Newsroom

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Tennessee State Museum will debut Tennessee Voices, American Stories on January 13, 2026. Organized around three concepts from the preamble to the U.S. Constitution: “We the People,” “A More Perfect Union,” and “The Blessings of Liberty,” Tennessee Voices, American Stories presents artifacts and stories of Tennesseans who helped shape both Tennessee and the nation.

The Tennessee State Museum and the State of Tennessee have issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit responses from parties interested in partnering with the Museum in the restoration, placement, and operation of the Red Grooms Fox Trot Carousel.

The Tennessee State Museum has announced the recipients of grants from the 2025-26 Capital Maintenance and Improvements program from the State of Tennessee, as administered through the Museum. The funding came from $5 million the Tennessee General Assembly made available in the 2025-2026 Appropriations Act, “for the sole purpose of providing grants to museums with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity for capital maintenance and improvements.”

The Tennessee State Museum will grant out $5 million to Tennessee museums and historic sites for capital maintenance and improvement projects, the result of an appropriation the Tennessee General Assembly included for improvements to Tennessee museums in the 2025-26 Appropriations Act. Museums must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity. Grant applications are open now.

The Tennessee State Museum’s latest temporary exhibition, Photography in Tennessee: Early Studios and the Medium’s First Century, opens June 10, 2025. The show explores the origins and impact of photography in Tennessee, highlighting the state's social and political history through the medium's early development.

"Welcome Lafayette, Friend of Liberty" is now open in the Tennessee State Museum’s Corridor Gallery on the second level of its Nashville location. This temporary display highlights artifacts related to the Marquis de Lafayette’s stop in Tennessee during his farewell tour of the United States and the impact of his visit on Tennesseans. Artifacts from the Tennessee State Museum collection and other institutions are on view through June 15, 2025

The Tennessee State Museum has announced the recipients of grants from its Capital Maintenance and Improvements Grant Program for Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief. The funding came from the original $5 million the Tennessee General Assembly made available in the 2024-2025 Appropriations Act, “for the sole purpose of providing grants to museums with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity for capital maintenance and improvements.”

The Tennessee State Museum has announced the recipients of grants from the 2024-25 Capital Maintenance and Improvements program from the State of Tennessee as administered through the Museum.

Tennessee Furniture: Selections from the Tennessee State Museum Collection opens at the Tennessee State Museum on Saturday, April 20. The exhibition celebrates the Museum’s vast furniture collection and explores the stories of the people and events connected to them. Tennessee Furniture features over 45 pieces of furniture and supporting artifacts ranging from the late 18th century to works by contemporary furniture makers.

The Tennessee State Museum has granted out $5 million to Tennessee museums and historic sites throughout the state for capital improvements and maintenance. The funding came from monies the Tennessee General Assembly made available in the 2023-2024 Appropriations Act, “for the sole purpose of providing grants to museums with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity for capital maintenance and improvements.”

Rosenwald School alumni, historians and the general public are invited to a free two-day event exploring the history and legacy of the schools and the communities that built and preserved them. Building Community, Continuing the Legacy: A Rosenwald Schools of Tennessee Symposium will take place September 15 at Fisk University and September 16 at the Tennessee State Museum. Presented in partnership by both the Tennessee State Museum and Fisk University, with support from the Tennessee State Museum Foundation and a grant from Humanities Tennessee, the event is offered in conjunction with the current Museum exhibition, Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald School in Tennessee, currently on view until February 25, 2024.

The Tennessee State Museum will grant out $5 million to Tennessee museums for capital maintenance and improvement projects, the result of an appropriation the Tennessee General Assembly included for improvements to Tennessee museums in the 2023-24 Appropriations Act. Museums must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity. Grant applications are open now.

Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee, presented in partnership with Fisk University’s John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library, opens at the Tennessee State Museum on Friday, June 16. The community-focused exhibition highlights the work of alumni, descendants, and organizations to preserve the legacies of Rosenwald Schools across the state. It is the second Tennessee State Museum show centered on Rosenwald Schools, following the travelling photography exhibit by Andrew Feiler, A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America, which closed in May.

While Juneteenth is officially celebrated on June 19, the Tennessee State Museum will celebrate the day with a day-long event on Saturday, June 10. This year’s Juneteenth Celebration, “Looking to the Past to Empower the Future,” will feature an edition of our TN Writers | TN Stories series with New York Times bestselling author Sheree Renée Thomas. We'll also have a helpful "In Conversation" event, with a group of panelists who will discuss beginner steps and best practices for preserving your own family history through material culture. Throughout the day, families can enjoy Storytime and craft activities at the Museum. There will also be a dance, poetry and music hour followed by a special panel discussion on preserving Black family history.

The Tennessee State Museum will commemorate Tennessee’s 227th birthday on Thursday, June 1 with free Statehood Day events starting at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 3:00 p.m. Activities include Tennessee-themed Storytime in the Children's Gallery with guests Miss Tennessee America Lauren Dickson and Miss Tennessee Cosmos Amanda Bell; a keynote lecture from the Museum's chief curator Richard White; print shop demonstrations; highlight tours; cupcakes and more. The Museum joins its neighbors at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and the Tennessee State Library & Archives in hosting free activities throughout the day.