Reviews of Tennessee State Museum. (Museum) in Nashville-Davidson (Tennessee).

Tennessee State Museum

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403 Comments

Museum

Museum

1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, United States

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Information of Tennessee State Museum, Museum in Nashville-Davidson (Tennessee)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

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Reviews of Tennessee State Museum

Lacey Reinhard

Hidden gem of Nashville!!! I found it online as a fluke. They really need some better advertising. My son and I had such an amazing time here! The exhibits are wonderful. They were interesting and interactive and laid out really nicely. The grounds around the museum are really great as well. I wish we had been able to spend more time here. Did I mention it's FREE?!? This was the highlight destination of our family time in Nashville. If you are traveling with kids or interested in history, this is a must. They even have a children's museum area for the young kids. Make sure you plan enough time to explore the grounds and take a few minutes to relax on the 2nd floor balcony.

Brian Esquivel

Brought my niece for a fun day at the museum. Their kids area on the first floor was interacting and informative. The docent even made hand puppets for her. Loved the smokies exhibit, and the local artists. The main museum was highly detailed and including some beautifully preserved pieces. The free walking tour and scavenger hunt for my niece will give us memories to last a lifetime. On the balcony there are some amazing views of bicentennial park too.

Johan Björefeldt

Amazing museum! Interesting exhibits that are fantastically well curated, and all free. The permanent exhibits show Tennessee's history, from 200 years back. Conflicts with Indian tribes, formation of the state, Civil War, and more modern history. An extraordinary amount of things to look at and read, as well as fantastic rolling movie clips of 5 minutes a piece or so. You could easily spend a full afternoon here if all the topics are interesting to you.

David Kerr

Come early and expect to stay for at minimum of 2hrs. There is a lot to see and it's great for all ages. There are little portable stools you can borrow while you are there to use to sit throughout the museum, or there are a few benches placed at various locations.

E. K

I am not from TN, and I was excited to learn of this place (and that it’s free). It was very interesting reading and seeing history from another part of the US. The workers were friendly, everything was clean and peaceful. Really enjoyed my time there and learned so much about TN past! It would have been cool to have an audio tour as well to walk and guide you through.

Matthew Holland

This place was huge and very nice. Marble walls and floors. Someone spent alot of money on this place. Exobits we're great, took us through early native Americans to the future. Everything was FREE! Free parking by the farmers market.

Victor Peng

This museum is so cool! It is a definite must to come here if you are visiting or living in Nashville. Inside is the detailed history of Tennessee and can be enjoyed by any ages! There is no wait for the time I was there, and the tickets are free! For the younger kids they even have a learning center or a scavenger hunt. I definitely recommend this museum.

Jonathan Fowler

Beautiful new museum that impresses with a well-curated collection telling our state's story. Relaxing "front porch" overlooking the capitol. Free entry and free parking.

Zachary Carter

We visited the State Museum yesterday for my daughter's school field trip! The Staff was nothing but courteous, friendly and very knowledgeable. The exhibits were presented nicely and if you stick around long enough you might learn a thing or two about our states history!

Maram A

This museum is amazing. The history it presents is detailed and the use of technology keeps you engaged. Very interesting and well laid out museum.

Sam Sachs

This is a must visit spot for anyone interested in history. They do a great job of providing a complete overview of the state's history while keeping it interesting for both adults and kids. You could easily spend a few hours here browsing all of the artifacts. The best part is the fact that it is totally free!

Linda Winkler

A well organized and nicely curated museum with an engaging series of videos of Tennessee's evolution and history. Interesting artifacts from various American battles and wars, art, crafts, clothing and furniture from different periods.

Gillian Schultz

The exhibits and material is fantastic! They have FREE lockers for you to place your purses and bags inside. You set the combination so they're very secure. No Food in the exhibits. They have a kids section. The exhibits are not organized well for people doing a self tour. I started in 1960s and then was in WWI then WWII then found the beginning which started with the Spnaish American War. They had a section on the Appalachian Mountains that was beautiful 😍

Kevin Liles

We were absolutely Blown Away compared to the old Museum. Interpretation very well done throughout. So much to take in! If you're downtown check it out and if you're hungry go eat at the Farmers Market. Walk off that meal at the State Park Bicentennial Capitol Mall

Santos Lozano

Beautiful Museum, I definitely recommend this place to be put on your must see places in Nashville, lot of interesting history and art displays, place is big it took us about 2 hours to go through the entire Museum.

Lisa Ball

Very nice, free museum with lots of information. There are videos playing within the different area of exhibits. Well maintained building with clean restrooms.

Julia Jackson

Field trip with 4th graders. Large and clean, free- full of really cool stuff! I was quite impressed and would love to go back when I have time.

Juraj Harmata

Wonderful place with full of history about the volunteer state. A lot of artefacts and information. Entry is for free so I really recommend to go there with family.

Brooke Crook

This is probably the most beautiful museum I've visited, with the most to look at and learn, and it's always free! And, it's right across from the nashville farmer's market which is definitely worth a visit for lunch.

Ava Zotti

This museum takes you on a walk throughout the entire history of Tennessee. Employees are very welcoming and the museum is completely free! Me and my group must’ve spent almost 2 and a half hours exploring and learning the history of the place we call home. The information and artifacts range from pre-historic times up to the last 20 years. Every display is intricately put together and it is very clear that they have put a great amount of effort into making this the absolute best experience it can be. I would recommend anyone come and visit this wonderful walk through history!

Dadawn Taylor

3 stars for the cleanliness and modern facility. However it’s just like any other museum, European settlers killed the indigenous people lied and took over their land and used slaves to prosper! Boooooo….. I’m over it. It’s underwhelming and I’m tired of seeing it.

Erick Santiago

I visited this place on vacation. And let me say, this is a GREAT place to visit if you go to Nashville. It’s completely free of charge, comparable with museums such as the Chicago Field Museum. It includes some amazing artifacts and has many historical exhibits. The staff at the front desk were EXTREMELY friendly and helpful, plus the work environment was very safe. They seemed actually happy about working there and their jobs. There were also many security guards making the atmosphere feel safe, as if you were protected. I highly recommend you visit this place if you go to Nashville. (There’s also an additional park outside with a WWII memorial, musical columns, and a pretty decent view of the Nashville skyline.)

Laurel Clark

Love the museum. We caught the guided tour so that was fun. Great children's gallery.

Shane Lemons

Like others have said, this place is a hidden gem. If you're going with kids that aren't quite at the reading age, they will want to move along very quickly as they just look at the items, but there are tons of aspects, both written and interactive / video to where you could be there for 6 or so hours just reading all the details per room and section.

Dennis Bagwell

Absolutely incredible and FREE museum of the entire history of Tennessee. Just perfect all around. Not for the casual stroller of museums. There is ALOT of stuff to see. Plan on making at least 2 or 3 hours. Great for kids to learn about actual history. A must if you're visiting Nashville. Awesome and FREE!!!

Lupe Rosales

Arguably one if the better museums I have ever been too, I am originally from Texas. I will start off by saying, this museum is absolutely free!! Catered for all ages. There is a room for kids with lots of fun activities. Upstairs they have a timeline with the history of Tennessee which is put together very well. They also have a special section that I'm sure changes, but when I went it was the Smoky Mountains Art gallery. Would recommend!!

Captain Obvious

Great museum. Filled with interactive displays and lots of fabulous local history

Roark Perry

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the museum. What a rich history Tennessee has. And the museum does a great job of sharing the state past. I will say it's easy to get lost as there are a lot of twist and turns within but we loved it. There is a small gift store and a children's area. If you get a chance, it is well worth the time

Lonnie t

Very nice place to visit, modern and full of interactive areas. I look forward to going again and paying more attention to all there is to offer here.We thought the variety was most excellent. I would definitely visit again, and no charge is even better. I am grateful we have such a nice facility and so close to the farmer's market .

Clarence Miller

This is a very nice building with more information on the history of Tennessee than you can see in 1 day. It has several interactive displays throughout the exhibits. It is also FREE!

Brock Jones

Phenomenal museum! We spent two hours here and could’ve easily been here longer. Lots of things in Nashville are pricey and having this amazing free museum was great. I would recommend this to history enthusiasts and regular people, great way to spend some time.

Sebastian Sohl

Fantastic free museum. Definitely worth a visit. Many things to see from very distant and near history. Friendly staff.

Marwan

this place is very good . free to enter. needs like 1-2 hour to see

Ricardo Bolio

Great collection, a beautiful one at that! Cant give it 5 stars because its a bit hard to follow the story // line. But it's free! So very recommended!

M S

The museum exhibition is wonderful and educational by itself, but you definitely don’t want to miss the guided highlight tour starting at 2pm daily. The museum staff picks the jewels from the time tunnel exhibition and threads the stories in a walking tour. There are so much treasure, stories, and bits and pieces to savour from Tennessee’s past. Definitely worth a visit!

Beth Diaz

We’ve been to quite a lot of museums as a family, and this one is easily in my top 5. Im impressed that all of it is free! The exhibits are very well laid out, with introductory videos before each one, which we all really enjoyed watching. There was so much rich and interesting history, that we were there for about 3 hours and still hadnt seen it all! Even the gift shop is beautifully curated, and the children’s gallery on the ground floor is full of simple, fun, interactive stations and activities for kids. Highly recommend!

Gloria Stanfill

This place is full of so much information that it will take hours and days to go through it. My 8-year-old grandson loves this place. The history is marvelous.

Jade Pod

Way better museum than i was expecting. They could have easily charged for it, so it is amazing that is free. Lots of artifacts and everything was beautifully put together. Free parking in the farmers market which is also worth checking out!

Gert Grohmann

Wonderful free museum. Spent several hours there and could have spent the whole day.

Tony “Big-Tony” Wilford

The museum is HUGE! and Free! What more could you want? It took us around 2 hours to see it all. ( We took a lot of pictures though)

Kyle Hager

New museum is very cool. Lots of interesting history and great artifacts. My only complaint is a small one... I wish it were easier to navigate chronologically. Its not always clear which way to go next. Occasionally we would jump past a decade or so accidentally.

Luke Moses

Better than the old location! The modern history section played "Happy Days". The art hall was intriguing. The view from the second floor is grand!

marc marcy

great displays and information... all for free

María Carolina Berríos

This place is a beautiful gem! We're new in the area, so it was a nice way to getting to know this city and its amazing history. Exhibitions are nicely curated and you find amazing pieces. Staff is charming and helpful. Tip: Parking is located in front of the main entrance.

Douglass Morris

It was well put together. The only issue we had was not knowing if there was a certain path to follow to keep everything in chronological order. Otherwise the exhibits were very informative.

Yanisleidy Jones

Beautiful, spacious, free, and filled with great artifacts!!! They accept donations.

Ramsey Rivette

Free admission, great exhibits! The exterior as you walk to the entrance from the farmers market parking lot is very beautiful. The museum focuses on all kinds of American history; Native Americans, World War 1, World War 2, the Great Depression, Slavery, Civil/Revolutionary War, Civil Rights Movement, etc. A great place to see displays of weapons, artifacts, and vintage clothing.

