Museum of Butler TN

09/05/2026

Spend part of your Labor Day Weekend with us at the Museum of Butler, Tennessee!

🕚 Saturday | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
🕐 Sunday | 1:00–4:00 PM

Come experience the story of “The Town That Wouldn’t Drown” and discover the people, places and events that shaped Butler and the Watauga Valley.

🇺🇸 Explore our new America 250 digital kiosk and historic panels
🎒 Kids can complete a Pioneer Passport and earn a prize
📚 Browse new books about our area’s history
👕 Shop fun Museum of Butler T-shirts and merchandise

Admission is only $5, and children under 12 are admitted free. We are also proud to be a Blue Star Museum!

Learn more at www.MuseumofButlerTN.org⁠.

Bring the family and spend a little time with the town that wouldn’t drown! 💙

09/03/2026

Read more about our next Living History Saturday on September 26th. Put this event on your calendar!

History is more than names and dates recorded on a page. It lives in the stories families preserve, the experiences passed from one generation to the next, and the people who help us hear the voices of those who came before us.On Saturday, September 26, the Museum of Butler invites you to step back....

08/30/2026

Come visit our booth at the Ribfest on Saturday! Booth #70. We will have books, t- shirts and other goodies. Stop by and see Sheila and I and enjoy the day with our community!

08/30/2026

Hey! Help us wish volunteer Pam Rathbun a VERY Happy Birthday!

08/22/2026

The best part of our day? Meeting people - like Fred Montgomery - from the area discovering their ancestor’s property and story here in the museum.

08/22/2026

NEW THINGS AT THE MUSEUM - check out our new historical panels … new books in the gift shop and our new TV in the drawdown room. Our sponsors and donors are the best!!
Tennessee 250

08/22/2026

Today is the big day! A big shout out to the Butler Ruritan for keeping this tradition going since 1989 and for all you do for the community. We look forward to seeing everyone today!

08/20/2026

🇺🇸 NEW AT THE MUSEUM — Celebrating America 250! 🇺🇸

We are excited to share another piece of our America 250 celebration at the Museum of Butler!

Our new historical panels now welcome visitors outside the museum, telling the story of Butler and the Watauga Valley across generations — from the people and pathways that came before Tennessee statehood, through settlement and revolution, the creation of Johnson County, the Civil War, and the growth of the communities that shaped the valley.

The panels were researched and created by Museum of Butler volunteer Sheila Stout Caldwell, in collaboration with RIPL Creative, bringing local history to life before visitors even walk through our doors.

And there is much more to discover inside! These panels complement our new America 250 Digital Exhibit, where visitors can explore the people, places and events that shaped our corner of Tennessee.

We are especially grateful that this project was made possible through a Tennessee 250 grant, helping us preserve and share the remarkable history of Butler and the Watauga Valley as our nation commemorates its 250th anniversary.

For us, America 250 isn’t only about looking back at 1776. It’s about understanding the generations of people whose stories, struggles, traditions and communities helped build the America we know today — including the stories that happened right here in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee.

Come see them for yourself — and discover where our story fits into America’s story. 🇺🇸

08/20/2026

Looking forward to a great celebration!

08/19/2026

We are so excited for one of our favorite events of the year: Old Butler Day!

Learn more about the history of this celebration and what the Butler Ruritans and the Museum of Butler have planned for this year. So much fun!

Come join us on Saturday, August 22 to experience "the town that wouldn't drown" for yourself!

Visit https://www.museumofbutlertn.org/old-butler-day to learn more.

Celebrate Old Butler Day in Butler, TN, with local history, Appalachian heritage, community traditions and a visit to the Museum of Butler near Watauga Lake.