Tennessee State Museum

Tennessee State Museum showing interior views
From mastodon bones to dugout canoes, cotton gins to 12-string guitars, it’s easy to follow the trail of Tennessee history at this museum.

The Tennessee State Museum has a strong focus on the history of the South and holds one of the largest Civil War Collections in the USA. Its permanent exhibits cover more than 60,000 square feet (5,574 square meters) with an additional 10,000 square feet (929 square meters) devoted to ever-changing showcases. Set aside half a day to fully explore its many treasures.

The museum’s permanent exhibits are arranged in chronological order, making navigation easy. Start your visit by investigating the First Tennesseans exhibit. Here you’ll see relics from prehistoric and ancient Indian cultures, such as a shaman’s medicine tube.

Next, move to the Frontier section, which traces the often-bloody footsteps of the Spanish conquistadors, the English and French explorers, and the early European settlers. Step inside a log cabin and admire a covered Conestoga wagon, just two of the many full-scale replicas within the museum.

Learn about the state’s development in The Age of Jackson, dedicated to the life and times of the Southern general and plantation owner who became the seventh president of the United States. Then move on to the Antebellum section to admire the crafts, artworks and finery of a prosperous pre-Civil War Tennessee.

Look for the revolver once owned by Nathan Bedford Forrest, the infamous Confederate soldier turned Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, in the extensive Civil War and Reconstruction section.

Follow the stories of women's suffrage and Prohibition in the final permanent display, The New South. This section also contains many fine examples of crafts from the late 1800s and early 1900s, including a renowned collection of Tennessee pottery.

The museum resides on the bottom three floors of the James K. Polk Center near the State Capitol in downtown Nashville. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, with the exception of major holidays. Paid parking is available in the adjacent parking garages, or on the street. The free Music City Circulator bus stops at the museum.

Browse tours and tickets to explore Tennessee State Museum

Popular places to visit


Best Lodging Options Near Tennessee State Museum

Comfort Inn Downtown Nashville - Music City Center
Comfort Inn Downtown Nashville - Music City Center
3 out of 5
1501 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN
Comfort Inn Downtown Nashville - Music City Center
Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown
Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown
4 out of 5
623 Union St, Nashville, TN
Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown
Bobby Hotel
Bobby Hotel
4 out of 5
230 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN
Bobby Hotel
Holston House Nashville, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Holston House Nashville, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
4 out of 5
118 7th Avenue North, Nashville, TN
Holston House Nashville, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Dream Nashville, by Hyatt
Dream Nashville, by Hyatt
4 out of 5
210 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN
Dream Nashville, by Hyatt
Omni Nashville Hotel
Omni Nashville Hotel
4 out of 5
250 Rep John Lewis Way South, Nashville, TN
Omni Nashville Hotel
Grand Hyatt Nashville
Grand Hyatt Nashville
4 out of 5
1000 Broadway, Nashville, TN
Grand Hyatt Nashville
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.