Riley Jones

Excellent collection and very well-designed museum. Main exhibit is the “Tunnel of Time” which walks you through Tennessee’s history from the formation of the earth up to present day. The fact that such a high-caliber museum is free makes this a must-see in Nashville.

gina avellaneda

Excellent museum. It's engaging and appeals to children and adults. You can easily spend three hours there. Parking is free. We walked to the Farmer's Market nextdoor for lunch. Highly recommend this museum.

Mohammad Saud Samad

Absolutely great place to go learn about Tennessee state. Geography, history, tribal part, war, culture, evolution etc. On top of that it's free. Also the Tennessee farmers market is right across the street. Take kids, adults there is a lot to see for all ages.

Rafael Peña

It's free, you can park for free and learn about the state from the beginning of time till present day. They have tons of multimedia and modern exhibits to explore. You need at least 2-4 hours to really absorb and see everything. Staff was helpful and welcoming. The place is super fresh and clean. I'm surprised it's not advertised more at the airport or throughout the city. From the beautiful building to the enjoyable videos playing, this one even beats the State Museum of Louisiana.

Kayla V (Electric_Raichu)

This museum was one of the better ones I have visited. While a bit difficult to navigate for a first timer, there seemed to be an endless amount of things to see and read! I loved the way it was set up where you could take a walk through the timeline of the state. The interactive music stations were and extra nice touch. My favorite part was the quilt room! The gift shop was reasonably priced and I was able to pick up a few keychains, a magnet, a pin and a barbecue sauce as souvenirs for $30. It was well worth it especially considering admission was free! We just happened to be there on international museum day, too! If you need a day trip and have a few hours to spare I would recommend this place to anyone passing by or anyone who lives in the area!

Andrew D

I feel like this museum is a hidden gem of Nashville. Stopped by today to see the history exhibit, building is so new and modern! Loved the interactive history of Tennessee through time: historical artifacts interspersed with mini documentaries and highlights, beautifully curated and very engaging. We got extra lucky as the musuem happened to be hosting a holiday event with an amazing choir concert from Vanderbilt, plus complimentary hot chocolate and cookies! Beautiful venue for a choral performance. Musuem staff are so sweet and helpful, honestly musuem was definitely a major highlight for us during our trip. And best of all, it's free (which means a lot in Nashville)!! I hope locals take advantage of this cultural gem, plus farmers market and food hall right next door, prefect

Lisa Link

Loved the Ratified exhibit! Free admittance and parking a bonus.Plan on eating at the Farmers Market right next door. But parking can be challenging on a Saturday so look at website for parking suggestions.

Dustin Reed

The Tennessee State Museum is a gem of Nashville. The building is a marvel and the actual museum takes you through the history of the world all the way to present times. It is breath taking and life changing.

Lucie

I sincerely love this place. I was surprised and happy that it was free. So many cool, genuine artifacts to see. I didn't make it all the way through the first time, but I will be back.

Paul J

Beautifully done museum. Temp check & mask required. Must see exhibits. Free parking & no admission! What more can you ask for?? Open 10-5, 7 days. Not crowded. What are you waiting for?

Joe Loschiavo

A free museum that shows the history of Tennessee over millions of years to the present.

Amelia Laub

A great museum. One of the best I've been to. The displays are very well done. And it's free!

Victor Wang

Great spot to visit for absolutely free. Contains a ton of history about Tennessee and about the country a couple hundred years ago. The artifacts are extremely varied and the exhibition is huge. Love that some of the exhibits are even interactive and it's a great spot for young kids to learn about history.

Ramon Espiritu

Had a great time here, which importantly dwelled not just on Nashville but the whole of TN as the name of the museum suggests. Very interactive and takes the audience all the way from the beginning of time until modern history. One of the best museums I've ever been to.

Terrence Mahnken

The Tennessee State Museum is absolutely gorgeous. The kids area is beautifully decorated, nice and open, with plenty to do - coloring, dress-up, instruments, and more. For the adults, the main exhibits are beautifully displayed. You could easily spend all-day looking at and reading about Tennessee’s rich history. Best of all ... it’s FREE!!!

Nolan Christensen

Fantastic place. A free self-guided tour of Tennessee from the start of the planet to the present day. Tons of information, displays, and altogether interesting things present. The setup can be a bit labyrinthian at times, but I enjoyed it- felt like I was literally getting lost in time. Spent over two hours there and know for a fact that I didn't see everything- definitely worth going back to. The museum didn't shy away from tough topics either; the candor was refreshing. I've already recommended this museum to two other travelers. Need more museums like this in the world.

Alethea Richardson

Great museum. Very informative of Tennessee's history. They also had a play area downstairs for the children. I would definitely visit again if I'm ever in Tennessee again.

Salma Bakr

We loved this free museum, and the kids especially enjoyed the children’s gallery. A fun and free experience for the whole family.

Farah Oyhenart

I had such a great experience at the Tennessee State Museum. It's completely free and the exhibitions are great! So many artifacts and the history of Tennessee is told so nicely

Ally Thomas

I love this museum!! Free parking and admission but donations are encouraged. There is such a rich display of historic objects, fossils, artifacts, guns, costumes and paintings. The kids gallery is incredibly engaging with games, stories and activities for your lil ones. I am planning to attend upcoming holiday events!

Amy Kammerman

Lovely building! Great permanent exhibits that are engaging and well maintained. Friendly staff, convenient to downtown and farmer's market next door. Some of the nicest restrooms in the area. Really enjoyed the 19th amendment exhibit Ratified!

Cobra Fan

Easily one of the best history museums I've ever been too. They have tons of cool artifacts including an authentic dug out canoe, and a mammoth jaw.

Varditer Harutyunyan

It’s history museum. Entrance is free. Staff are very helpful. Good place to spend time with the family.

Jim Hawkins

A truly remarkable and fine museum -- and it is free! The Tennessee State Museum is open to the public at its new location on the corner of Rosa Parks Blvd. and Jefferson Street at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. The exhibits cover an amazing sweep of Tennessee history, from the prehistoric era to the present, with wonderful permanent exhibits and special temporary shows. The museum is family-friendly, and the gift shop is well-stocked with educational and artistic items. Free parking is available in a paved lot along Rosa Park Boulevard, between the newly remodeled Nashville Farmer's Market and the new Tennessee State Museum.

Angela Martinez

Absolutely loved this museum. Well kept. Security everywhere. Great service. We spent 3 hours here.

P G

I enjoyed my time here at the museum and learnt a lot on Tennessee’s rich history. The videos in each exhibit were very informative. The best part of the museum is it’s free of cost which I really appreciate as this will enable many more people to visit.

Elvis Santana

Free admission and a great section on early Tennessee and the civil war. Navigation is a little confusing in some parts but overall a great public museum. Staff was very attentive and informative. We went before our flight and they even took care of our luggage so we could be at ease while exploring the museum. Great experience.

Alan Hawkins

Great exhibits and lots of history displayed. It's definitely a great change of pace from normal tourism.

Anna Otis

I was surprised at how many things were on display. Granted this is a free museum, I was very impressed. They had things from uniforms, fiddles, quilts, sports, and different items old and newer. Nice location next to the farmers market too. They even had a few of Dolly Parton’s outfits.

andrea austin

Great place to relax and get educated! No food available so eat beforehand. Gift shop was fun especially for tourist like myself. Bought a bag,sticker and a Rosie the Riveter figure and book.

lori welsh

It was a wonderful day visiting the Tennessee State Museum! I highly recommend going there and looking at how much work these folks have put into getting this set up for the public and the displays are very on point. The staff was extremely nice and helpful and welcoming. It was just a wonderful day altogether going there with my mother

Tsilos Kosbab

I loved visiting this museum! Great exhibits and so much history about how Tennessee got where it is today. Beautiful showcases and everything is explained. I could stay here for a week to explore!

Norma Robinson

Huge. And it is free. Nicest people too. Clean, handicap friendly, you can spend hours. Farmers market and mall walking distance. Parking is free as well.

Kathryn Robertson

I really enjoyed this museum experience. The way they explained the history of Tennessee was interesting and they had many artifacts that helped to tell the story. Best of all, it is free.

Mary Tom Jenkins

Absolutely beautiful new location! We stopped by to see the Let’s Eat exhibit and were so HAPPEA to see our International Cowpea Festival and Cook-off featured here! Definitely a must stop when in Nashville and it’s FREE! 😃 …

Alejandro De Barros

Excellent experience at the Tennessee State Museum. It takes throughout the entire history of the state, since how the state was formed millions of years ago to the modern history. Really worthy to come.

Wayne Montpetit

Outstanding museum with tons of exhibits. And it's FREE. Fun for adults and kids. Easily can spend 2-3 hours, very educational. Just don't get attacked by the wooly mammoth 🦣 …

Jennifer Parton

Wonderful museum! Wish there were directional signs to help you navigate easily since once inside it is hard to get your bearings.

Kirsten Neus

This museum is awesome and FREE!!! It’s also open until 8pm on Thursdays which was a great surprise. There’s a really cool time tunnel that walks you through all of Tennessee’s history from the time of the dinosaurs through the trail of tears and the Civil War. There’s also a really great exhibit about Tennessee’s musical history including one of Johnny Cash’s famous suits. I couldn’t believe how nice this museum was.

Matt Ryan

Very well done with lots of interesting exhibits to fit all tastes and ages. Gives a thorough history of Tennessee from the ice age to the present. According to the volunteer, the museum only reopened this past year after undergoing a massive renovation and plus it's free!

Craig Neutzling

If you're in Nashville, why not check out the Tennessee State Museum? It's a beautiful museum that details the history of Nashville from before the time of humankind up to near modern day. Find out how Nashville became what it is today. Check out the beautiful surrounding park as well!

Team Destroy

I’ll tell you it’s so nice in here but go in a be prepared to actually see history!!!!! I felt it was one sided in some things but all in all my son learned a lot and so did I. Very very very great place to see things from the past!

Jovanny Velez

Great free museum! Spent hours wandering through Tennessee's history and court yard! Great farmers market next door to grab a bit to eat!

Lyric Hyatt

If you haven't visited this museum yet, shame on you! It is FREE and they did an amazing job putting it together. I was there during Navy Week and the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team performed and it was dope! Great place for kids and adults. The Bicentennial Mall is right outside and the WWII Memorial is simply magnificent. Make the time to visit today. You won't regret it. Oh, and did I mention that the Farmers Market is right across the street!? Make a day of it!

Sara Robinson

Very nice museum. Plan at least half of the day to see and read everything. Free admission and nice gift shop.

Samantha C.

One of the best museums I've ever visited! In an hour, we only got halfway through and I'm seriously looking forward to going back to see the rest. There's a plethora of information and artifacts to see. There are also short videos with seating for when you need to rest a bit.

