Early records indicate that there was a museum in Nashville's public square as early as 1817. The Tennessee General Assembly did not establish the official museum, located in the War Memorial Building, until 1937. It relocated to the James K. Polk Center in 1981. A 137,000 square foot building opened in October 2018 near Bicentennial Mall State Park. The current building uses limestone, Tennessee Marble, bronze, and White Oak finished. The southeast corner features a curving façade with two-story glass windows and an upper veranda to simulate a front porch. The museum also owns and maintains the Lorraine Motel and neighboring properties in Memphis.
Tennessee State Museum
36.1725, -86.7902
Description
Early records indicate that there was a museum in Nashville's public square as early as 1817. The Tennessee General Assembly did not establish the official museum, located in the War Memorial Building, until 1937. It relocated to the James K. Polk Center in 1981. A 137,000 square foot building opened in October 2018 near Bicentennial Mall State Park. The current building uses limestone, Tennessee Marble, bronze, and White Oak finished. The southeast corner features a curving façade with two-story glass windows and an upper veranda to simulate a front porch. The museum also owns and maintains the Lorraine Motel and neighboring properties in Memphis.