Tennessee State Museum Tours

Oddities and artifacts abound in the permanent collections of the free-to-the-public Tennessee State Museum, together they tell the story of this particular swath of the American South from 12,000 years ago to the early 1900s. The main exhibit space consumes the ground floor of the massive office tower at the James K. Polk Cultural Center, and is divided into six eras such as the “First Tennesseans,” “Civil War and Reconstruction,” and the “New South.” The Military Branch Museum, a vestige of the museum’s former nearby location in the War Memorial Building prior to its 1981 move, is run separately and offers an in depth look into major battles from the Spanish American War to World War II featuring weapons, uniforms, flags and personal items from Tennessee soldiers.
Among the more unusual finds in the main space are a 3,600-year-old mummy brought by Tennessean merchant marine to the state during the prosperous antebellum period, a Frontier-era log cabin showing colonial life, mastodon bones, a huge collection of quits, a hand-drawn Confederate battle field map, a covered wagon, a horse-drawn fire engine with brass water pump, Daniel Boone’s cutlery set and pocket knife, an early model of a flying machine, a moonshine sill, a model of a white wooden riverboat, Andrew Jackson’s personal items and a leather jacket once worn by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his role as a WWII General. Rotating exhibitions keep things fresh and have included artwork from Japanese museums, the original Emancipation Proclamation, photographs of Elvis and a collaborative exhibit with the adjacent Tennessee Performing Arts Center on Tennessee’s African American musical heritage. Though captivating for school children and adults, there is little interactive here to entertain families with very young children. Plans for a shiny new State Museum, proposed for a location along Bicentennial Mall a few blocks away, are in the works.
Practical Info
The Tennessee State Museum is located at 505 Deaderick Street in Downtown Nashville. It is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. til 5 p.m. and closed on major holidays. The Military Branch across the street (301 6th Ave. N) is open 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday only. Some visiting exhibits may charge admission fees. Flash-free photography is permitted. There is no designated museum parking, but several state and public pay lots are located around 5th Avenue.
Address: 505 Deaderick Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37243, USA
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. til 5 p.m. and closed on major holidays.
Admission: Some exhibits may charge admission fees
5 Tours and Activities to Experience Tennessee State Museum
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45 Minute Narrated Ride
1
45 Minute Private Narrated Ride of Downtown Nashville
Our popular 45 Minute Private Narrated Ride of Downtown Nashville has all the sites offered in our 20 minute tour plus much more. This ride includes hotspots such as the 5 Star Historical Presidential Hotel The Hermitage, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Bridgestone Arena, The Johnny Cash Museum, Riverfront Park, Hard Rock Cafe, The Wild Horse Saloon, Well known Printers Alley where Jimi Hendrix got his start, The Tennessee State Capitol Building, The War Memorial Building, Nashville Performing Arts Center, Tennessee State Museum, The Ryman Auditorium, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, and other tourist attractions and insight into various poplar dining establishments around our great city.
Pickup and Drop-off at 100 Broadway downtown Nashville only
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From
$158.93
per group
From
$158.93
per group
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Learn More

Cinderella 30 Minute Narrated Ride
1
The Cinderella
These are some of the finest most beautiful carriages in the world, and Sugar Creek Carriages is proud to offer them for any special occasion. It features the Cinderella canopy along with all the elaborate detail that goes along with these carriages “finest carriages in the world” title.
•••Sights maybe altered due to traffic conditions or city issue due to police diverting routes for construction reason.
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From
$128.16
per group
From
$128.16
per group
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Learn More

45 Minute Narrated Ride 7 to 9 people
Our popular 45 Minute Private Narrated Ride of Downtown Nashville has all the sites offered in our 20 minute tour plus much more. This ride includes hotspots such as the 5 Star Historical Presidential Hotel The Hermitage, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Bridgestone Arena, The Johnny Cash Museum, Riverfront Park, Hard Rock Cafe, The Wild Horse Saloon, Well known Printers Alley where Jimi Hendrix got his start, The Tennessee State Capitol Building, The War Memorial Building, Nashville Performing Arts Center, Tennessee State Museum, The Ryman Auditorium, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, and other tourist attractions and insight into various poplar dining establishments around our great city.
•••Sights maybe altered due to traffic conditions or city issue due to police diverting routes for construction reason.
…More
From
$179.44
per group
From
$179.44
per group
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Learn More

Cinderella Princess 45 Minute Ride
The Cinderella
These are some of the finest most beautiful carriages in the world, and Sugar Creek Carriages is proud to offer them for any special occasion. It features the Cinderella canopy along with all the elaborate detail that goes along with these carriages “finest carriages in the world” title.
**Sights maybe altered due to traffic conditions or city issue due to police diverting routes for construction reason.
…More
From
$179.44
per group
From
$179.44
per group
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Learn More

Historic Nashville Bus Tour with Andrew Jackson's Hermitage & State Museum
289
Take a journey back in time to visit Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, Tennessee State Museum, and a drive through Mount Olivet Cemetery. Take a guided tour of each to learn about their history and prominence, stopping for a Southern-style buffet lunch (own expense) in between. Included entrance fees and transportation from Nashville make for a hassle-free visit.
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From
$73.34
From
$73.34
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Learn More
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