Shelby	West	Historic house	Also known as the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, it tells the story of the Underground Railroad.
Butler Museum	Butler	Johnson	East	History	It tells the story of the town of Butler, which was moved to higher ground for Watauga Lake.
Cades Cove Museum	Maryville	Blount	East	Local history	It shares the history and culture of Cades Cove.
Cannonsburgh Village	Murfreesboro	Rutherford	Middle	Open-air	This is a reconstructed Southern village with buildings from the 1830s to the 1930s.
Carnegie Center for Arts and History	Jackson	Madison	West	Local history	This center has exhibits about the Civil War and local history.
Carnton Plantation	Franklin	Williamson	Middle	Historic house	It includes a mid-19th-century plantation home and a Civil War battle site.
Carter House	Franklin	Williamson	Middle	Historic house	A mid-19th-century house with Civil War history.
Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum	Jackson	Madison	West	Railroad	It has a recreated 1890s train station, the restored home of engineer Casey Jones, and a replica of his locomotive.
C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa	Memphis	Shelby	West	Ethnic - Native American	Located in T.O. Fuller State Park, it shows archaeological finds from Mississippian mounds.
Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Heritage Center	Chattanooga	Hamilton	East	Military	It tells the history of the Medal of Honor and the brave people who received it.
Chasing Rainbows	Pigeon Forge	Sevier	East	Biographical	This museum about Dolly Parton is located at Dollywood.
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Art	It has American art, decorative arts, and contemporary art, including outdoor sculptures.
Chester Inn State Historic Site	Jonesborough	Washington	East	History	It has exhibits on local history and a restored parlor and dining room from the late 1700s.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park	Chattanooga	Hamilton	East	Military	The visitor center has exhibits about the Civil War battle site.
Children's Museum of Memphis	Memphis	Shelby	West	Children's	A fun place for kids to learn and play.
Children's Museum of Oak Ridge	Oak Ridge	Anderson	East	Children's	Another great museum for children.
Clement Railroad Hotel Museum	Dickson	Dickson	Middle	Local history	It has exhibits on the Civil War, railroads, and local history.
Cold Springs School	Portland	Sumner	Middle	Education	This is a one-room schoolhouse.
Cookeville Depot Museum	Cookeville	Putnam	Middle	Railroad	It has a collection of train cars and railroad items.
Coon Creek Science Center	Adamsville	McNairy	West	Natural history	It has preserved marine shells and fossils from the Upper Cretaceous period. Visits are for groups only.
Cooter's Museum	Pigeon Forge	Sevier	East	Media	This museum has items from the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV show.
Cooter's Place	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Media	Another museum with items from the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV show.
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park	Byrdstown	Pickett	Middle	Biographical	This log cabin was the birthplace of Cordell Hull, a politician and Secretary of State.
The Cotton Museum	Memphis	Shelby	West	Industry - Cotton	It explores the history of the cotton industry.
Cotton Museum at Green Frog Farm	Bells	Crockett	West	Industry	It tells the story of cotton and its impact on local culture. It includes a village of historic houses.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Hall of fame - Music	It celebrates the history and traditions of country music.
Cowan Railroad Museum	Cowan	Franklin	Middle	Railroad	This museum focuses on railroad history.
Cragfont	Castalian Springs	Sumner	Middle	Historic house	An early 19th-century period house.
Creative Discovery Museum	Chattanooga	Hamilton	East	Children's	A hands-on museum for kids.
Crescent Bend	Knoxville	Knox	East	Historic house	Also known as the Armstrong-Lockett House, it's an 1834 home with 18th-century furnishings.
Crockett Tavern Museum	Morristown	Hamblen	East	Biographical	This is a reconstruction of the 1790s tavern where Davy Crockett spent his boyhood.
Cumberland Homesteads Tower Museum	Crossville	Cumberland	East	History	A tower with a museum about the 1930s Homesteads project and a period house.
Customs House Museum and Cultural Center	Clarksville	Montgomery	Middle	Multiple	It has exhibits on art, science, history, porcelain, and model trains.
David Crockett State Park	Lawrenceburg	Lawrence	Middle	Biographical	It explores the life of Davy Crockett as a pioneer, soldier, and politician.
Davies Manor	Memphis	Shelby	West	Historic house	An early 19th-century log home.
Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park	Limestone	Greene	East	Biographical	It includes a replica of Davy Crockett's birth cabin and a museum about his life.
