Tennessee State Museum: a portal to the past
The story of Tennessee is told right in the center of Downtown Nashville.
The Tennessee State Museum provides a comprehensive account of the state’s rich history, from prehistoric Indian cultures through "The Age of Jackson,” "The New South" and beyond.
The museum dates back to 1817, when portrait artist Ralph E. W. Earl opened a museum on the Nashville public square. In 1937, the General Assembly created a state museum to house World War I keepsakes and other mementoes that had been collected by the state over time. The museum was located in the lower level of the War Memorial Building until it was moved into the James K. Polk Center in 1981.
Located steps away from the high-rise office buildings that characterize downtown, the museum takes up three floors inside the building, covering 120,000 square feet in total, 60,000 square feet of those dedicated to the museum’s exhibits.
Inside, visitors see that Tennessee is much more than honky tonkin’ and line dancin’.
Exhibits include a look at the first Tennesseans, prehistoric Indian cultures that evolved into the modern tribes of Cherokee and Chickasaw. Bones of a mastodon — the elephantine beast once common in the area — are on display.
“The Age of Jackson” exhibit pays tribute to President Andrew Jackson and his involvement and influence in the state’s expansion and political system. Items on display include Jackson’s 1829 inaugural hat, a powder horn presented to David Crockett, a uniform coat from the War of 1812 and more.
Across the street in the War Memorial Building is the Military Branch Museum, a branch of the Tennessee State Museum. The exhibits feature the history of American conflicts overseas, beginning with the Spanish-American War in 1898 and ending with World War II in 1945. Artifacts include a pistol from World War I, deck gun from the USS Nashville that fired the first shot in the Spanish-American War and Congressional Medals of Honor.
After touring the museum, visitors can stop in the Museum Store to browse Tennessee crafts, jewelry, books and other memorabilia.
The museums are free and open to the public. There is no private parking at the museum, but metered spots can be found nearby, allong with paid garages and lots.
- by Leah Caudle , Nashville Reporter for HelloMetro
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