Jim Patterson

The museum has interesting exhibits on Tennessee history, from the areas geological formation, the development the cultures of the first inhabitants, and through to modern times. The main issue that I have with the exhibits is that due to the lighting and the placement of some of the descriptions on the display cases, the text is difficult to read. Following the exhibits on chronological order can also be a little challenging. Still, definitely worth the visit.

Stephanie Bowman

Super educational and informative! They had a lot of cool stuff for kids to do, and some amazing things for adults to see. Definitely fun for the whole family.

Martin Garner

This is a good modern museum, which is well set out with lots of local History and interesting facts about the indigenous people and the Impact of the Civil war on Tenesseeamongst lots of other things. A party of schoolchildren seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Jennifer Badger

Best museum I’ve ever been to! Very well done. Informative and entertaining. Give yourself an hour (or more) longer here then you think you need to see everything.

Scott Selliers

What a treasure for anyone interested in Tennessee! This is a top-notch museum, on par with any great American museum. With a focus on the stories the artifacts have to tell us about the past, a trip to this museum is more like using a time machine than it is a visit to a gallery. Stately yet modern, grand yet personal - in this jewel, Tennesseans have something in which to be proud. The location on the Bicentennial Mall brings to mind the Smithsonian on the National Mall in DC - and makes for a definitive Nashville experience.

Joe Baker

Great museum and lots of stuff to see. The exhibits are very well put together! Parking and entry are free too!

Jamie Morgan

They have a great kids exhibit! You could even take them there for that. It's right by the farmer's market where they have great restaurants!

Taylor Simpson

This museum is great especially since it's free! I really appreciate the videos with the view points of indigenous tribes and how colonialism impacted them.

Ryan Medley

What a great addition to Nashville history! This is a beautiful place and lots of free history. If you have little ones they have a play area for them

Eric Griffin

Amazing just amazing..highly recommend

Jacob Pawelczyk

This museum is awesome! So many different exhibits, it seems to go on forever. You could definitely spend a good 3-5 hrs here going through everything relatively thoroughly. Highly recommend for a rainy day activity

L3xTheR3x

The Tennessee state museum is a large and beautiful building featuring all sorts of historical artifacts from different eras of Tennessee. They have everything from Native American tools, to civil war weapons you can learn about Tennessee presidents and geographical history. If you care at all about history, come here (it's free)!

Celina Stanley

Very educational experience.

Ericka Barrett

This place reminded me of the old location for the TN Museum. I'm a native and was not disapointed at all. I was really impressed. In fact I returned the next day to share the experience with my daughter. Not to include the old traditional Farmers Market is next door.

Emily Anne

Unbelievable museum! Can not believe it’s free! So thankful it is free, it’s such a gift to families, our kids learned so much here. Wonderful timeline of history, taught through reading artifacts movies and more. We could spend several days in this museum and there would still be more! Oh and the staff is beyond friendly informative and helpful!

Antoinette Wooden

This is a very clean museum. It was nice to go learn some real history of the state. Every other tour especially on the plantations are sugar coated and made it seem like the attacks on natives and blacks was just a little mistake. Great place to get really educated.

jodel perez

Gosh so much cool history, love how the timeline flows, plenty of room not all cramped up on each other, cool atmosphere. Clean bathrooms and best part is it’s free. I tried to tackle it in three hours couldn’t 😂 def a must to go see if you’re in Nashville with some free time. …

Kathy O.

Loved it! My kids had such a great time with the scavenger hunt. Such a a awesome place.

Jean Palfrey

Very nice clean museum. It's a new building and it shows. Views from upstairs over the Falmers Market were lovely. Exhibits were very good, and relevant. Liked the layout and the Time Line guided tour at 40.minutes was about right.

Sarah Womack

The new location of the Tennessee state museum is wonderful. The parking was convenient. The new building is beautiful, and very well organized. We didn't get to see all of it, but we will return. The gift shop was a pleasant surprise. In addition to a wide selection of souvenirs, they offer a wide selection of products made in Tennessee including soaps, chocolates, jewelry, and purses.

Dr. Terrie S Reed

There is so much TN history here. The museum is only 7 months old but full of artifacts, pictures, recordings and displays. Tour guides are available to explain the sections.

Christopher Darnall Escue

This was our first visit and it was a very pleasant experience. We only hope that this museum can grow and continue to add pieces of Tennessee history for all to share.

Sully

Great place for everyone. Free parking and free admission. How many places can we say about that nowadays? Next door to the Farmers Market to boot!

GAME changer

Pretty awesome place I must admit you can learn a lot about Tennessee good and bad.The only thing I didn't like was that one of the tour guides was making stuff up and not telling the truth about Nathan Bedford Forrest the grand imperial wizard of the kkk.He was making it sound like he was an old guy and that he was just doing what he had to do.He was a racist peice of trash,and he said some dumb stuff about the Jim crow era that wasn't accurate at all 🤢🤮

Gregory Williams jr

Very good Museum. Got captivated in the history of the State. FREE admission!!! I gave a donation.

Diane Carrozzo

Absolutely wonderful! Authentic and as interactive as they could make it without ruining the authenticity. I recommend it for EVERYONE! (PS... it is FREE!)

Caitlin Jo Ramsey

Wow! The building is new and offers some neat views of downtown Nashville. I went for a special exhibit of Tennessee quilts, but also enjoyed pieces in the permanent collection including a still and some civil war era bric a brac.

Shay Arnold

This has a surprising amount of things to look at. They've done a beautiful job of chronologically placing Tennessee as the years go by. It's wonderfully cool on a hot summer stay also. And did I mention it's free?! The view from the outdoor deck is really pretty too! They've done a great job on this museum and I recommend that if museums are your thing, try this one.

Jocie Mello

We had a couple if hours to kill and really enjoyed walking through the museum, especially the kids area.

Summer Frisby, PMP

Great museum. Lots of history. One could spend hours reading everything. Architecture was also on point.

Jalena Nielsen

This was a well-curated museum in a beautiful building, and best of all, it was free! I was impressed with the quality at that kind of price, and one of the people working there mentioned that they'll be expanding and improving even further in the near future. My kids had fun in the kids' area and even in the other exhibits as well, especially with the scavenger hunt for kids that the museum provides. This was a great, inexpensive activity to do when passing through Nashville on a rainy day when you're not particularly into country music. ;)

Kyle Batson

Interesting museum to explore!

Bill Steiner

Pretty awesome history lessons and displays of historical artifacts, best part is it's free.

Amanda Montemayor

Definitely recommend coming here!Admission is free and the museum is very informative!

Rodney Gates

Just a great place to go. Always learn something new. Super clean. One of the Nations best museums.

Junico Cardwell

Beautiful museum with interesting exhibits. Take time to explore.

Eric Godwin

State museums are usually a must for me and this one is exceptionally good It takes you from the very beginning of Tennessee's geological history, to its first inhabitants, all the way to the modern day. Exhibits are upstairs, make sure to walk them in order and enjoy a few hours here!

Nicole Agnew

My mom and I were sitting in Bicentennial Park and decided to go inside the library. We were visiting from Chicago in June 2022. We went inside to the visitor's desk and we met Mr. Steve Rutherford. He was very welcoming and we had great conversation and he shared a lot of interesting facts about Tennessee. Next time we come we will take a tour! Hope to see you again Mr. Rutherford!! :-)

Ara Marie

Tennessee State Museum is a beautiful and well-done museum. The exhibits are beautiful, thoughtful and very educational. The location is great and adjacent to the Farmer's Market and Bicentennial Park. Plus it's free! Make sure to check out the balcony on the second floor.

Mark Grondahl

Really, really fun place in Printers Alley. We just happened to be there when the Stacy Mitchhart band was playing and it was awesome! Great vibe, great service!

Ryan Galager

Awesome free museum with tons of history! Such a nice building as well.

Robert Mahorney

Great new location. And beautiful new building but the old museum had more stuff. Bring back the mummys.

Lauren Jones

A bit of a confusing set up but worth the visit. Learning about the Civil War was very interesting. It's a subject I haven't spent much time learning about but walked away happy with what I learnt which was a lot. Free entry too which is always a good thing!

Arthur Stahl

Great museum.Free!! Farmers market within walking distance. Get there early opens at ten park for free. Farmers market great place for lunch.

Sara OK

Great experience here a lot to see and learn about Tennessee. We would like to return soon. Highly recommend if you like history.

Lucas Powell

Beautiful facility! Friendly people. Highly recommend if you have the time.

Evelyn Owen

Terrific educational experience. Loved it! Both teens were intrigued and asked questions. Highly recommend.

Joshua Jennings

My wife and I had a great time here. The only thing I think should be improved upon would be clear signs directing you. Other than that, it was a great place to visit and it didn't cost us anything.

Nathan Fields

Great museum-and Bubble Tea at the Farmers Market is only a few steps away! I love the timeline of history presented in the museum, especially looking at the prehistory timeline of Tennessee’s prehistory. Great reading area in the children’s area. Also, check out the section on Alvin York! He’s a Tennessee hero from WW1.

Alina M

Enjoyed my visit. Huge space with many exhibits. I was surprised when it was free! The section about slavery was a similar size to the section about gunsmithing which seemed odd. The civil war section was very interesting!

Prajakta

This has many educational pieces and I would recommend all museum lovers to visit this place. I spent half a day at this museum.

Christopher Buckley

We visited on a Sunday. The place to go for history of Tennessee. Free admission. Right next door to the farmers market. You can park once and go to both places.

Shiv Shukla

The museum seemed tucked away and hidden away even though it was right by my hotel but I walked in. The staff were very friendly and gave me a map and told me how to navigate the museum. If you're a history buff like me, you'll enjoy it as it focuses mostly on history. Really enjoyed the section about the native americans as well.

Kristina Shelton

Such a wonderful experience and spacious. Gift shop had a wonderful selection also. Many different artifacts and exhibits.

Aimee Lawson

We visited the TN State Museum on a Sunday. We spent about 2 hours going through the exhibits, reading and learning about our state and the people who lived before us. It was very interesting and educational. The building is beautiful and we will be going back again to see the things we missed! It wasn't super busy and was a great place to visit.

Frank Wilke

Parking is a pain. It shares the parking lot with the farmers market and street parking is limited to 2 hours. Most, if not all the other parking lots nearby are parking by permit only. The building is very nice and clean, artifacts are well organized and chronologicalized. The design is very good, they just didn't think about parking. This is something that should be changed in the near future. Tourists and visitors are not going to want to spend 30 minutes to an hour trying to park. I would have left myself had I not been with the Girl Scouts and they were already inside.

Sunil Pawar

Beautiful museum with great information and artefacts. One will really go back in history while visiting exhibits. The artefacts preserved and presented are stunning and in great condition.

Louis V

Very interesting museum, very pleasant staff.

Ken Smith

The museum has first rate exhibits. The Farmers Market next door is also worth a visit.

