Greeneville Greene County History Museum

06/19/2026

The museum is closed today in observance of Juneteenth. Please visit our friends over at the George Clem Multicultural Alliance on Saturday for their annual celebration of freedom!

TODAY!!

06/13/2026

Dear museum followers,
Due to unforseen circumstances, today's event, Becoming Catawba, is cancelled. The event will be rescheduled for a later date this summer. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to see you soon!

06/13/2026

Today at 1pm join us in welcoming Dr. Brooke Bauer as she shares her work concerning "the story of Catawba women who experienced sweeping changes to their world but held onto traditional customs to create and preserve a Catawba identity and build a nation." This talk presents an exciting opportunity to learn about regional indigenous people during the turbulent years of the American Revolution.

06/12/2026

Have You Visited Yet?

There's still time to experience our special traveling exhibit, Tennessee Voices, American Stories!

Discover the lives and legacies of remarkable Tennesseans who helped shape both state and national history. From Cherokee leader Ostenaco and frontier pioneer John Sevier to suffragist Abby Crawford Milton, jurist Adolpho A. Birch, and astronaut Barry Wilmore, this exhibit highlights the diverse individuals whose stories continue to inspire us today.

More than a look at the past, this exhibition invites visitors to consider how ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact on their communities, their state, and their nation.

How will you make history?

Stop by the Greeneville-Greene County History Museum and explore the stories that helped shape Tennessee—and America. The Tennessee Voices, American Stories will be packed up and headed to its next destination on June 17th. Thank you to the Tennessee State Museum for all of their work on this project.

06/12/2026

Join Us This Saturday!

The Greeneville-Greene County History Museum is excited to welcome Dr. Brooke Bauer for a fascinating presentation on the experiences of Catawba women during the American Revolution.

Discover how Catawba women navigated a rapidly changing world while preserving their traditions, identity, and nation through times of tremendous upheaval. This engaging talk offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the history of Indigenous peoples in our region and their enduring legacy.

🗓 Saturday, June 13, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Greeneville-Greene County History Museum
101 W. McKee Street, Greeneville, TN

Whether you're a history enthusiast, student, or simply curious about the stories that shaped our region, we hope you'll join us for this special program.

Invite a friend and help us spread the word! We look forward to seeing you there.

06/11/2026

The museum will be closed today, June 11th. We apologize for any inconvenience and will resume normal operations tomorrow.

06/11/2026

Catawba pottery may now be displayed in places like the White House, the Smithsonian, and even the Louvre, but its story began long before it was celebrated as art. Once valued for its strength and everyday usefulness, it is considered the oldest continuously practiced traditional art form east of the Mississippi River. Through extensive trade networks, Catawba women transformed this skill into a powerful means of sustaining their families and preserving their culture.

If you'd like to learn more about Catawba pottery, please join us this Saturday at 1pm!

Photo credit to

06/10/2026

This map, created by Emmanual Bowen in 1747 notes the land owned by the Cherokee (circled in red) and the land owned by the Catawba (circled in green). What was the relationship like between the two tribes, and how did it shape the American Revolutionary war?

During the American Revolution, the Catawba Nation chose to fight alongside the Americans. Their support proved crucial; without Catawba warriors at the Battle of Clapp’s Mill, the militia likely would have suffered a defeat.

The Cherokee, however, aligned themselves with the British. Some historians suggest that long‑standing tensions between the Catawba and Cherokee influenced the Catawba decision to support the American cause.

If you'd like to learn more about the Catawba, their relationship with the Cherokee and their impact on the American Revolutionary War, please join us this Saturday at 1pm!

06/09/2026

This Saturday at 1pm we are excited to welcome Dr. Bauer for a talk on the Catawba Nation. But who were the Catawba?

The Catawba people have lived in the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina for at least 6,000 years. Known especially for their remarkable pottery and basket-making, they were once a thriving community of approximately 5,000 according to 16th century observations from early European colonizers.

Their population suffered devastating losses after smallpox epidemics in 1738 and 1759, dropping to an estimated 500 people by 1780. Today, the Catawba nation is home to 3,300 enrolled members.

Much of the preservation of Catawba culture and land can be credited to a remarkable Catawba woman named Sarii, often known as Sally New River. A respected leader, she inherited deep cultural knowledge and respect within her community through her mother and grandmother. In 1796, her community voted to entrust her with the ownership of 500 acres of Catawba land. She protected this land until her death in 1821, and because of her protection it remains part of the Catawba Nation today.

If you'd like to learn more about the Catawba people and the legacy of Sally New River, please join us this Saturday at 1pm to hear from Dr. Bauer.