Dickson-Williams Mansion	Greeneville	Greene	East	Historic house	A 19th-century mansion.
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring	Murfreesboro	Rutherford	Middle	Nature center	A center focused on nature.
Discovery Park of America	Union City	Obion	West	Multiple	This park has exhibits on local history, science, technology, and art.
Dixie Gun Works Old Car Museum	Union City	Obion	West	Multiple	It features weapons, gun-making equipment, antique cars, and mechanical devices.
Dixon Gallery and Gardens	Memphis	Shelby	West	Art	Collections include French and American impressionism and 18th-century German porcelain.
Doak House Museum	Greeneville	Greene	East	Historic house	Part of Tusculum College, this is an 1830s period house.
Downtown Gallery	Knoxville	Knox	East	Art	Part of the University of Tennessee, it showcases art.
Ducktown Basin Museum	Ducktown	Polk	East	Mining	It tells the story of copper mining at the Burra Burra Mine.
Dunbar Carver Alumni Museum and Cultural Center	Brownsville	Haywood	West	African American	It celebrates the achievements of African American students in Haywood County.
Dunlap Coke Ovens Park	Dunlap	Sequatchie	Middle	Industry	This park has the remains of 268 beehive coke ovens used to make coke for iron smelting.
Dyer County Museum	Dyersburg	Dyer	West	Local history	Operated by the Dyer County Historical Society.
Edge Motor Museum	Memphis	Shelby	West	Car Museum	This museum features the history of American sports cars.
Elvis & Hollywood Legends Museum	Pigeon Forge	Sevier	East	Biographical	It displays personal items of singer Elvis Presley and movie props from Hollywood actors.
Englewood Textile Museum	Englewood	McMinn	East	Industry - Textile	It focuses on textile mills and their workers.
Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture	Knoxville	Knox	East	Art	Part of University of Tennessee, it exhibits art and architecture.
Exchange Place (Kingsport, Tennessee)	Kingsport	Sullivan	East	Living	This is an 1850s living history farm.
Falcon Rest Mansion	McMinnville	Warren	Middle	Historic house	An 1896 Victorian mansion.
Falls Mill	Belvidere	Franklin	Middle	Textile	Also known as the Museum of Power & Industry, it's a historic former textile mill.
Farragut Museum	Farragut	Knox	East	Local history	This museum tells the history of Farragut.
Fayetteville-Lincoln County Museum	Fayetteville	Lincoln	Middle	Local history	Located in the former Borden Milk Plant.
Fire Museum of Memphis	Memphis	Shelby	West	Fire fighting	It showcases the history of firefighting.
Fisk University Galleries	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Art	The Carl Van Vechten Gallery and Aaron Douglas Gallery are here.
Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum	Sevierville	Sevier	East	Automobile	This museum displays muscle cars.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield	Dover	Stewart	Middle	Military	The visitor center has Civil War artifacts and exhibits about the battle.
Fort Negley	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Military	It has a visitor center with exhibits about the 1862 surrender of Nashville and the building of Fort Negley.
Fort Loudoun	Vonore	Monroe	East	Military	A reconstructed British Colonial fort with an interpretive center.
Fort Pillow State Park and Museum	Henning	Lauderdale	West	Fort - Civil War	It tells the history of the Battle of Fort Pillow during the Civil War.
Fort Southwest Point	Kingston	Roane	East	Military	A restored federal frontier outpost with archaeological and history exhibits.
Frist Center for the Visual Arts	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Art	It features changing art exhibits.
General Shale Museum of Ancient Brick	Johnson City	Washington	East	Commodity	It displays bricks from ancient times and shows how bricks are made.
Giles County Historical Museum	Pulaski	Giles	Middle	Local history	This museum covers the history of Giles County.
Girl Scout Museum at Daisy's Place	Knoxville	Knox	East	Scouting	This museum celebrates the history of Girl Scouting.
Graceland	Memphis	Shelby	West	Historic house	This was the famous home of Elvis Presley.
Gray Fossil Museum	Gray	Washington	East	Natural history	It displays fossils found at the Gray Fossil Site.
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center	Townsend	Blount	East	Open-air	It explores the cultural heritage of East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains, including Native American and pioneer history.
Green McAdoo Cultural Center	Clinton	Anderson	East	Ethnic - African American	This center focuses on African American history.
Greeneville Greene County History Museum	Greeneville	Greene	East	Local history	This museum shares local history.
