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      • Douglas Henry State Museum Commission
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      • Natural History
      • First Peoples
      • Forging a Nation
      • The Civil War and Reconstruction
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      • Tennessee Transforms
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      • Painting the Smokies
      • Early Expressions: Art in Tennessee Before 1900
      • In Search of the New: Art in Tennessee Since 1900
      • Why Do Museums Collect
    • Online Exhibitions
      • Tennessee at 225
      • Ratified! Statewide!
      • Canvassing Tennessee: Artists and Their Environments
    • Past Exhibitions
      • Tennessee at 225
      • Best of Tennessee Craft
      • Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right to Vote
      • Tennessee and the Great War: A Centennial Exhibition
      • STARS: Elementary Art Exhibition 2022
      • Cordell Hull: Tennessee's Father of the United Nations
      • Lets Eat! Origins and Evolutions of Tennessee Food
      • The State of Sound: Tennessee’s Musical Heritage
      • Red Grooms: A Retrospective
      • Between The Layers: Art and Story in Tennessee Quilts
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      • Virtual Field Trips Request Form
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      • The Life of a Civil War Soldier
      • The Lives of Three Tennessee Slaves and Their Journey Towards Freedom
      • The Three Rs of Reconstruction: Rights, Restrictions and Resistance.
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Junior Curators

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Each week on the Junior Curators blog, we travel back in time to a different place in Tennessee history. Stories may be about a famous person, place or event from Tennessee’s past. They will include things like priceless artifacts, pictures, videos, and even some games. Be sure to better understand the story by answering the questions at the end of each post.

After learning the story, be sure to share what you've learned with your parents, family, or friends. Try making your own exhibit about it, shooting a movie, or writing a story about it. Let your creativity run wild!


 

7-18-22

5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Scopes “Monkey” Trial

  Scopes Trial by Henry Billings, Tennessee State Museum, 2012.38 By Grace Allen In 1925, Tennessee passed the Butler Act. This was the first law in any state that said schools were not allowed to teach evolution. In that same year, a man named John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in Dayton, Tennessee. During the trial, a famous lawyer named Clarence Darrow defended Scopes. William Jennings Bryan, a well-known politician, argued against Scopes. The case attracted a lot o... Read More
Posted by Christopher Grisham at 7-18-22
Modern Tennessee

7-1-22

Alfred Martin Ray and the Spanish-American War

By Philip Staffelli-Suel Welcome back Junior Curators! Today we are going to be talking about the Spanish-American War and Alfred Martin Ray. What is the Spanish-American War? In February of 1895, Cubans began a rebellion against Spanish rule. Over the next few years, support for the Cubans spread throughout the United States. Remember, the United State once fought to be free from a European power too. The way newspapers reported on the conflict became known as yellow journalism. This caused... Read More
Posted by Christopher Grisham at 7-1-22
African American History Modern Tennessee

5-24-22

Name That County Quiz pt. 5

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee has ninety-five different counties.  Each one is unique with its own history and people.  Take the quiz and see how well you know Tennessee.  Name That County Quiz Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-24-22

5-17-22

Go See Tennessee: The Lost Sea

Tennessee’s Largest Underground Lake by Jennifer Watts There are so many cool and exciting places in Tennessee. So many, that you might not know about them all. That’s what Go See Tennessee is all about. We’re here to tell you about places we think are neat and that you might want to visit too. It might be helpful to make a “Go and See” List, and whenever you read about a place that sounds cool, write it down, to help you remember it for the future. Ready for t... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-17-22

5-10-22

Captured: Part Five

by Emilee Dehmur The American soldiers were shouting louder than they normally did, and their tones were harsher. “Hurry up. Get in there!” they yelled as they led all the prisoners into the movie theater. They were forced to sit on the floor. The lights dimmed and the clacking of the film reel hummed behind them as it began to play. The images on the screen were gruesome. It was from allied liberators in Germany. They were filming their entrance on the Jewish concentration... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-10-22
Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

5-3-22

Captured: Part Four

by Emilee Dehmur The first few prisoners to help were chosen. The guards gripped their guns tightly and opened the door to the outside world. This was the first time the Germans had set foot outside of the camp since they arrived. Each German had two American soldiers by their sides. As they arrived at the first farm, the men jumped out eager to do work outside the camp. They worked until the sun went down and were closely guarded until they were safely back behind the walls of Crossville. ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-3-22
Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