Melinda Miner

It is exceptionally well done and FREE! REALLY I was so impressed. It goes from First Nation, First People. The rich history, from slavery, Civil War, etc. Three Presidents have come from Tennessee- I had no idea. Really a beautiful state, Lots of history. I highly recommend this FREE MEUSEUM. A real gem!

John Farrell

Great new museum with varied displays including a century-old bike that works without a chain. And no admission fee.

Marv Baker

Very well done, comfortablely cool, and free. Videos and display of Tennessee History

Raymond Manley

Finally the Tennessee State Museum has gotten out of the basement of the performing arts center and into a brand new facility. It's bright, modern, and well organized. The museum covers area pre-history to the present day.

Paul Allen

There is more to see here than you would expect and so you could end up here a long time.

Jason Lundgren

Museum was free and right next to the farmer's market. We've lived here for quite awhile and didn't even know about it. Great history of Tennessee.

patricia torres

Get ready to learn so much for TN history. We planned to stay about 1hr tops but were jere for almost 2.5 hrs! First floor has a childrens area where the floor is a huge map of TN and a chance tondo a scabenger hint is optional. Hands on activities for the small ones. Wheelchair and strollers friendly. Stairs and elevators available. Upon arrival try to ask for a tour guide. The second floor is amazing. Securities on all areas. Real items used in history, uniforms, dresses, weapons, containers etc.... Enterance is completely free although they do have donation box. Also a Gift shop is available on 1st floor. Farmers Market is next to museum for a quick bite. We didnt take many pictures, sorry!

Kim

Beautiful facility. We just happened to fall upon it while at the park. The balcony gives you a view of the park and city and beyond.

Mary Hill

Great free (really!) Way to spend a few hours. The kids gallery was so spacious and well done. Mural was gorgeous and the scavenger hunt added another level of entertainment. The upstairs gallery also has a scavenger hunt so we did that one as well. All the Short films were educational and helped the kids see the history we were reading about through the displays. Really neat stop and right next to the farmers market and restaurants for a great lunch spot.

Monica Moore

Very informative about the history of Tennessee. This museum takes you back to the beginning and leads to present day.

Sonya Abrams

We had a nice time and the tour guide was very informative.

Lords of HVAC/R

Great place to see Tennessee history, free to the public, so make sure you visit and find something in the gift shop. Very worth the gift to see some cool exhibits and as a civil war buff, they have some great displays of that time period.

thirtysomething media

A great trip and it's free. I loved the displays. Awesome artifacts from history and just a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Victor Cruz

Excelente nice place you can love and spend great time with family and kids

Byron Brandon

Great museum. Especially enjoyed the Great Smoky Mtns National Park exhibit.

Kayte Lynn

Took my gf and 6 of our kids and we all had a blast..... Kids ages 21 18 17 17 9 and 9 months!! We all enjoyed it very much!! Highly recommend!! Children's section up front was a bit dull but we explored it despite that and had a little fun there! The most fun was the time tunnel!! Towards the end there were things in the glass cases that me and my gf uses in our younger years! Made us feel old😂😂😂😂 But we all had so much fun!!

Benjamin Paquette

This is a great place for history buffs and those who enjoy history. I highly recommend visiting.

Morgan Hayes

One of my favorite places to get lost in history. It's quiet, informative, and I can go at my own slow pace without holding anyone else up. The exhibits are large and roomy, so I can take my time without being in someone else's way.

Robert Bwambale

Awesome! Enjoyed the visit with my family!

Eugene

As good as a state museum gets. They tell the story of the state, in great detail, supporting it with mages, explanations, and items relevant to the time. Very relatable and enjoyable to follow the stories and developments. The museum is very modern, well designed, and interactive. I loved that I could easily choose how much in depth I can go for every section. The modern art section was also remarkable

Rosa

everything was fun to look at, learned so much!! the location is beautiful and the outdoor parts are beautiful as well! best part; free admission!!

Karen Sprague

The only regret I have I. My visit to this museum was not having allowed enough time. The primary reason I wanted to visit was because of the quilt display but there was so much more. Museum lovers would be well advised to allow two,days for their visit.

Gina B

First visit to the museum. Beautiful! Very informative. Will definitely return.

John Guthrie

What an amazing, excellent museum to see, hear and experience the state of Tennessee that is my home. The museum gives a very comprehensive story of our state to date, so it is highly recommended you allow your visit at least 3 hours, if not more. A must see while you're in Nashville, whether or not you are a Tennessean!

Axel Stoercklé

This was a great museum about the Temnessee State around the time. It showed how the state evolved around time and what makes it unique. I also liked the part where they wrote about the state being in a conflict with itself, if it should secede or not. It is greatly done and worth a visit. At the end you can put in a donation and I highly recommend you do. It is technically free, but a donation really is a good idea.

Mily Moon

Free and beautiful experience!! I would totally recommend

Jzxiu Wen

It's good to know Tennessee’s history! Free entrance deserves every state museum to follow. Great education chance. Very professional and academic. Besides, To those trump supporters (or any far-right Republican): the museum is a place to learn but not to express your political opinion. Besides, let your children write “Brandon” is very low.

Tamika BUTTERIFFIC Heard

Another great museum in Nashville and it's FREE!! I LOVE MUSEUMS!!

Heather Patterson

So much to do and great for a homeschool family! The price is great to, FREE! Parking is a bit of a pickle though.

Jaime

I wish everything here flowed better. Also would have been nice to have some signage or directions on how to move around.

Amanda Williams

Great place to go. Even my kids had fun!

Kate Gib

The Tennessee State Museum is a great place to explore! An incredibly beautiful and well designed building. Our tour guide Morgan had so much information to share, her bubbly personality contributed to an unforgettable experience.

David Derrough

Wonderful museum with plenty to see on the history of Tennessee. Best part, it's free and so is parking. A "don't miss" site in Nashville.

Alana Griffin

I learned a lot about Tennessee. Thank you for the experience.

richard warner

Fun place to learn about Tennessee. Plus it's free

Adrienne Hall

What a great museum. Whether you are just visiting or live here, do yourself a favor and go!

Sonya Meshque

Great place to go, lots to see. So much history

Brian Halma

Very impressive building with nice, new exhibits. The children's gallery is for younger (2-5) kids.

Clayton Marbrey

I'm glad a friend of mine visiting found and was interested in visiting this museum. I rarely get to the area and didn't know it was finished much less open. I'm so glad we went. The deep history, especially uncomfortable, of our state and country should be more well known and they did a fantastic job of presenting it in a logical and linear format so you can see it all.

Eileen Sanderson

A great museum! Tennessee history plus good temporary exhibits- I've enjoyed both the one on music in Tennessee and the contemporary craft exhibits. There's a kids section too that looks great but I haven't explored yet. The museum is free, and there's a good gift shop with Tennessee goodies.

Jake Waggoner

For being a free museum, this place is outstanding! Super well done! They have a bunch of exhibits that you can take a history walk through by following numbers on the floor (from 1 to 100) to keep you on track. I would highly recommend trying this place out, since its free you don't really have much to lose anyway. If you like history, not just Tennessee history, you'll really enjoy this museum.

Steve LaForge

I really enjoyed the content. However, it is chronology ordered but the path to stay in that order is not clearly marked.

Ravi Nagavarapu

Couldn't believe this place was free. A well designed museum that relied on story telling more that the dry artifacts. Definitely worth a visit if you have some inclination towards history and the past.

tettsui

Awesome free museum with tons of good history exhibits

Phillip Ooi

This new location is great! There are now more historic items and monuments than previous location. It was definitely a place for anyone coming here. Tennessee has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Images and relics were inspiring and something to be remembered.

Alexa Kent

Very emotional. One of my favorite places to visit.

M

Very beautiful, conveniently located, educational and free!

Sonnet Schulz

Loved this museum. So many interactive and engaging exhibits. Love that it's free as well!

Monica Howard

I loved the old location! Its hard to explain .....both are great its just I preferred the other location set up!! Its like walking in to cracker barrel then they move locations and its an IHOP now ..... both are similar but one was more nostalgic if that makes any sense to anyone 🤷🏻‍♀️ …

R

Fantastic Free museum. Tons of great exhibits and educational videos throughout. The outside balcony also has a few rocking chairs that overlooks the city. It's a great view when you taking a break. Plenty of food choices at the farmers market right next door. Great experience overall.

Brett Black

Cool museum, free admission! Check out Andrew Jackson's lock of hair.

Jennifer Ogren

I didn't think it would take a few hours to go through this place, but it did. I enjoyed it and its great for kids. It really helps you understand the history of Tennessee. Would definitely go back.

Amy Chambers

A must for your trip to Nashville! Whether you're a history buff or just want to learn more about how Tennesse/the United States formed the Tennesse State Museum will satisfy! Its a wonderful collection and offered completely free of charge. It's also cool in the summer and warm in the winter when/if you need a break from the outdoors.

Anna McLeod

A free museum is always a win for me, especially on a day with less than nice weather. This state museum was well done and covered the geological origins all the way to current history. Many interesting artifacts to see and exhibits to wander through. The way through wasn’t always intuitive but it was a nice space. You can walk there from the capitol and the Farmers Market.

Christian Scott

It's FREE and worth a visit! Kinda all over the map with natural history, native, Civil War wishy-washy and 20th century generic exhibits. Enjoyed the craft gallery. Small gift shop. Near the farmers market and a big park, walking distance from the capital

Paul Lutz

Enjoyed most things about the museum. Very clean, nice professional displays. Appreciated how they dealt with the slavery issue, since Tennessee has such a vast history relating to this topic. It wasn't "in your face"

Coty Collins

It was very neat. I would recommend.

Teresa Manzi

Beautifully done museum. I'm sure I missed some exhibit spaces but very impressive nonetheless. I did find some of the labeling very hard to read either because the lighting wasn't very good or the typeface was too small and didn't contrast well with the background color (especially orange). I would have also liked information about the artifacts' materials.

Gamma Ortiz

Pretty cool, but sometimes times bland and little bit boring.

sean wallace

Great museum *Edit now that I have more time* This is one of the best museums I've ever been to plus it's completely free. It's educational, it's huge, it's clean, the staff is friendly and my favorite part is yelling from the second story to hear the echo. It may just be the kid in me but it's the coolest thing to hear it, so make sure you try it out while you're there.

david gasser

Great addition to Nashville a lot of history!!loved it

Richard Lango

Great Museum! Free to get in and a vast amount of Tennessee based history. Takes about 2 to 3 hours if you are a reader... lol.

Larry Jeffers

This is an Amazing museum. Very friendly staff, interesting exhibits, and a great view of Nashville

Sarah Shearrow

Great, free museum! We enjoyed the timeline of Tennessee history! Make sure to step outside on the balcony for wonderful views of downtown!

Lauren Schwartzbard

This museum is lovely! It's free and is jam packed with cool things. Only slight is that it was a bit confusing as to the order of which to walk through.

Candice Rosado (BookQueenReviews)

This museum is so well curated and a free visit!

