List of museums in Tennessee facts for kids

Tennessee is a state full of amazing places to explore, and museums are some of the best! A museum is a special place where people collect and take care of interesting objects. These objects can be about art, science, history, or culture. Museums then show these collections to the public so everyone can learn and have fun. Think of them as giant treasure chests filled with stories and discoveries!

Explore Awesome Museums in Tennessee

Tennessee has many different kinds of museums. You can find everything from places about famous people to museums filled with cool science experiments. Let's check out some of the exciting museums you can visit!

Science and Discovery Museums

If you love to learn how things work, these museums are for you!

Adventure Science Center in Nashville

The Adventure Science Center in Nashville is packed with over 175 hands-on science exhibits. You can touch, play, and experiment to understand science better. It's a great place for curious minds!

American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge

In Oak Ridge, the American Museum of Science and Energy focuses on energy, especially nuclear power. You can learn about how energy is made and used.

Children's Museums for Young Explorers

Tennessee has several museums just for kids!

• The Children's Museum of Memphis in Memphis offers lots of interactive fun.
• The Children's Museum of Oak Ridge in Oak Ridge is another fantastic spot for younger visitors.
• The Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga has many creative activities.
• In Johnson City, the Hands On! Regional Museum lets you get hands-on with exhibits.
• The Muse Knoxville in Knoxville is a popular non-profit museum focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) with hands-on exhibits and a planetarium.

History and Culture Museums

Step back in time and learn about the past at these fascinating museums.

Famous Homes and Historic Sites

Many museums in Tennessee are historic homes where important people lived.

• The Alex Haley House and Museum in Henning was the home of author Alex Haley.
• The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville is the home and museum of President Andrew Johnson.
• The Hermitage near Nashville was the home of U.S. President Andrew Jackson.
• Graceland in Memphis was the famous home of music legend Elvis Presley.
• The President James K. Polk Home & Museum in Columbia was the 19th-century home of President James K. Polk.
• The Sam Davis Home in Smyrna was the home of Confederate courier Sam Davis.

Civil War History

Tennessee played a big role in the American Civil War.

• The Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Dover has a visitor center with Civil War artifacts and exhibits.
• The Shiloh National Military Park in Savannah also has visitor centers with Civil War exhibits.
• The Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro offers a museum and tours of the historic battlefield.

African American Heritage

Learn about the important contributions of African Americans in Tennessee.

• The Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga shares the role of African Americans in American history and culture.
• The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is located at the site where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement.
• The Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton focuses on African American history.

Native American Culture

Discover the rich history of Native American people in Tennessee.

• The C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa in Memphis has archaeological finds from ancient Mississippian mounds.
• The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore teaches about the history and culture of the Cherokee Indians and the life of their hero, Sequoyah.
• Red Clay State Park in Cleveland has a museum about the 19th-century Cherokee, at the site of their last government before they were forced to move.

Local and Regional History

Many museums focus on the history of their local area.

• The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum in Athens has historic artifacts and antique household items.
• The Museum of East Tennessee History in Knoxville tells the story of East Tennessee.
• The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend explores the cultural heritage of East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains region.

Art Museums

If you love paintings, sculptures, and other beautiful creations, check out these art museums.

• The Art Museum of the University of Memphis in Memphis features contemporary art, Egyptian antiquities, and West African artifacts.
• Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in Nashville has American and British decorative arts, and contemporary art, including outdoor sculptures.
• The Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis has collections of French and American impressionism and 18th-century German porcelain.
• The Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville always has exciting changing art exhibits.
• The Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga showcases American art from different periods.
• The Knoxville Museum of Art in Knoxville focuses on contemporary art.
• The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art in Memphis has collections from the Italian Renaissance, Impressionism, and 20th-century artists.
• The Parthenon in Nashville is a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek temple. It's now an art museum with American art and changing exhibits.

Music Museums and Halls of Fame

Tennessee is famous for its music!

• The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville explores the history and traditions of country music.
• The National Museum of African American Music in Nashville celebrates the history of African American music with biographies, instruments, and musical examples.
• The Memphis Music Hall of Fame in Memphis honors Memphis musicians.
• The Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum in Memphis tells the story of Memphis music.
• The Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis is about Stax Records, which was key to Southern soul music.
• Sun Studio in Memphis is a historic recording studio where many famous artists made records.
• The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame is located at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge.
• The Chasing Rainbows in Pigeon Forge is a museum dedicated to Dolly Parton at Dollywood.

Transportation and Industry Museums

Learn about how people traveled and worked in the past.

• The Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma is all about Beechcraft airplanes.
• The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga features tow trucks and equipment.
• The Lane Motor Museum in Nashville has a unique collection of mostly European automobiles, including propeller-powered cars and amphibious vehicles.
• The Tennessee Central Railway Museum in Nashville has historic trains and railroad artifacts.
• The Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville features restored World War II aircraft.
• The Ducktown Basin Museum in Ducktown focuses on copper mining.
• The Cotton Museum in Memphis explores the heritage of the cotton industry.

Unique and Fun Museums

• Alcatraz East in Pigeon Forge is a crime museum dedicated to the history of crime and justice in the United States.
• Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Gatlinburg is full of oddities and strange facts.
• The Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers in Gatlinburg has a huge collection of salt and pepper shakers!
• The Titanic museum in Pigeon Forge displays artifacts from the famous RMS Titanic ship.
• Hollywood Star Cars Museum in Gatlinburg features cars used in movies and TV shows.
• Madame Tussauds Nashville in Nashville has wax figures of celebrities.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

Sometimes museums close, but their collections might find new homes.

• The Chattanooga History Center closed in 2017, and its collections moved to the Chattanooga Public Library and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
• The Obion County Museum in Union City closed in 2012, and its collections are now at Discovery Park of America.

See also

• Nature Centers in Tennessee