4-26-22

Seeing Through the Smoke: The Story of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

by Jennifer Watts Many songs have been written about the Smoky Mountains. Many you might have heard, like “Rocky Top” and “On Top of Old Smokey.” But what is the story behind the songs? Are you ready to learn more? Let’s take a closer look at the story behind the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The mountains we call the Smokies were formed millions of years ago. They changed into what we see today over all that time. Many people have called them home for t... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-26-22
Native American History Tennessee History

4-19-22

Captured: Part Three

by Emilee Dehmer Indeed, life at Crossville was not what any of the officers had thought it would be. No one could have dreamt that when they were captured in Africa that their life in America would be like this. After all, Crossville had an infirmary, bathhouse, dining hall, rec hall, fire station, post office, and store. They even had tennis and soccer fields! The Germans called their new home “Camp Country Club”.  Colonel Harry E. Dudley Papers, 1916-1966, Tennessee S... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-19-22
Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

4-11-22

Captured: Part Two

by Emily Dehmer As the Germans unloaded from the bus, the bright spotlights from the guard towers lit up the night. The men, in a single-file line, were led into the medical tent. There they were showered, deloused, and given a fresh pair of clothes. A team of doctors and nurses looked over those who arrived, most suffering from battle wounds or diseases. After they were done in the medical tent, they made their way to their new homes. As they filed out of the tent, they were led to a large... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-11-22
Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

4-5-22

Captured: Part One

by Emilee Dehmer The first of a five-part series. Captured. The heat from the African sun made them sticky with sweat. Their uniforms stuck to their bodies as they marched in line. Their captors walked alongside them with guns to make sure they did not escape. One of them asked, “Was warden sie mit uns machen?”                 “I don’t speak German,” a soldier with a gun replied. ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-5-22
Modern Tennessee

3-29-22

Dragging Canoe: A Cherokee Warrior

by Philip Staffelli-Suel Welcome back Junior Curators! Here in Tennessee we have a rich Native American history. Today we are going to be talking about the Cherokee tribe and one of their leaders, Dragging Canoe. That may seem like a unique name but think of it more as a nickname. He was the son of Cherokee diplomat, Attakullakulla. Even at a young age, he wanted to be a warrior. So, he asked his father if he could join a war party. His father refused, so he hid in a canoe. After his fa... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-29-22
Communities Native American History Southeastern Indian History

3-22-22

GeeHawing Mule Day Letter

by Morgan Byrn Dear Granny, You won’t believe this! I just got back from the Mule Day celebration! Remember when I told you about that funny little pin I saw at the Tennessee State Museum? You know the one that said Mule Day? Well, I told Mom and Dad about it, and they planned a trip to Mule Day! We drove down to Columbia, Tennessee on Saturday morning. Our first stop was to set up our chairs on the parade route. We sat our chairs in front of President Polk’s house. Dad said we ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-22-22
Communities

3-7-22

Name that Tennessee County Quiz pt. 4

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee has ninety-five different counties.  Each one is unique with its own history and people.  Take the quiz and see how well you know Tennessee. Name that Tennessee County Quiz Pt. 4 Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-7-22
Communities

3-1-22

The First Railroad in Tennessee

By Emilee Dehmer Okay, well maybe not the first railroad in Tennessee. The first railroad to operate a train in Tennessee award belongs to the LaGrange and Memphis Railroad who started in 1842. Our railroad for today, the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, was chartered in 1845. We say it is the first railroad in Tennessee because it was the first complete line to operate. The Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad (N&C) was established in 1845, thanks to the help of John Overton and Repr... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-1-22
Civil War Communities Statehood/Early Tennessee

2-15-22

Go See Tennessee: The Courthouse and the Civil War

Middle Tennessee: Rutherford County Courthouse and Rutherford County Museum, Murfreesboro by Philip Staffelli There are so many cool and exciting places in Tennessee. So many, that you might not know about them all. That’s what Go See Tennessee is all about. We’re here to tell you about places we think are neat and that you might want to visit too. It might be helpful to make a “Go and See” list, and whenever you read about a place that sounds cool, write it down, to... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-15-22
Civil War Communities