Rachel

Amazing Museum! Lots of history with things preserved well. Interactive learning. Takes you through so many ages, so much to see you can get lost. Lots of resting areas, even the balcony for wonderful outdoor viewing of the city. FREE and free parking. Clean and following all current pandemic. Highly recommend for all ages.

Andrea Cronson

This museum served up history in an easy digestible experience. We had paid tickets to the Ryman auditorium but decided instead to stay at the free museum because we were enjoying it so much! Strongly recommend the 45 minute guided tour!

Suzi Spiczka

This place was amazing. I was so glad we took the time to go. I learned alot about Tennessee. Many cool artifacts. HOWEVER, many of the exhibits were too dark! Now, the wierd thing is it was the black history or women's exhibits. Sadly it was frustrating. My only bad thing. Sorry, but So clean, cool, and covered so much material. Still great!

Rachel Suen

A free museum! Facilities are very clean and the air conditioning as much appreciated on a hot day. There’s an extensive permanent exhibit about the history of Tennessee. Some of the displays were a little difficult to navigate as it wasn’t always clear what path I should be taking through the exhibit. There are some temporary exhibits as well but I found those even more disorganized unfortunately.

Zachary S

Just okay. Lots of Tennessee history inside. But I feel like they could design the exhibits better. Almost feels like they just threw things together that just made no sense to be in the same display case. Cool anyways and the price is FREE!

Jennifer Imnottellin

Free! Excellent displays. Updated and informative. I could do without the "billions of years" and the godless explanation of how Earth was supposedly created by magnetism and spontaneous water and life forms (ugh!), but otherwise enjoyed the exhibits. My husband and I plan to take our daughter one day.

L. Peyton Adams

Well designed, educational, clean,clean facilities with good views of Nashville.

Jessica Ruckheim

I'm a Nashville native, but I found the exhibits to be immersive and educational. The scavenger hunt helped engage my three children ranging from 3 to 9. The exhibits in the children's area aren't open yet... still an amazing space with murals and giant floor map with fun illustrations. Lunch at Farmer's Market next door and the bicentennial mall complete the experience!

Ron Vinsant

Good presentation but hard to follow due to poor layout. It is not clear as to how one is to navigate through the museum. Numbers on the floor don't work when some are missing.

Jared Ferko

Went here expecting to only spend a couple hours but ended up being here for almost 4 hours. This museum has so much history in it that we had to speed up our tour since we were getting hungry. We'll probably come back again. I highly recommend visiting this place at least once. So much detailed history here.

Brittany Dugan

Free admission! A must go to see for all ages!

Zack Hardin

My wife and I enjoyed all of the interesting artifacts and tidbits about the history of Tennessee, and as Texans we learned about the history we share with each other in terms of famous figures such as Davy Crockett and Sam Houston! Also, the gift shop has many neat trinkets and shirts that are made by locals. Overall a great experience, and it’s FREE!

luther spivey

The new museum is awesome. Two stories. They have an extensive amount of historical items and the stories behind said items. Enough that you'll want to get an early start, or plan on visiting a couple of days to see and read it all. Admission is free, so you don't have to worry about bringing enough money for the whole family. The gift shop, of course, costs money.

brittany aldaz

Totally shocked! To say this museum is impressive would be an understatement!! Such an amazing museums and FOR FREE!! A captivating and we'll organized collection that shows the good, bad, beautiful and ugly that is the south! The woman's ratified exhibit was my favorite and I even got a key chain from the gift shop!

Amanda Moody

Amazing! We took a family/homeschool field trip here and had such a great time. Everything is very well done, and you can tell that a lot of money and effort went into this museum. It’s FREE, and parking is FREE! We had lunch at B&C Market BBQ next door at the Farmer’s Market which was incredible!

Shushannah Smith

Great museum and it's free! Great for school field trip or quiet afternoon. Close to other stuff to do. Next to a park with more history info and a fountain with huge rotating marble (or granite, idk) globe of world. Also near Farmer's Market.

Koto Foxchild

Very nice large new building. I loved how the galleries were set up chronologically through time. They had a lot of great interactive displays in each gallery that really made the exhibits more fun and engaging. Fascinating artifacts and items on display. Gift shop had a lot of great local merchandise as well!

B W

Don't ask me how this place is free becuase I don't know how. I honestly would have been okay paying $10-20 for this experience. The amount of information and history here blew my mind. Came in with low expectations and left very grateful that I came. I would recommend checking this place out if your in the area. It shows history from billions of years ago to now. More importantly it shows you an abundant amount of artifacts on Tennessee and what happened in the state. Please make time for this place. If you really want to indulge in the experience, set aside 1.5-2 hours for this museum.

Kelly Kirby

Great place to educate your children and yourself on Tennessee history. Went with my grandsons 3rd grade class for a field trip. They put on a fantastic presentation about the very first settlers. The kids all enjoyed it. If you go plan on being there for at least a couple of hours. There's a lot to take in. Highly recommended

Matt Wilson

Great museum! A great way to spend a day!

Alyssa Gosling

I’m shocked they offer free admission to such a beautiful and valuable monument to Tennessee’s history. You can get lost in time eras here (to my delight)! There’s so much in here!!

Mark Watson

What a wonderful modern museum. Well worth stopping in and spending an afternoon. Admission is free and you can definitely get lost in history here for an entire afternoon. So why not go by the nashville farmers market, sample some local eats, and spend an afternoon surrounded by history as only Nashville can deliver.

Falon Steiner

Incredible especially for a free museum.

Bruce Bailey

Very well done history museum, tells state's story very well.

Cara Eyer

A lot to see. They should charge admission. Very clean facility. Excellent customer service with the friendliest staff ever. It takes ALL day to go through. There's something for everyone. The information and displays are laid out perfectly to keep your attention. Absolutely the BEST museum I ever visited. Will definitely revisit this one. A must see! I can't say enough. You definitely won't be disappointed!

Millie Kwan

This is a terrific free museum that has a lot of Indian artifacts moving through the Colonial period into modern times. Many interesting artifacts continuously through Tennessee history. The arrangement of the displays is a little choppy as it gets separated into 2 upstairs areas that are not connected and locating one of the elevators is a little tricky. Overall though there is something for everyone. Well worth the trip!

andrea z

Cool free exhibit! They also have a cute kids area indoors and some unique local finds in the gift shop. You can park at the farmers market and walk over.

Kathi McKay

Superb! Great layout and method to disseminate information.

Ron Back Ronnie2Shoes

Great history

Sarah L.

This was an incredible museum to see, and it was completely free! There were several exhibits that took you back in time and through the history of Tennessee and it’s people - beginning with the creation of the earth, taking you all the way through to present day! If you are even mildly interested in the Civil War and World War I and II then this museum has MUCH to offer. My husband and I couldn’t believe how expansive the collection of artifacts was, given that the museum was entirely free! We will definitely be back to visit. My only complaint is that due to the size and layout of the museum it was somewhat difficult to follow along the timeline. You start in the time tunnel and make your way into various permanent and temporary exhibits. It’s layout is very maze-like. However we were given a map of the museum and spent about 3 hours walking around and viewing everything. Totally worth your time and visit. Not to mention that there’s an excellent view of the capital building from Bicentennial Park, located right next door! The Nashville Farmer’s Market was also next door.

Alex Read

So many interesting exhibits. Spent a couple of hours and had to rush. Could easily spend a whole to see it all. Beautiful building. Plentiful free parking right in front. Don't let your GPS send you to "Tennessee State Museum FOUNDATION"!!! That's a 20 minute walk from the museum.

Thomas Konings

Great museum on the broader history of Tennessee, prehistoric to present.

Karen Anderson

Beautiful, Clean, Very interesting exhibits, and friendly employees.

Jason Puett

Admission was free, nice collection of the state's history. Beautiful architecture. Free parking, but the lot is shared with the community farmer's market. Exhibits are laid out in a strange format that is supposed to go by timeline, but you backtrack through the exhibits to see it all. "Don't touch" signs just about everywhere.

Maria Ho

Really a very regal building with a stunning interior. I was here for about 5 hours. There is so much to see. The museum covers so much of Tennessee's historical importance. The Let's Eat Food exhibition was fun to walk through. It tracked the food evolution of Tennessee. I could of probably reviewed the Civil War exhibits a bit more. Next time. Really worth the time to see.

Hugo Aguas

Beautiful museum with a lot of state history. The architecture will leave you breathless. Truly one of my favorite locations in Nashville.

Al Ayouby

Very interesting spot to discover Tennessee history from Indian cultures to TN state setup to Country Music birth moments.

Marty Black

Great museum! Plan to spend at least 2 hours here if you want to see it all. Since it's free you can always come back for more. We've been to just about every attraction on the Nashville list over the past 25 years and this is one of the better ones.

Alex Lawhorne

The breadth and depth of this museum is very impressive. They thoroughly cover a great deal of Tennessee's history from an inclusive perspective. Interactive displays and moving visuals help to immerse the visitor in each time frame as they move through the various exhibits. I highly recommend a visit, and it has to be one of the best free attractions in town.

Jerry Myatt

We spent our 15 year wedding anniversary in Nashville and decided to go and take a look. I am so glad we did, no cost to get in. It was amazing and if you live near Nashville or don't this is a wonderful experience. Highly recommend everyone vist The Tennessee State Museum.

Jonathan Flores

Extremely happy with my visit, I can't believe this awesome museum is free, you easily spend a couple hours, it's a journey from the beginning of the tennessee to modern days. Definitely a must see if you are in Tennesse

Erin Green

The new building is beautiful and we spent a lovely few hours walking through it! It begins with Tennessee's prehistory and takes you right through into contemporary exhibits! Every room is tastefully done and includes loads of information and artifacts.

Katherine Morgan

A free museum that traces Tennessee history. Its a good size with an interesting special exhibit. Good information, especially for novices. Free parking!! The one major downside is the confusing layout of the displays.

Steve Todd

Nice place, very interesting exhibits.

Karen Koerber

1st time here definitely glad we went. Interesting exhibit s tons of TN history very enjoyable. Free admission

Jacob Johnston

I wish I could give 4.5 bc it was amazing other than very confusing to find the next spot in order. Other than that it was one of the best museums I’ve ever been to.

Things In Nashville

Great place to learn about the history of Tennessee. There are several sections that tells about the different history such as the battles, industry, Indians, and even back in the dinosaur days!

Alexis Bergstrom

Nice way to spend a couple of hours. Though it is geared toward TN history it definitely applies to the country as a whole. There was a guided tour happening at the same time I was there, and the person was very knowledgeable and friendly.

John Serrato

What a great time! Came out from SoCal to experience the Nashville country Music scene. We were here for four days and tried to experience everything within Nashville. We decided to visit the museum and spent almost three hours!

Tracy Bothwell

I went a week after the museum opened. It's certainly beautiful and the exhibits are detailed and interesting. When I was there, however, there were still several exhibits that were missing either the item or the placard describing the item. Overall, though, it was worth visiting. Bonus: the Farmer's Market is RIGHT THERE and you can go there for lunch!

