Tennessee State Museum

06/23/2026

It was a packed house at the Museum during our Juneteenth celebration! Sankofa African Drum and Dance - Tennessee brought an invigorating performance to the Grand Hall, where visitors participated in drumming and dancing. Guests also enjoyed Storytime and crafts in the Children's Gallery, along with celebratory cupcakes. In the Museum's galleries, the hands-on stations and exhibit tours provided insight into Tennessee history topics. Thank you to all who joined us for this wonderful event!

06/22/2026

A woven scarf and film camera used by Duran Bunch during his deployment to Afghanistan was recently acquired by the Museum via donation. Bunch served in the 325th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (Airborne) where his unit was tasked with winning the hearts and minds of the local population. During his deployment, he utilized his personal film camera to document what he saw. He then sent the film home to his family to develop. His photographs help depict the day-to-day life of an average soldier serving in Afghanistan in 2011–2012.

06/22/2026

We are excited to once again be a host to Southern Festival of Books and some of these amazing authors in October!

06/21/2026

It was the love and bravery of Ella Sheppard Moore's father that ignited her lifelong commitment to music, education, and leadership. While enslaved, Simon Sheppard hired out his labor and saved enough money to purchase his and his daughter’s freedom. In 1856, during a climate of unrest in Nashville, Simon took a courageous step: he escaped with Ella to Cincinnati, where she continued her education and began learning piano. Ella would go on to lead the world‑renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers on a fundraising tour as the university's music teacher and soprano in 1871, changing the future of Fisk University.

Learn more about their journey on our Stories blog: https://bit.ly/4vemJet

📸: Steamboats at the Wharf on the Cumberland River, 1862. J.M. Blackett’s research reveals that enslaved people left Nashville by “steamer and train” in the late antebellum years.

06/19/2026

Come celebrate Juneteenth with us! Our free event starts at 10:30 a.m. Cupcakes 🧁 are at 11:30 a.m., with hands-on history stations, Storytime, and craft activities throughout the day. Catch Sankofa African Drum and Dance - Tennessee in the Grand Hall at noon for a lively performance! The full schedule is on our website: https://bit.ly/4eybTtn

06/18/2026

On , we're featuring the appropriately-named Lake County as we make our way through the "Tennessee Voices, American Stories 95 Counties Road Trip" online interactive map! 🚗✨ Reelfoot Lake State Park has a long history as a destination for fishing and boating for local residents. It is nationally known for crappie and bluegill fishing. At the R.C. Donaldson Memorial Museum and Nature Center, visitors can experience immersive natural history and wildlife displays while learning the origins of the park.

📸: A small fishing boat on the shoreline of Reelfoot Lake State Park, 1972. Courtesy of Tennessee State Library & Archives.

Every county in the state is full of unique stories and history. Explore them all with the "Tennessee Voices, American Stories 95 Counties Road Trip" interactive map 🗺️: https://tnmuseum.org/tennessee-voices-road-trip

06/18/2026

Nashvillians can celebrate Juneteenth at both the Tennessee State Museum and Centennial Park this Friday, June 19th. “Juneteenth is ultimately a day of celebration,” says Tranaé Chatman, the Museum's curator of social history. “It’s the end of slavery. It’s a big day for people realizing that freedom." In this article from Nashville Scene, discover how the holiday's events continue to evolve.

Be sure to join us from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. tomorrow for history, children’s story time and crafts, tours of the exhibits, and a performance from the Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company during our free Juneteenth event.

Nashville’s Juneteenth615 event changes locations for 2026, and the Tennessee State Museum adds TN250 context to the celebration.

06/17/2026

The Museum was honored to have Senator Lamar Alexander, former Tennessee governor and U.S. senator, discuss his new book "The Education of a Senator" during our TN Writers | TN Stories event on Saturday. He was joined by award-winning communications professional John Seigenthaler to share highlights from Alexander's life and career. In this engaging conversation, Alexander discusses topics such as the importance of character in politics, his role in bringing Nissan to the state, the impact of his late wife, and other insights on education and politics. Catch the recording of the program on our Videos page ▶️: https://bit.ly/4aXkgMX

Photos courtesy of State of Tennessee Photographic Services/Tennessee Department of General Services.

06/16/2026

Prominent Tennessee politician David Crockett became the emblematic American frontier hero after dying at the Alamo in 1836. We're in Hamblen County as we continue our journey through the "Tennessee Voices, American Stories 95 Counties Road Trip" online interactive map! 🚗✨ The Crockett Tavern Museum operates from his childhood home in Morristown, TN where Crockett's family ran a tavern and inn in the 1700s.

📸: The John Crockett Tavern at Morristown, TN, June 1959. Courtesy of Tennessee State Library & Archives.

Every county in the state is full of unique stories and history. Explore them all with the "Tennessee Voices, American Stories 95 Counties Road Trip" interactive map 🗺️: https://tnmuseum.org/tennessee-voices-road-trip

06/15/2026

Join us for a special Storytime this Saturday, June 20 with the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (myTDOT) Nobody Trashes Tennessee litter prevention program. At 10:30 a.m., we will be reading "Meet the Pollinators: A Night and Day Adventure" as part of National Pollinator Week. Storytime will be followed by a craft, pollinator coloring books, and milkweed seeds for families to take home.

"Meet the Pollinators: A Night and Day Adventure" is written by Barbara Ciletti and published by Schiffer Kids. This title captivates young learners, emphasizing pollinators' vital role in our planet's survival. It conveys that even small creatures wield significant influence, illustrating pollinators' continuous journey for food.