Tennessee State Museum facts for kids
Entrance to the Tennessee State Museum
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| Established | 1937 |
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| Location | 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd Nashville, Tennessee |
| Type | Heritage centre |
The Tennessee State Museum is a large museum located in Nashville, Tennessee. It tells the story of Tennessee's rich history. The museum's current building opened on October 4, 2018. It is found at the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street. This spot is near the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.
The museum building is very big, covering 137,000 square feet. It features a "Tennessee Time Tunnel" that guides visitors through the state's past. You can explore the permanent collection and a fun, hands-on children's gallery. There are also six galleries that change their exhibits often. A digital learning center helps you learn even more. The museum also has a tall, two-story Grand Hall. You can see important items from Tennessee's history. These include art, furniture, fabrics, and old photographs. The museum also has many items from the American Civil War. These include old uniforms, battle flags, and weapons. The best part is that there is no cost to enter the museum!
Contents
Exploring Tennessee's Past
The Tennessee State Museum is a great place to learn about how Tennessee grew. It shows how people lived long ago and the big events that shaped the state. You can see how daily life changed over hundreds of years. The museum makes history come alive for everyone.
What You Can See
The museum has many different types of exhibits. You can see old tools and clothing from early settlers. There are also displays about famous Tennesseans. The art and furniture show how people expressed themselves. The Civil War collection is very detailed. It helps you understand that important time in history.
Hands-On Fun for Kids
The children's gallery is designed just for younger visitors. It has interactive exhibits where you can touch and play. This makes learning about history exciting and memorable. You can explore different parts of Tennessee's story in a fun way.
A Look at the Museum's History
The idea for a state museum in Tennessee started a long time ago. The very first known museum in Tennessee opened in 1817. A portrait artist named Ralph E. W. Earl started it in Nashville. The official state museum opened much later, in 1937. It was first located in the War Memorial Building. The state decided it needed a museum to keep important collections. These included items from World War I.
Moving to New Homes
Most of the museum's operations moved in 1981. They went to the James K. Polk Building. The museum shared this building with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. This was its home until May 2018. In the Polk Building, the museum showed many paintings, silver items, and old weapons. It also had furniture from different time periods. Some larger exhibits included a copy of an old print shop. There was also a painting gallery and a grist mill. The museum also had a store. It sold handmade crafts and Tennessee souvenirs.
The Military Museum
A special part of the museum, the Military Museum, is still in the War Memorial Building. This building is right across the street from the main museum. This section focuses on wars that Tennessee soldiers fought in overseas. Its exhibits cover conflicts from the Spanish–American War to World War II. It shows the brave actions of Tennesseans in these wars.
The New Museum Building
The current Tennessee State Museum opened its doors in October 2018. It is located at the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street. This spot is at the base of Capitol Hill, next to the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. The new building is very large. It is one of the biggest state museums in the entire country.
Images for kids
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Entrance to the Tennessee State Museum
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Displays inside the museum in 2022