Rosa R. Rodriguez-Wilson

It was amazing!! My daughter and I really enjoyed it!!! And the best thing, it is free!!

Jon D. Bumpus

The gorgeously curated and stylish housing of Tennessee's history we've long needed. This is a world-class museum, and reminded us of the best we've seen in places like Reykjavik and Osaka. Entry is free, so if you haven't been yet - there's no reason not to - especially if you remember the state museum we had before.

Melinda Muyargas

A great place to spend a couple hours. The museum is completely free, and there's so much history to see. It's GREAT for anyone into American history. I was just traveling through Tennessee, not interested in it's personal history at all, but it had so much great stuff about American history as a whole...and especially a lot about Andrew Jackson. Very glad we stopped here on our road trip.

Jason Bowes

Very cool place to go and visit. The outside Mall is great to go and visit to read about the history and things that happened in the state. The best part about it is it is free admission! The market across the street has free parking and also has lots of great shops. Be sure to go on the balcony to get a great view of the capitol building on the hill.

Carol Martinez

Great items on exhibit. Nashville needs more great museums and this is a much needed addition. There isn’t enough parking, there is little public transportation in Nashville so the building needs more parking or nearby lots. I was there on a Thursday afternoon and the lot was very full. Also, the museum needs more exterior signs. When I went to drop off a guest I was not certain which exterior door would open. Turns out all the doors are open. The security staff were all very nice, helpful and familiar with Museum and the collection.

Tony Vastano

Kind of good, kind of boring. Went here with school so I guess that was fun.

Susan Ezzell

It's beautiful. The exhibit rooms are spaced out to make it easy to get around. Could use some benches around so people can sit for a moment.

Patric Nordbeck

Very nice museum, well organized timeline of events. It's great they try hard to push first people's information and a more nuanced version of history than the traditionally whitewashed one. Although, they do seem to hold back a bit and could probably go way more in depth in both the constructive and positive aspects of Tennessee past, but also the more gruesome, destructive and evil one's too.

Philip Mischler

Brand new museum in 2021 and outstanding presentations and videos. Cudos to the organizers. Must se if you like history and visit Nashville. Don't miss the carillon playing at 15, 30 and on the hour just outside the museum along the Bicentennial walkway.

Ryan Shiffler

Nice museum with lots of exhibits. Nice place to cool off in the 90 degree heat.

Palace of Persephone

Amazingly beautiful, history filled (with interesting history) about how Tennessee was shaped by cultures, presidencies, and nature. Great way to spend some money and get to know the state you're in, also really appreciated the parking lot. Van life approved!

Patricia Hanson

Great museum well done!

Robert Dodge

Great way to spend a hot afternoon. Only saw a couple of the exhibits, could spend lots of time there

Madeline Pryor

This was such a fantastic gem recommended to us by a local! We were blown away by their customer service as they allowed us to store our luggage at the front desk because it was too big to fit in a locker. The museum itself was really interesting and a must see in Nashville!

Zay

Good quality museum. Was expecting the usual washed down version of history, but the museum takes the checkered past head on. Was thoroughly impressed by the coverage given to the Native Peoples, there is an entire section dedicated to the history of the states geographical formation, which was an interesting section. Also impressive was the blunt treatment of Andrew Jackson, the museum did not look to tell a narrative, just simply allow the historical facts to speak. A rather impressively sized collection of Civil War artifacts as well. There was a portion dedicated to the African American experience in Tennessee, and the history of Civil Rights section was informative as well. There was a small art section, which I hope will continue to grow. I was able to go on my break from work, so I only spent 2 hours there. I plan on going and spending a few more hours reading some of the parts I missed. Best part, admission is free, and you can guide yourself through the entirety of the museum.

Emily Edwards

This place is super cool. You could easily spend an entire day here learning about every aspect of Tennessee History from the prehistoric era until present time. I went during the week and the place was absolutely flooded with small kids and school groups. If you are easily distracted by running/screaming kids, maybe call ahead and see if any groups will be there that day. Awesome little gift shop with lots of uniques Nashville and Tennessee gifts for sale.

JanisHolton

I was so excited to visit this fairly new building, it is less than a year old. It is nicely laid out, full of extremely interesting things, we were there to view the quilt exposition. The staff was great and gave us directions on how to get to different parts of the building. I will say that there was one overzealous guard, who continually told me to step back from exhibits. I did not touch anything. I certainly recommend this in the Tennessee State Museum

Tim Callahan

This is an excellent museum for history buffs. We spent 2 hours and only explored the temporary exhibits, as we had to leave before venturing into the permanent ones. The careful curation and well designed displays make this a nice place to spend a hot July afternoon without having to spend a dime.

Ronise Parks

This Museum is fairly new and beautiful. Always free as far as I know. Has a kid station for them to play and discover TN. Security is also downstairs they have bathrooms on 1st and 2nd floor also have a conference room that I had the chance to use very clean room fits about 20-30 people. Upstairs is the museum they add new things all the time show documentaries and kid friendly. Upstairs there is a balcony area have taken good pictures of the capital of TN in surrounding areas. Also close to downtown Nashville, Sounds stadium and farmers market. Great place to visit when in Nashville to learn about the culture.

Lucy O

Great free entrance museum. The exhibition is way more than what used to be in old location. I was nicely surprised enjoyed.

Shelby Best

This is a great museum when you want to take a break from all the hub bub of Broadway. It is free. It is extremely informative and there is a lot to see! Definitely worth the stop.

Paul Ly

For a free museum, this was a very great place to learn about Tennessee and it's history and a little about it's culture! Being from out of state it gave great context to how it came about throughout America's history and even before America was established. Many kids were on school trips there and they looked like they were enjoying themselves!

Bethany Berry

Really nice museum with up-to-date exhibits. Not very good for kids. We hated that everything seemed so scattered; no clear direction on where to start or where to go. Many of the artifacts seemed to be just filler items. For example there was an area that stated how in the 70's there was a technological boom in Tennessee (this was actually all across America and the world, but they have to relate it to Tennessee somehow I guess), so they displayed a Saga, Nintendo, cell phone, etc.

Tracy Krieg

Exceptional museum with so much information. You might need (and enjoy!) a second or third visit. Friendly staff that is ready and willing to answer your questions. Great outdoor deck on the second floor to take in the scenery outside.

tony helton

It's free. Great atmosphere. Very peaceful, informative experience. Next to the farmers market and Bicentennial Mall. You can definitely spend a whole day in the area.

Robert Engel

Great entertaining displays. Some of which kinda made me feel old

jarrett Robinson

Wonderful exhibits. Extremely hard to find parking, as it shares its lot with the farmers market. Not very good planning. Worth it when you get inside, but you have to fight for a space or park 40 miles away.

AR Ironside

Highly recommend the free highlights tour. Our guide provided some off the beaten path info for key eras. Nice museum overall & free! They have fun scavenger hunt for kids.

Alana Davis

Displays are very well thought out and informative. Lighting could have been a little different making the information easier to read for those of us with older eyes.

Ashling Moran

I was very impressed with this free resource in Nashville and sorry I didn't have more time to explore. Nicely presented exhibitions without feeling overloaded with information. Some amazing artefacts. I loved the Mastodon fossils and dug out canoe in particular. A nice way to pass a couple of hours. I don't know whether there are any/ many interactive style exhibits for children/families so I'm not sure how quickly they would get bored but it's definitely good for adults. Friendly staff also.

Mary Nunaley

The new location is wonderful. Galleries are more open and the meeting facilities were quite nice.

Jill Gilman

This is a very cool place, though there was no rim or reason to the flow of the exhibit. I would recommend, you will just be hopping all over the place.

Sam Saxena

Me and my friend dropped by the museum while visiting Nashville. We thought we might pop in for 15-30 minutes, but ended up there for an hour and a half, and would have stayed longer if it wasn't closing. Really impressive collection, especially considering that admission is free.

Loretta Smith

Fun day learning some history and exploring the museum

Thomas Wilson

The experience was moving, breathtaking, inspiring and educational.

Kristin

What a fantastic resource to discover state history! I have visited several times and it continues to impress me every time. Spend the afternoon, then visit the Farmer's Market across the parking lot. Admission to the museum is free!

Anthony Coombs

Not much in to Museums but thoroughly enjoyed my visit here, some great displays.

Joseph Barnosky

This is definitely a great place to go. There are three levels full of artifacts, replicas, informational videos and a ton of history. There is something here for everyone, no matter your age. The best part is that it is free. There are a few artifacts missing, and there are little cards that say so for the, I assume much bigger museum they have planned and currently building that is due to be finished in 2018. Wasn't too crowded which was nice and there are a lot of places to sit. We toured the capital grounds first and went to the military museum, so the seats came in handy. There are restrooms next to the gift shop which is also convenient especially if you have young ones. There are also several elevators placed throughout for those wishing to not take the stairs.

Ted Morley

Lots of cool exhibits, and its free

Anna D

It's a great improvement over the dim basement the museum used to occupy. All of the exhibits have been given room to include more objects illustrative of the period, by way of laying out a winding path for the timeline. This path is a bit maze-like; I can imagine an entire class of school kids getting turned around. The building is very impressive.

Jennifer Hawkins

This is such an interesting and informative museum. It is so rich with history and the interactive displays and numerous videos make for a fun and fact-filled day.

CJ Ceej

So disappointed it took me THIS long to finally check out the Tennessee State Museum! The museum is 100% free for everyone, every day. The building itself is huge and the interior is gorgeous. The actual exhibit pieces are very well designed and informative. There is a ton of things to look at and read. Completely blown away this is completely free, especially considering it is better than some paid museums I’ve visited around the country. Awesome overall experience and will definitely be back!

Patty Poplarchick

I enjoyed the history and the many displays. The museum just opened last fall of 2018. It's very new and clean. The grounds are beautiful with veterans memorial gardens and within walking distance to the Farmer's Market and the State Capitol building.

Acacia Willey

It’s a free museum, so I can’t come down too harshly on it, but speaking as somebody who loves museums I found this one to be chaotic both in layout and presentation. It was difficult to know where to start and finish the museum. In addition, nothing felt specific to Tennessee. It was a CliffNotes version of American History that Tennessee was involved in simply cause they’re part of the United States. My favorite was the baseball portion that read, “baseball became popular during the late 1800s and emerged as a favorite pastime for many Tennesseans.” That’s not specific to Tennessee. You could say the same for the other states. It would’ve been cool if instead they highlighted TN athletes that impacted pro sports. I left the museum feeling I learned nothing about Tennessee, which is a shame cause I love TN! Now with that being said, it’s a free museum with free parking so it’s worth the visit. It’s just a shame it doesn’t highlight what makes Tennessee special and unique from the other states.

Chris Holmes

What an amazing place. The Staff are incredibly helpful and I must say that a young woman Nieya Wallace who works there is a treasure on her own.

Michelle Mieszala

I was happy we went. After reading some reviews I wasn't sure about going. We were there for a couple of hours. Lots to see if you like history!