Grundy County Heritage Center Museum	Tracy City	Grundy	Middle	Local history	Operated by the Grundy County Historical Society.
Grundy County Miners Museum	Palmer	Grundy	Middle	Mining	It focuses on coal mining in the area.
Guinness World Records	Gatlinburg	Sevier	East	Amusement	This museum showcases amazing world records.
Hands On! Regional Museum	Johnson City	Washington	East	Children's	A hands-on museum for kids.
Hands-On Science Center	Tullahoma	Coffee	Middle	Science	This center offers interactive science exhibits.
The Hermitage	Hermitage	Davidson	Middle	Historic house	This was the home of U.S. President Andrew Jackson.
Historic Collinsville	Southside	Montgomery	Middle	Living history	It shows what Southern village life was like in the mid-19th century.
Historic Mansker's Station	Goodlettsville	Sumner	Middle	Living	It includes an 18th-century fort and a 1790s-period house.
Historic Rugby	Rugby	Morgan	East	Open-air	An experimental community with historic houses to tour.
Hollywood Star Cars Museum	Gatlinburg	Sevier	East	Automobile	It displays cars used in movies and TV shows.
Hollywood Wax Museum Pigeon Forge	Pigeon Forge	Sevier	East	Media	It features wax figures of famous celebrities.
Houston Museum of Decorative Arts	Chattanooga	Hamilton	East	Art	It includes antique glass, ceramics, furniture, and music boxes.
Hunter Museum of American Art	Chattanooga	Hamilton	East	Art	It has a collection of American art from different periods.
International Rock-a-billy Hall of Fame	Jackson	Madison	West	Music - Rock-a-billy	It has items and videos of rockabilly artists.
International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum	Chattanooga	Hamilton	East	Transportation	It displays tow trucks, equipment, and collectible toys related to the industry.
President James K. Polk Home	Columbia	Maury	Middle	Historic house	The 19th-century home and museum of President James K. Polk.
James D. Vaughan Museum	Lawrenceburg	Lawrence	Middle	Music	It honors James David Vaughan, known as the "Father of Southern Gospel Music."
James White's Fort	Knoxville	Knox	East	Historic house	Log fort cabins from the early 19th century.
Johnsonville State Historic Park	New Johnsonville	Humphreys	Middle	Military	It tells the history of the Battle of Johnsonville.
Kiwanis Cookeville Children's Museum	Cookeville	Putnam	Middle	Children's	A museum designed for children.
Knoxville Museum of Art	Knoxville	Knox	East	Art	It features contemporary art.
L & N Train Station	Clarksville	Montgomery	Middle	Railroad	This historic train station is now a museum.
Lane Motor Museum	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Transportation - Automobile	It has a unique collection of mostly European automobiles, including unusual vehicles.
Lenoir Museum Cultural Complex	Norris	Anderson	East	Multiple	Located in Norris Dam State Park, it includes a pioneer museum, a gristmill, and a threshing barn.
Lichterman Nature Center	Memphis	Shelby	West	Nature center	Part of the Pink Palace Family of Museums, it's an arboretum, nature center, and museum of native wildlife.
Little Congress Bicycle Museums	Cumberland Gap	Claiborne	Middle	Transportation	This museum displays bicycles.
Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum	Townsend	Blount	East	Railroad	It focuses on the history of the Little River Railroad.
Loretta Lynn Ranch	Hurricane Mills	Humphreys	West	Multiple	This park, owned by country music star Loretta Lynn, includes her biographical Coal Miner's Daughter Museum, a Plantation Home tour, a Frontier Homestead, and a Native American Artifacts Museum.
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Station/Museum	Etowah	McMinn	East	Railroad	This is a departure point for the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum	Collegedale	Hamilton	East	Archaeology	Part of Southern Adventist University, it has ancient Near East objects.
Mabry-Hazen House	Knoxville	Knox	East	Historic house	A mid-19th-century house with historical connections.
Madame Tussauds Nashville	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Wax	It features wax figures of famous people.
Magevney House	Memphis	Shelby	West	Historic house	An 1850-period Irish immigrant family cottage, part of the Pink Palace Family of Museums.
Mallory–Neely House	Memphis	Shelby	West	Historic house	A 19th-century Victorian mansion, part of the Pink Palace Family of Museums.
Marble Springs	Knoxville	Knox	East	Historic site	Also known as Gov. John Sevier Home, this was the late 18th-century home of John Sevier, Tennessee's first governor.
