The Tennessee State Museum occupies 120,000 total square feet, housing exhibits dedicated to the history of Tennessee, ranging from prehistoric Indian cultures to the early 1900s. Permanent exhibits include the First Tennesseans, Frontier, Age of Jackson, Antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction and New South. Museum highlights include President Jackson's 1829 inaugural hat, photographs of Tennessee African-American Union soldiers, a 3,600-year-old Egyptian mummy brought to Tennessee in 1860 and the quill pen used by President Polk to sign the peace treaty with Mexico in 1848.
The Military Branch Museum, affiliated with the state museum, is located across the street from the main facilities. The Military Branch Museum houses exhibits detailing America's overseas conflicts, from the Spanish-American War to World War II.
The museums' facilities are available for private event rentals. The Tennessee State Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM, while the Military Branch Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free for both museums. Visitors may use street meter parking on weekdays and park for free in the state employee lots a few blocks away on weekends. For more information: 615-741-2692