Vanessa Delk

The museum is free but parking is not. Prepare to pay a good amount for parking or find cheap parking and walk/uber. The museum was okay, but not great. It could use more interactive features. They are in the process of preparing to open the new Tennessee State museum later this year so some items have already been pulled out to prepare for the move. It's a good day trip with the kids if they are old enough to read the displays and interested in history. If not, you may spend your time there listening to kids ask how much longer.

Richard Williams

Took the family to the State museum on Friday, April 5, 2019. It is one of the few attractions that is free, including free parking. The building architecture is excellent. It flows very well and displays and videos are super. I highly recommend it to any family.

Ant W

The dedication walk way that you are greeted with before entering the building from all the generous people contributions is exceptional which made this possible for the public to view and enjoy the artifacts and events of Tennessee's history of all people that played a major role to be what is today. Upon entering this beautiful establishment the front desk attendant and the security team made my family felt very welcome to be here. It's a great place to visit while in Nashville. And it's also free.

Alex Langley

Really nice place. The exhibits are set up beautifully and flow easily from one to the next. The staff was friendly and helpful. Definitely a place to go if you want to take company somewhere, have a great experience, and not have to pay a huge amount.

Cody Leonard

An example of a top notch museum. We enjoyed that it has the feel of a national, Smithsonian type museum, with distinct Tennessee flavors throughout. The organization makes it easy to go throughout the whole thing from start to finish, or you can pick and choose your topics or timeline. Outside is a decade by decade look at Tennessee history as well. All around this is a nice museum that can entertain for hours.

Garrett Hensley

I only had an hour to spend here, but it was pretty awesome. It's a very nice museum with plenty to see. I plan to return when I have more time. They have a children's area, but are still working on filling it up. I would keep an eye on that before I would take a small kid.

Hailey Bockbrader

Amazing museum. Im not normally a museum lover but this was so well put together. It was slightly hard to not get turned around but it was so fun! Also it was super clean and they took Temps upon entering which was really nice and made us feel safe with COVID. Thank you! So glad we stopped by! Also it was FREE and what an amazing museum for being free!

Katie Wade

Great place to spend an afternoon with my kids. We like to come every so often just for fun. There's no entrance fee and it's filled to the brim with information. My 4 year old loves it and my 14 year old asks to come back! Can't wait to visit the museum in its new location once it opens.

Keith Nolan

Well worth the visit. Spent 2 hours walking through the history of Tennessee. Could have easily spent twice as long if our 8 year old had the patience. Amazing job putting this museum together!

Goudy Jerry

There's no admission charge to go in! Be sure to ask the person that greet you to give you the proper starting area for your tour. We told them we would just wander around and it made it very confusing. Cool exhibits put together very well, look forward to going back.

Jolie Foreman

It was very nice in there! Also a plus that it is free admission. Make sure to take at least 2 hours to get through the whole museum.

Jacob McKnight

Lots of tennessee history, but I did find it strange that 65 million years mammals pushed out the dinosaurs from north America, at least that's how the video presentation explained the mass extinction of dinosaurs from north America.

Matthew Bean

Free. That is the best part. The short little videos were also nice. It was confusing at points which way to go to get to the next exhibits in chronological order. I spent maybe 3.5 hours and didn't make it to the 1940's (of course, I read everything). Located next to the Farmer's Market and Bicentennial Mall (park).

Brandon Caples

I've lived in Nashville for 8 years, and my first visit to the Tennessee State Museum was 3 days ago. My girlfriend and I enjoyed it. There's almost too much to learn. We're planning on returning soon. The staff is very friendly, too. I just wish it was easier to navigate. We had a map, but it was difficult to find our way through all the twists and turns. Overall, it was a terrific afternoon!

Paul Richard Cook

Most importantly, the exhibits are fantastic and wide-ranging (through I’m unclear why the music exhibit is considered “temporary” when it’s so great). It’s definitely worth a visit to find out about the history of Tennessee along with the history walls at neighboring Bicentennial Park. And it’s free, with good parking, so you might as well pop in. They could improve one thing however. There isn’t a lot of signage, so it’s easy to get lost. The exhibits are upstairs, but there’s nothing to tell you this. Even the exhibit halls, for which you have to open large doors, are unlabeled. And the exhibits themselves twist around like mazes with different entry/exit points throughout, and with no directional arrows to keep you going in the correct chronological order. If you failed to pick up a map at the front desk, you’ll be entirely confused. (And the bathrooms aren’t well indicated either - you can read the signs unless you’re right in front of them - no indication that they’re down the hall.) It’s a new building, so I hope the signage is just a delayed implementation - it’s desperately needed.

Thomas Mertz

If you're interested in history and planning a trip through Nashville, then you should visit this museum. It is in a beautiful building that looks across the Capitol Mall, is free of charge, and the "Tennessee Time Tunnel" gives a logically ordered summary of Tennessee history from prehistoric to modern times. We spent 2 hours but had to leave right before the Civil War section so I cannot address other reviewers' criticism of that section. Other reviewers' criticism of the parking is accurate - there isn't enough and the free parking along the street has a 2-hour maximum. The main flaw that I saw in the exhibits was the sugarcoating of President Jackson's career.

LisaMarie Sivley

What a wonderful place to take your family! We go often and always find new things to learn. It's a free museum, well maintained and friendly staff. We love going here. I know it's being relocated and we can't wait to check out the grand re-opening!

Diurnal Dayz

This is the best state museum I've ever visited (to my utter surprise). The displays are very sleek and immersive with the mock battlefield in the Civil War gallery standing out especially, what with the sound effects and lighting. The museum also did a satisfactory job of acknowledging Tennessee's darker history of racial subjugation. Definitely would take a return trip if given the chance.

Arnell Austin

Me and my wife enjoy this so very much, and the Farmers market located next door. Did have a pretty hard time to find a parking spot but it was worth it, seeing everybody out and about, happy, with no mask,s hardly whatsoever

Jacqueline Maxwell

This museum is FREE (the city of Nashville is pretty expensive to visit so I was pleasantly surprised). There was so much to see here and the twists and turns were overwhelming as there is so much more around each corner! Has a good look at culture and history. Lots of old artifacts!

Samantha Lund

We love this museum! It has corners for little kids to enjoy that include building, art, and books. ADMISSION IS FREE! It also has LOTS of exhibits that cover the entire history of the area, from prehistoric to mid 20th century. It focuses on TN's statehood, the Civil War, and into the Antebellum period. My favorite section is the painted portraits. It's small, but they're all very well done and special. Definitely a place to visit if you enjoy history.

Denise W

Wonderful place to visit and learn about Tennessee history. Parking is free. They don't shy away from the dark side of Tennessee history and how native Americans and Blacks were treated. But, my husband and I really enjoyed the time we spent in the museum.

Carlos Bolaños

Have a very great day in this museum, I love Tennessee and being able to learn how this place became what it is today is amazing, this museum is Free and close on Mondays. The staff was nice tho

Mike The Mic Guy

Improving! They have made a lot of changes and have been improving a lot. I'm kinda surprised at how many people don't know about this place. It's got a lot of historical artifacts that you honestly wouldn't expect. Like a Mastodon and Saber Tooth Tiger skull, a mummy, and a lot more. It's definitely really cool and there's a lot to see. I've been there multiple times and I haven't even been through it all. It's truly amazing and not to mention, IT'S FREE!!!!!! Thank you Tennessee

Mark Lack

I always make the effort to visit any museum in the cities on my travels, this one was free and a beautiful building. I did find the displays a little sparse and it was confusing on where to go. Signage is lacking and we were not the only ones confused. Some simple directional signage would make this a even more enjoyable experience. I was disappointed that there was so little on the civil rights history of this part of the States. Not sure it this sad time in the history of the state is covered in another venue (I think maybe Memphis) but as the State museum I would expect a good display on this time history. They had a good civil war display which is super interesting. Worth the visit and expect to spend about 1.5 hours here

Elijah Norrick

A very cool building with lot's of history and artifacts.

Stefanie Wright

Outstanding FREE museum that tells the history of Tennessee. Wish I had more time here because the exhibits are detailed and in-depth. I appreciate the attention paid to the history of the First Peoples in this region, and the attempt to contextualize and present the state's history.

Michael Price

Fun place to visit with lots of exciting exhibits.

Andrei Dumitrescu

Great free museum with a lot of TN history. Good kids hall and activities and the afternoon guided tour was excellent. Parking is free nearby and the farmers market is also a great place within walking distance.

Terry Gullatte

Well, here we go. The place was very spacious, decorated in gray and black tones, and straightforward in terms of visual cues. The children gallery offered colorful relief to the monotone museum, and yet it wasn't in the way of the receptionist desk(my point about the museum's straightforward nature). A few key features- the museum's spiral staircase, the-drumroll please- open air terrace, located on the second level, and lastly, the donation box, inconspicuously set near the central walkway. Something I found odd was the wide open space facing the glass and beam facade. Nothing was there but oxygen. The reason I came? My sister works there

Emily Armstrong

We had a great time here today. The building is really beautiful and was clearly built to last for generations. We got surprised by the echo chamber under the domed skylight, which is a really neat feature. As of Oct 26th 2018, the children’s area was not quite complete but my kids still had fun. They had a good time doing the scavenger hunt, reading and playing with small percussion instruments. The graphics in the children’s area are phenomenal, I think award-worthy. I’m really looking forward to seeing the room completed. We were only able to get from Natural History to The Civil War & Reconstruction during today’s visit, but we will be back soon to take in more of the exhibits. One of the things I love about this museum is that it’s not a “only things that happened to white people” museum. The exhibit on First Peoples was thorough and taught me the timeline of development of early North America, which I had never been exposed to. The other exhibits include the stories of African American slaves and freemen, in a way that shows their experiences as being just as important to understanding this nation’s history. I highly recommend visiting this museum. Some notes for families: • The “Natural History” exhibit is labeled with a red panda, which is confusing since they live in China (I think this might be an error from a rough draft of the brochure that was never corrected). My daughter was actually really mad when she realized there were no living animals in the exhibit. • There is no food allowed in the exhibit areas. I did not see any snacks for purchase on site either. When my kids needed a snack we went over to the benches by the washrooms (outside of the exhibit areas) and ate something I brought from home. • There are storage lockers, but they are not yet (Oct 26th, 2018) available. Because the exhibits run in a zigzag pattern, it would be easy to lose a toddler. • There are many large items within easy reach labeled “do not touch” or “do not climb”, but preschoolers can’t read. We loved our visit today and I can’t wait to bring our family back!

Joel Deserve

Amazing museum. The place is so big I literally got lost in the time tunnel. Look no further than here to get an in-depth rundown of Tennessee history. I'd recommend this museum to anyone who is a new resident or anyone who is just interested in culture.