Marion County Coal Miners Museum	Whitwell	Marion	Middle	Mining	This museum focuses on coal mining in Marion County.
Matt Gardner Homestead Museum	Elkton	Giles	Middle	Historic house	This is the early 20th-century farmstead of Matt Gardner, an African American farmer.
McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture	Knoxville	Knox	East	Multiple	Part of the University of Tennessee, it has exhibits on natural history, archaeology, Ancient Egypt, and Tennessee fossils.
McLemore House Museum	Franklin	Williamson	Middle	Historic house	It has exhibits about the African American heritage of the area.
McMinn County Living Heritage Museum	Athens	McMinn	East	History	It displays historic artifacts, antique household items, and decorative arts.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art	Memphis	Shelby	West	Art	Collections include Italian Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionist, and 20th-century art.
Memphis Music Hall of Fame	Memphis	Shelby	West	Music	It celebrates Memphis musicians.
Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum	Memphis	Shelby	West	Railroad and Trolley History	It has historical displays, interactive exhibits for kids, and model train layouts.
Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum	Memphis	Shelby	West	Music - Rock 'n' Roll	It offers a journey through Memphis music history.
Metal Museum	Memphis	Shelby	West	Decorative art	It showcases historical and contemporary metalwork and has a working smithy.
Mississippi River Park and Museum	Memphis	Shelby	West	Maritime	It explores the natural and cultural history of the Lower Mississippi River Valley, including river transportation.
Muse Knoxville	Knoxville	Knox	East	Children's	This non-profit children's museum focuses on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) with hands-on exhibits and a planetarium.
Museum at Mountain Home	Johnson City	Washington	East	Medical	Part of the Quillen College of Medicine, it covers the history of the Veterans Administration Medical Center and health care in Appalachia.
Museum Center at Five Points	Cleveland	Bradley	East	Local history	It explores the history and culture of the Ocoee Region.
Museum of Appalachia	Norris	Anderson	East	Living	It recreates early 20th-century mountain life in the Southern Appalachians.
Museum of Biblical History	Collierville	Shelby	West	Archaeological	It has archaeological artifacts and replicas of discoveries from Bible lands.
Museum of East Tennessee History	Knoxville	Knox	East	Local history	Operated by the East Tennessee Historical Society.
Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers	Gatlinburg	Sevier	East	Commodity - Salt and pepper shakers	This unique museum has a huge collection of salt and pepper shakers.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Multiple	It includes a zoo, the 19th-century Grassmere Historic Home, and the Grassmere Historic Farm.
National Museum of African American Music	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Music History	It features biographies, photography, instruments, and musical examples of African American music.
National Bird Dog Museum	Grand Junction	Hardeman	West	Sports	It is home to the Bird Dog Foundation and includes the National Retriever Museum.
National Civil Rights Museum	Memphis	Shelby	West	History	Located at the site where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, it tells the story of the civil rights movement.
Newbern Depot & Railroad Museum	Newbern	Dyer	West	Railroad	This museum focuses on railroad history.
Netherland Inn	Kingsport	Sullivan	East	Historic house	An early 19th-century period house and inn, it also has a Log Cabin Children's Museum.
Oaklands Historic House Museum	Murfreesboro	Rutherford	Middle	Historic house	A 19th-century mansion with Civil War history.
Oaklawn Garden	Germantown	Shelby	West	Local history	An indoor/outdoor museum, park, and botanical garden that collects local history items and has railroad exhibits.
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park	Manchester	Coffee	Middle	Archaeology	It features a prehistoric Native American structure and a museum.
Paris-Henry County Heritage Center	Paris	Henry	West	Local history	This center preserves the heritage of Paris and Henry County.
Parthenon	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Art	This is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, now an art museum with American art.
Patton House Museum	Cookeville	Putnam	Middle	Doll	Also known as the Cookeville Doll Museum, it has 2,000 dolls and doll furniture.
Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium	Memphis	Shelby	West	Multiple	It covers the cultural and natural history of Memphis and the Mid-South.
Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park	Pinson	Madison	West	Archaeological	It displays artifacts from the park's 15 Native American mounds.
President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library	Greeneville	Greene	East	Biographical	Part of Tusculum College, it has exhibits and personal items of the Johnson family.
Ramsey House	Knoxville	Knox	East	Historic house	An early 19th-century period house.