2-8-22

TN225: William Strickland, The Capitol’s Architect

By Jennifer Watts Can you image being 225 years old?! In 2021, Tennessee celebrated its 225th birthday on June 1st. To commemorate the event, the Tennessee State Museum is highlighting one hundred artifacts throughout the state’s history. One of those artifacts is a portrait of William Strickland. He was the architect of the Tennessee State Capitol. Let’s take a closer look at the man behind the painting and one of the most historic buildings in the state.   Portrait of W... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-8-22
Jacksonian Tennessee Tennessee State Capitol

2-1-22

Diane Nash: A Civil Rights Legend

By Philip Staffelli Welcome back Junior Curators! February is Black History Month! So, in this blog we are going to learn about someone important to Black History, Tennessee History, and United States History. Today we are going to explore the life of Civil Rights activist, Diane Nash. Diane Judith Nash was born in 1938, in Chicago, Illinois. She was raised a Catholic and attended public and Catholic schools. Nash even considered becoming a nun. After graduating high school, she first atten... Read More
Posted by Matthew Gailani at 2-1-22
African American History Tennessee in the 20th Century

1-24-22

TN225: Tennessee’s First Governor’s Pocket Watch

By Jennifer Watts Can you imagine being 225 years old?!  On June 1, 2021, Tennessee celebrated its 225th birthday.  To commemorate the event, the Tennessee State Museum is highlighting one hundred artifacts throughout the state’s history. Let’s take a closer look at the story behind one of those artifacts, the pocket watch of Tennessee’s first governor. John Sevier’s Pocket Watch, TSM Collection When Tennessee became a state in 1796, the people elected... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-24-22
Frontier/Before Statehood Statehood/Early Tennessee

1-18-22

Name that Tennessee County Quiz (cont.)

By Jennifer Watts Tennessee has ninety-five different counties.  Each one is unique with its own history and people.  Take the quiz and see how well you know Tennessee.  If you need a hint, check out the picture for a clue.  Have fun and enjoy! Take the Quiz Now! Jennifer Watts is an Educator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-18-22
Modern Tennessee

1-10-22

Lewis and Seaman?

By Emilee Dehmer In the late 1700s, there were many colonial towns and cities all throughout the eastern part of the United States. After American independence, and as more and more people arrived in America, settlers began to push westward. They did this to find new land and begin new settlements, even though people were already living there. Tennessee is an example of this westward expansion and was granted statehood in 1796. All the official states though were east of the Mississippi Rive... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-10-22
Statehood/Early Tennessee

12-14-21

Dear Santa, Can I have oranges, candy, and some firecrackers?

By Morgan Byrn "Silent Night" by Jean Gauld-Jaeger shows the Tennessee State Capitol at Christmas. Taken from Tennessee State Museum Collection Have you ever thought about the things we do on the holidays? Putting presents in hanging socks and bringing in trees to decorate them seem like odd traditions. A lot of these traditions come from a time called the Victorian Era. During this time, Christmas became a major holiday in the United States. Let’s unwrap some popular tr... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-14-21
Communities Innovations Modern Tennessee

12-7-21

TN225: The Tennessee State Flag

By Jennifer Watts Did you know that Tennessee has not always had a state flag? It’s true! As we commemorate Tennessee’s 225th birthday this year, let’s look back at the history of our state’s iconic flag. Tennessee was formed from the western lands of the state of North Carolina. Before it was known as Tennessee, it was called the “Territory South of the Ohio River” or “Southwest Territory” for short. Shortly after the end of the American Revo... Read More
Posted by Jennifer Watts at 12-7-21
Community Tennessee History

11-16-21

Go See Tennessee: The Enduring Gift that will Live Forever

By Emilee Dehmer East Tennessee: Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Vonore There are so many cool and exciting places in Tennessee. So many, that you might not know about them all. That’s what Go See Tennessee is all about. We’re here to tell you about places we think are neat and that you might want to visit too. It might be helpful to make a “Go and See” list, and whenever you read about a place that sounds cool, write it down, to help you remember it for the fu... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-16-21
Innovations Native American History Southeastern Indian History Statehood/Early Tennessee

11-2-21

John Ross: Principal Chief of the Cherokee People

By Jennifer Watts There are times when you need a leader. A person to guide you and keep you moving forward. In the early 1800s, the Cherokee people needed such a leader. A man to fight for their Nation and its people.  That man was John Ross, but who was he? How did he become the great leader the Cherokee needed when times were getting tough? John Ross was not born in Tennessee. He was born October 3, 1790 in northern Alabama. He moved to Tennessee when he was seven years old with his... Read More
Posted by Jennifer Watts at 11-2-21
Native American History Southeastern Indian History Statehood/Early Tennessee

10-26-21

The Nashoba Community: A Tennessee Utopia?