Sahara Beaulieu

When on vacation in Nashville we were excited to be able to learn a bit about the state's history. As this was free to go to we didn't hesitate to go. We did not realize just how extensive the history coverage was. It is a bit confusing to navigate as a first timer. You start by learning about the formation of the state 450 billion years ago to the present day music era.There was so much to read and see that we spent almost three hours there and only made it to the end of the civil war. Had we realized how extensive it was I don't think we would have spent so much time looking at every single thing and reading as much as we did. Don't get me wrong the museum is not big but we enjoy to thoroughly walk through. That was our personal preference and interest though. If we are ever back in the city we will know to allocate a bit more time to finishing our tour.

Andres Montoya

Amazing museum. Educational. Great staff. Super clean. Best of all it is FREE. Please make a donation.

KEI Kobayashi

It is totally free. That's really great. Similar contents and less exhibit in Indianapolis's museum, but it still cost you $10 + something. So I really appreciate the deal of this state museum in Nashville. It has so many genuine items. Goo amount of education facts of local history. I was happy I went there spending whole morning.

tay gudmundson

Beautiful museum with plenty to do on an afternoon. They have free lockers to store your stuff and plenty for the children to explore and touch. And as an adult, plenty of space for me to sit down or interesting things to learn.

Winston Huang

Great free museum to check out. Parking conveniently shared with the farmers market makes it a great trip for the family.

Phillip Molnar

This ended up being one of my favorite spots in Nashville. We only got to spend about an hour and a half here but wish we had closer to 4 hours. Tons of cool exhibits organized in the tunnel of time.

Ryan Dowdy

Okay wow. This place is awesome! So much to see, do, and learn. Neat layout that allowed for free form discovery. Lots of interactive displays. Be sure to check out the temporary exhibits before they move on. Almost forgot, it's completely free!

Dave Mcmanis

Our group did the whole museum experience. If your interested in learning about ALL of Tennessee’s state history.... then this museum is for you! Lots of original historical items in addition to Tennessee’s mark on the music. Highly recommend!! And it’s free!!!

Helen R.

Love traveling through the country and getting to stop into these kinds of museums. If you are interested in History, make a stop here and go through the history of Tennessee. I am partial as Tennessee is one of my favorite states, so spending the day here was very wonderful.

sharon summers

Very nice place to visit and learn about our state! Beautiful inside and out. The staff there was very friendly and helpful. And did I mention it was free to go through???it was great!

Jeff Lowry

Very impressed with this museum. It sets out the history of Tennessee (right from 4.5 billion years ago) in an accessible and interesting way. I found the Civil War section particularly interesting. Plus free admission and parking - can't beat that!

James Donnell

Very good. Liked it alot. Take your time.

J L

Impressive, (but confusing timeline layout) free museum highlighting the rich history of the region. I wish every state had a similar public museum. The revolutionary through civil war artifacts were impressive. Farmers market (food court) nearby for food after the visit.

Jennifer Parton

Wonderful place full of Tennesse history. Love the different types of exhibits and appreciate that even our darkest times were not sugar coated or over looked. Plan on spending several hours & bring your children to teach them about what makes Tennesseans so special!

Nickolas Alexander

Beautiful new building. Displays are in chronological order but took a minute to figure out where to start. Needs a bit more signage as to where to go next. Parking was overcrowded due to it being lunch time and people eating at the farmers market were taking spots at the museum.

Jennifer Sanchez

Great location, gift shop, and exhibits.

David Walrath

My wife and I went here yesterday to see their TN 225 Statehood Exhibit & we loved everything in it! We love learning about our state & it's history from birth through today. Awesome visit for anyone in the local area!

Jennifer Dobbins

I went there with my Aunt Niva. It was very informative and interesting. While there I saw a picture of my great great great grandfather Thomas Driver. It was amazing to see. They also had other artifacts and things for you to see. Trust me you can stay there for hours and learn a lot.

stylesz Smith

This museum is free with a suggested donation. It was a beautiful museum. I liked the wonderful exhibits on the history of Tennessee and I also liked that the museum didn't sugar coat the nastier parts of Tennessee history like segregation, slavery and KKK. It was nicely broken up by categories as well.

Kenyatta McKie

It is free to enter. Nice displays from native Indians till reconstruction. The gift shop has cute little trinkets that represent Nashville's history. The staff was very helpful. Great place to visit while in Nashville.

Emily Boersma

Great new building. Awesome temporary exhibit about the evolution and changes of food throughout Tennessee history. I liked the interactives as well. The timeline was a bit confusing through the other exhibit spaces.

Jordan Baer

Can't beat free for admission price and the museum has really become a crown jewel in the new building. There's tons and tons of things to see, hopefully the Titans temporary exhibit becomes permanent and more NFL items are added, and the upper level view of the state Capitol is the best part. Will definitely be back when in town again for a Sounds game.

Tuan Khai Nguyen Tran

Stunning Nashville historical & cultural scene on display!

Abigail Cantrell

Pretty awesome for a state museum. 2.5 floors with displays from paleo to modern era. Mostly geared toward school aged children, but my 8 year old thought the so-called "reading corner" was super lame, as it was just one shelf of kids' books, and freezing cold. The quilt display was gorgeous, for women of all ages, and a nice break from all the war stuff.

Nisarg Patel

Beautiful place. Very well laid out visualization from pre-history to modern times of events related to TN. Tickets are free. Must watch.

Gary Standke

Great free museum. 3 levels with lots of stuff covering from the Native Americans forward. Spent 2 hours there and could probably have spent another hour but it was closing. Most impressive were the pre-contact Native American artifacts and the pioneers tools.

Allea Grimes

Very cool place. And it's freeeee

Peyton Bledsoe

Very clean and very spacious. Great exhibits that are very informative! They emphasize their amazing exhibit for women's suffrage especially!

Matt Latsha

Very cool museum. These places, being run by the state, can often be a massive set of propaganda, but the Tennessee State Museum does a great job of being a fair portrayal of Tennessee history. Classy, modern, and sharp looking exhibits. And since it's free, there's a lot to like.

T Groen

What a truly extraordinary museum, beautifully and empathetically done, wonderful gift shop, check the black granite wall outside, incredible. I was there October 2018, staff are very kind and helpful. I wish it was bigger.

Rebecca Showalter

Difficult to self navigate. Little signage on where to go.

B

Free museum with free parking. Very educational and interesting

Nathan Dahms

One of the better museums I've visited. It's also very free, the short videos are great would recommend watching some. Facilities were very clean, building was very nice and overlooks a park. Would highly recommend visiting this museum.

Priscilla Lloyd

We had a great time with our kids. The only disappointment was the mummy wasn't on display and that was the main thing we were going for but we still had a wonderful time!

Kevin Cappo

Wonderful well done museum. Complete history of Tennessee from dawn of time to present. Rotating additional displays. The current is on Tennessee music history. The grounds around include a military memorial a 93 bell carillon farm market and historical walk. A must do. And no fee. Parking is tight come early

AJ Dominick

Always a good place to walk around and see the exhibits. Wear comfortable shoes because it is larger than you think! There is something for everyone: history, music, mystery, and interactive exhibits for the kids. Stop at the gift shop for a memory of the day.

Randall Duke

Awesome museum. Free admission. Parking was tight on the weekend but it was truly great once I got in.

Mike Costa

Very nice museum, worth the stop, lot to learn here. I found it very difficult to flow through this museum. I did a lot of back tracking. Hopefully the new medium will flow much better. Speaking of new museum many artifacts were missing for the new location. Museum was free so can't complain too much but I'm a visual person so the missing artifacts really stood out to me. Will return if in the area again to see the new museum.

Genessis Milos

My husband and I really enjoyed coming here. For it being free it was pretty awesome. If you're looking for things to do I would definitely recommend checking this museum out.

Jack Coats

Great place. We went for state wide teacher recognition awards for last school year. Wonderful museum too.

James Rasor

Very informative. They started at the beginning of time and worked their way forward to modern times. Some of the paths through time seemed disjointed.

Ray S

Went here based on a tip from the hotel shuttle driver. Great museum with very cool exhibits. Extremely nice building (brand new) and friendly staff. Admission is free which is another reason we were so blown away by the quality of the exhibits.

Julie Scott

Great museum, deserves more praise on Nashville "things to do" sites! You can make a day out of getting coffee at the Farmer's Market building, walking the Bicentennial park and reading the monuments, then getting lunch at the Farmer's Market and walking across the street to the museum. Museum takes 2-3 hours roughly. Free tour at 2pm, but the tour isn't indepth so you'll want to rewalk the museum once it's over. Then back to the hotel for a nap or recharge. And dinner out!

Jacquelyn Eisele

There was a lot of really cool exhibits to see. Due to there being so much it is good to plan to go through maybe one or two each time you visit. This will or could be an all day activity.

Keri El Armali

This is an amazing museum and it's completely free! I spent hours here exploring the many exhibits. They have multiple floors with antiques, pictures, videos, and interactive models. This is a must see place for the family.

clive midgley

Not enough time to see it all, i recommend a full day

Wes Harris

Such an amazing and free museum. It is obvious that there was a lot of effort in making each exhibit the best possible. We enjoyed the short films,the music display, and early Tennessee.

Matt Voget

Nice that it was free, but this museum hasn't been updated since the 70s. Many of the exhibits are being moved to a new location. It was also funny to see this museum's love affair with Andrew Jackson; everything seemed about 75% politically correct.

Carol Hovan

Really beautiful museum, excellent displays and history of Tennessee. The floor plan is a bit confusing, hard to figure out where to go in order to follow the historical timeline. But very well done.

Austin Phillips

Nice, free museum covering Tennessee history. I really liked the exhibits on the Civil War the most. It has something on every battle from the state of Tennessee. Large collection of Civil War artifacts. Parking is a little hard to come by. Nice new location / building.

BB's Boutique

I was told this place would be boring and not worth visiting but I disagree. I found this place to be very informative, modern, and the displays well put together. The best part of it all is its FREE! Definitely worth the visit if you like history.

David Hill

Great new museum. Covers many events an eras with lots of artifacts and narratives. A number of short films throughout provide nice perspectives with human touch. Covers many regions and eras. Makes me want to move to TN!

Adam Burkey

Very good place to visit. Unfortunately the only frustration was that they were moving to a new place so some of the artifacts were missing. The areas that they had were very detailed and had a lot of information so it took a while to get through things. Really enjoyed it. I highly recommend

Joanne Wilborn

Very well designed balanced overview of Tennessee history. Not crowded, free lockers, no fee entry, beautiful bldg friendly and helpful staff, and a small gift store!!.

Duane

So much history here. The best part is that this place is FREE. We spent about 60 to 90 minutes visiting the museum and we saw everything. I highly suggest visiting !!

Cindy Hill

Impressive! Dont miss the chance to visit this museum. Interactive displays..and very very interesting. We would have walked through again if we would have had time. Especially to see the room featuring the Civil War again..This museum is a MUST SEE.

Kelly Heyen

I was so impressed by the TN State Museum! The design of the building is gorgeous, and the exhibits are first class! Especially for a free museum, it’s such a great experience. Definitely exceeded my expectations!

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