Rattle and Snap	Columbia	Maury	Middle	Historic house	A mid-19th-century plantation home.
Red Clay State Park	Cleveland	Bradley	East	Native American	This museum is about the 19th-century Cherokee people. The park is where the Cherokee government was located before 1838.
Reece Museum	Johnson City	Washington	East	Multiple	Part of East Tennessee State University, it covers history and art.
Rhea County Courthouse and Museum	Dayton	Rhea	East	History	This is the site of the famous Scopes Trial and has a museum.
Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum	Gatlinburg	Sevier	East	Oddities	It features strange and unusual exhibits.
Rippavilla Plantation	Spring Hill	Maury	Middle	Historic house	A mid-19th-century plantation mansion.
Rock Castle	Hendersonville	Sumner	Middle	Historic house	A late 18th-century period house and its outbuildings.
Rocky Mount State Historic Site	Piney Flats	Sullivan	East	Living	This was the home of William Blount, a territorial governor, and shows life in 1791.
Rose Center	Morristown	Hamblen	East	Art; local history	Located in the former Rose School, it has art and local history exhibits.
Rose Mont	Gallatin	Sumner	Middle	Historic house	A 19th-century Greek Revival house.
Rusty's TV & Movie Car Museum	Jackson	Madison	West	Media	It displays over 25 cars used in movies and TV shows.
Sam Davis Home	Smyrna	Rutherford	Middle	Historic house	This was the mid-19th-century home of Confederate courier Sam Davis.
Sam Davis Museum	Pulaski	Giles	Middle	Military	This site is where Confederate hero Sam Davis was executed and has Civil War artifacts.
Sam Houston Schoolhouse	Maryville	Blount	East	School	A one-room log schoolhouse where Sam Houston once taught.
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum	Vonore	Monroe	East	Ethnic - Native American	It explores the history and culture of the Cherokee Indians and the life of Cherokee hero Sequoyah.
Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park	Pall Mall	Fentress	Middle	Biographical	It includes the family farm and museum of World War I hero Sgt. Alvin C. York.
Shiloh National Military Park	Savannah	Hardin	Middle	Military	It has two visitor centers with Civil War exhibits and the battlefield.
South Pittsburg Heritage Museum	South Pittsburg	Marion	Middle	Local history	Operated by the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum	Knoxville	Knox	East	Railroad	It has working antique locomotives and train cars.
Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame	Pigeon Forge	Sevier	East	Hall of fame - Music	Located in Dollywood, it honors Southern Gospel music.
Sparta Rock House	Sparta	White	Middle	Historic house	A 19th-century toll house.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music	Memphis	Shelby	West	Music - Industry	This museum is about Stax Records, which was important in creating Southern soul and Memphis soul music.
Stones River National Battlefield	Murfreesboro	Rutherford	Middle	Military	It has a visitor center museum and tours of the historic Civil War battlefield.
Sumner County Museum	Gallatin	Sumner	Middle	Local history	This museum covers the history of Sumner County.
Sun Studio	Memphis	Shelby	West	Music - Industry	This historic recording studio is where many famous artists made records.
Sutton Homestead & Pioneer Village	Granville	Jackson	Middle	Open air	It includes guided tours of a historic home, a grist mill, a blacksmith shop, an Agriculture Museum, and an Antique Car & Transportation Museum.
Swift Aircraft Museum	Athens	McMinn	East	Aviation	Located at the McMinn County Airport, it features Globe Swift aircraft.
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park	Elizabethton	Carter	East	Multiple	It includes the reconstructed American Revolutionary War Fort Watauga, a visitor center, and the late 18th-century John and Landon Carter Mansion.
Tennessee Agricultural Museum	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Open-air	It has a collection of home and farm items from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Tennessee Central Railway Museum	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Railroad	It features historic trains, railroad artifacts, and memorabilia.
Tennessee Governor's Mansion	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Historic house	Tours are available by advanced reservation.
Tennessee Museum of Aviation	Sevierville	Sevier	East	Aviation	Located at the Gatlinburg–Pigeon Forge Airport, it features restored WWII aircraft.
Tennessee Museum of Early Farm Life	Spring Hill	Maury	Middle	Agriculture	Located behind Rippavilla Plantation, it displays horse and mule-drawn farm equipment from the early 1800s.
Tennessee Newspaper and Printing Museum	Rogersville	Hawkins	East	Media	It has replica 18th, 19th, and early 20th-century print shops.