By Katie Yenna What do you think an “intentional community” means? Well, the name speaks for itself! It is a planned community where people with similar beliefs and values decide to live and work together as a team. These communities usually have a goal for their residents, much like the Nashoba establishment in Tennessee. This Nashoba Community was established in 1825 by Francis Wright, an abolitionist from the United Kingdom. Her intention was to create a “utopian” ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-26-21
African American History Communities Statehood/Early Tennessee Women's History

10-19-21

Remember the Maine! (And the Spanish-American War)

By Matthew Gailani On April 22, 1898, the USS Nashville fired shots at a Spanish ship. The Nashville was an American gunboat sailing near Cuba at the time. It was commanded by a Tennessean. His name was Washburn Maynard. Maynard’s father was from Knoxville and supported the North during the Civil War. Thirty-Three years later, Maynard found himself at the beginning of a different war. This was the Spanish-American War, and he had just fired some of the first shots. But why was the U.S.... Read More
Posted by Matthew Gailani at 10-19-21
Modern Tennessee

10-12-21

Sequoyah and His Syllabary

By Christopher Grisham If you are here, I bet you can read and write in English. The English alphabet that you know and use today developed over hundreds of years. It used words and rules from many other languages. Many people have made it what it is today. But what if one person sat down and created a written language by themselves? What would that language look like? That is exactly what happened once right here in Tennessee. Around 1776, a man named Sequoyah, or George Gist, was born in ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-12-21
Communities Innovations Native American History Southeastern Indian History

10-5-21

War of 1812: Things you didn’t know happened during the war

By Katie Yenna Did you know that only 29 years after we gained our independence from England, they decided to pick another fight with us? Beginning in 1812, we entered what some historians call our “Second War for Independence” with Great Britain. After it officially ended in 1815, it left us with a new feeling of national pride and freedom from England. It also began traditions, created legends and national symbols that are still recognized today. Keep reading to find out what t... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-5-21
Statehood/Early Tennessee

9-28-21

Anniversaries, The Parthenon, and Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition

By Grace Allen This year we are celebrating Tennessee’s 225th birthday! Another name for this special anniversary is bicenquasquitennial. That’s a big word! Over the years, Tennesseans have honored the birth of our state by hosting events and by creating parks and monuments. Tennessee Centennial Exposition Poster Nashville’s Centennial Park and the Parthenon came from our state’s 100th anniversary, or centennial, celebration. That celebration was called the Tenn... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-28-21
Communities History of Music/The Arts Innovations

9-21-21

Go See Tennessee: The Middle of It All

by Emilee Dehmer    Middle Tennessee: Geographic Center of Tennessee, Murfreesboro There are so many cool and exciting places in Tennessee. So many, that you might not know about them all. That’s what Go See Tennessee is all about. We’re here to tell you about places we think are neat and that you might want to visit too. It might be helpful to make a “Go and See” List, and whenever you read about a place that sounds cool, write it down, to h... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-21-21
Statehood/Early Tennessee

9-14-21

Tennessee 225: The 13-Star U.S. Flag

by Jennifer Watts On June 1, 1796, Tennessee became the sixteenth state in the United States of America. It has been two hundred and twenty-five years since that date. As part of our state’s anniversary, the Tennessee State Museum is highlighting some of our artifacts on display that tell the story of Tennessee’s people, history, and culture. The artifact we would like to highlight today is the thirteen-star U.S. flag currently displayed in the ‘Forging a Nation’ gall... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-14-21
Statehood/Early Tennessee

9-7-21

More Tennesseans in Space

by Jennifer Watts Many people dream of becoming an astronaut. I know I have. As of 2021, seven Tennesseans have made that dream come true. In the first “Tennesseans in Space” blog, we learned about Dr. Margaret Rhea Seddon and Barry “Butch” Wilmore. Today we are going to learn about the other five. In 1992, three of them were part of the same flight crew and went to space together! Autographed photo of the STS-52 Crew, Tennessee State Museum Collection. (Pil... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-7-21
Innovations Tennessee in the 20th Century

