News

Tour travels across TN to preview the new plans for the TN State Museum

By Anne B. Pope, Executive Director –

Tennessee Arts Commission Chair Stephanie Conner, Commission board member Patsy Camp, several staff members and I were honored to witness the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday at the site of the new Tennessee State Museum. Governor Bill Haslam was joined by legislative leaders, museum officials and Jon Meacham, Pulitzer prize winner and New York Times bestselling author, to break ground on the new Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. It was a great day for the arts and culture in Tennessee.

The following is a statement from the State Museum that includes an invitation to attend one of the upcoming statewide stops to preview the new plans.


StateMuseumTourThe state’s history is shaped by communities from Memphis to Mountain City, so a statewide tour is planned to ensure that Tennesseans are aware of the project and have an opportunity to learn more about it in its early stages.

Members of the museum project and design team will be on hand to discuss the vision for the museum and to share early plans and renderings with the audience.

The statewide presentation tour will include the following stops:

Tuesday, April 12
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. EDT
Knoxville
Pellissippi State Community College
Cafeteria Annex

Wednesday, April 13
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. EDT
Tri Cities
Northeast State Community College
Basler Library Conference Room

Tuesday, April 19
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CDT
Memphis
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Bornblum Library Auditorium

Wednesday, April 20
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CDT
Jackson
Jackson State Community College
Jim Moss Center for Nursing, Room 108

Tuesday, April 26
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. EDT
Chattanooga
Chattanooga State Community College
Health Science Center
Barry Auditorium

Wednesday, April 27
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CDT
Nashville
Nashville State Community College
Student Services Center, Room 118

Last year, the governor proposed and the Tennessee General Assembly approved $120 million in the FY-2015-16 budget to build a new home for the Tennessee State Museum on the Bicentennial Mall to maximize the state’s rich history by creating a state-of-the-art educational asset and tourist attraction for the state. The governor also announced that $40 million would be raised in private funds for the project.

A 137,000 square foot facility will be built on the northwest corner of the Bicentennial Mall at the corner of Rosa L. Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street. It is being designed to bring history to life and allow visitors to become part of the state’s history. Showcasing one-of-a-kind artifacts, historical documents and art, the museum will tell Tennessee’s story in a new, interactive and engaging way.

For more information about the TN State Museum