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Sports	Located in the Bridgestone Arena, it honors Tennessee sports figures.
Tennessee River Folklife Museum	Eva	Benton	West	Culture	Located in Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park.
Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm	Camden	Benton	West	Industry	It includes a museum about freshwater pearls and the musseling industry.
Tennessee River Museum	Savannah	Hardin	West	Local history	This museum focuses on the history of the Tennessee River.
Tennessee State Museum	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	History	It covers the history of Tennessee and includes a Military Branch Museum.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum	Chattanooga	Hamilton	East	Railroad	It is a heritage railroad with historic equipment.
Tennessee Walking Horse National Museum	Wartrace	Bedford	Middle	Equestrian	It covers all aspects of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site	Johnson City	Washington	East	Historic house	A 19th-century farm estate and its outbuildings.
Titanic	Pigeon Forge	Sevier	East	Maritime	It displays artifacts from the RMS Titanic.
Todd Gallery	Murfreesboro	Rutherford	Middle	Art	Part of Middle Tennessee State University, it is an art gallery.
Travellers Rest Plantation & Museum	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Historic house	It explores the life of John Overton and Nashville during the Civil War.
Treasuring the Word Rare Bible & Book Museum	Sevierville	Sevier	East	Religious	It tells the history of how the Bible came to be in the English language.
Trenton Teapot Museum	Trenton	Gibson	West	Commodity - Teapot	This museum has a collection of teapots.
Trousdale Place	Gallatin	Sumner	Middle	Historic house	The 1813 home of John H. Bowen and Governor of Tennessee William Trousdale.
Tulip Grove	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Historic house	An Antebellum Greek Revival house.
Tullahoma Fine Arts Center	Tullahoma	Coffee	Middle	Art	It includes a fine art gallery with changing exhibits.
Twin Cities Railroad Museum	South Fulton	Obion	West	Railroad	This museum focuses on railroad history.
University of the South Art Gallery	Sewanee	Franklin	Middle	Art	This is an art gallery at the university.
Vanderbilt University Galleries	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Art	These galleries are part of Vanderbilt University.
Veterans' Museum	Halls	Lauderdale	West	Aviation	Located at the former Dyersburg Army Air Base, a WWII training facility.
W. C. Handy Museum	Memphis	Shelby	West	Historic house, music history	This was the home of W. C. Handy, known as the "Father of the Blues."
West Tennessee Agricultural Museum	Milan	Gibson	West	Agriculture	It displays tools, equipment, and exhibits about agriculture in West Tennessee.
West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center	Brownsville	Haywood	West	Multiple	It includes the West Tennessee Cotton Museum, West Tennessee Music Museum, Hatchie River Museum, and the Flagg Grove School with Tina Turner memorabilia.
West Tennessee Regional Art Center	Humboldt	Gibson	West	Art	This center showcases regional art.
White County Military Museum	Sparta	White	Middle	Military	This museum focuses on military history.
Willie Nelson and Friends Museum	Nashville	Davidson	Middle	Music	It features country musician Willie Nelson and country music history.
Wilson County Museum	Lebanon	Wilson	Middle	Local history	This museum is open on Sunday afternoons.
Woodruff-Fontaine House	Memphis	Shelby	West	Historic house	An 1870 Victorian mansion.
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame	Knoxville	Knox	East	Hall of fame - Sports	It honors people who have contributed to women's basketball.
Wyatt Archaeological Museum	Cornersville	Marshall	Middle	Archaeology	It explores theories about Noah's Ark and archaeological work by Ron Wyatt.
Wynnewood State Historic Area	Castalian Springs	Sumner	Middle	Historic house	An early 19th-century log inn house.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

Sometimes museums close down. Here are a few museums in Tennessee that are no longer open:

Beale Street Police Museum, Memphis, closed in 2005.
Chattanooga History Center, Chattanooga, closed in 2017. Its collections are now at the Chattanooga Public Library and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Chattanooga Model Railroad Museum, Chattanooga, closed in 2015. It might reopen in the future.
Dinosaur Walk Museum, Pigeon Forge, closed in 2011.
Museum of Tobacco Art and History, Nashville, closed in 1998.
Obion County Museum, Union City, closed in 2012. Its collections moved to Discovery Park of America.

More Places to Explore

Nature Centers in Tennessee
List of historical societies in Tennessee

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List of museums in Tennessee Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.