8-24-21

Name that Tennessee County

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee has ninety-five different counties.  Each one is unique with its own history and people.  Take the quiz and see how well you know Tennessee.  If you need a hint, check out the picture for a clue.  Have fun and enjoy! Tennessee County Quiz   Jennifer Watts is an Educator at the Tennessee State Museum.   Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-24-21
Communities

8-17-21

Highlander Folk School

by Oliver Arney The Highlander Folk School was unlike any school that you have seen today. If you could visit today, you would not find classrooms full of children, no large gyms holding P.E., and no playgrounds. That is because the Highlander Folk School did not teach children, it was a school for adults. The school was founded in the middle of the Great Depression and became a center of learning during the Civil Rights Movement.  Myles Horton from SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordina... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-17-21
African American History Communities Tennessee in the 20th Century

8-11-21

The Chickasaws and Tennessee Part 3

by Lauren Grizzard Hello Junior Curators and welcome to the latest blog post! This year, 2021, marks the 225th year of Tennessee statehood. That means it has been over two centuries since Tennessee became the 16th state in the United States of America on June 1, 1796. However, while this is an important point in Tennessee’s history, there were groups of people living here long before statehood in 1796. These groups were known as Southeastern Indians. Their histories, languages, and cul... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-11-21
Jacksonian Tennessee Native American History Southeastern Indian History

5-18-21

Underwater Ghost Towns of Tennessee

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee is known for its many beautiful lakes. What people don’t know is some lakes have a secret. Under the sparkling waters are sunken towns. Whole communities were flooded by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the 20th century.  The rivers of Tennessee have a long history of flooding. These floods destroyed farms, washing away crops and homes. In the 1930s, the United States government wanted to help stop this from happening. They also wanted to aid fa... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-18-21
Communities Tennessee in the 20th Century

5-11-21

The Chickasaw and Tennessee Part 2

by Matthew Gailani Hello Junior Curators and welcome to the latest blog post! This year, 2021, marks the 225th year of Tennessee statehood. That means it has been over two centuries since Tennessee became the 16th state in the United States of America on June 1, 1796. However, while this is an important point in Tennessee’s history, there were groups of people living here long before statehood in 1796. These groups were known as Southeastern Indians. Their histories, languages, and cul... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-11-21
Native American History Southeastern Indian History

5-4-21

The Chickasaw and Tennessee Part 1

by Matthew Gailani Hello Junior Curators and welcome to the latest blog post! This year, 2021, marks the 225th year of Tennessee statehood. That means it has been over two centuries since Tennessee became the 16th state in the United States of America on June 1, 1796. However, while this is an important point in Tennessee’s history, there were groups of people living here long before statehood in 1796. These groups were known as Southeastern Indians. Their histories, languages, and cul... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-4-21
Native American History Southeastern Indian History

4-27-21

Junior Curators’ Top Ten

Hello Junior Curators! It’s April, and this month we are celebrating one full year of the Junior Curators’ Blog! Thank you so much for reading and learning with us over the past year. We hope you have enjoyed learning all about Tennessee history! This week, we are going to take a look back at the top ten posts from 2020/2021. Have you read them all? If not, make sure to check out the list below. The Clinton 12: The Integration Story of Tennessee’s Public Schools Click here... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-27-21

4-20-21

Spot the Difference-Shackelford

by Emilee Dehmer       This painting, titled James O. Shackelford Jr., and Gertrude Shackelford was painted in 1857 by William Stamms Shackelford. This painting depicts two children, James and Gertrude, who were probably the artist’s niece and nephew. While we do not know how old the children were, we can estimate by looking at census records from 1860 that James is ten and Gertrude is six. Sometime historians might not know much about a painting because the art... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-20-21
History of Music/The Arts

4-13-21

Edmontosaurus: A Tennessee Dinosaur

by Jennifer Watts Did dinosaurs live in Tennessee? The answer is yes! Most people think of dinosaurs as living in western states like Montana and Wyoming. The truth is dinosaur bones have been found all over the world. And Tennessee is on the list. “Monty” the Edmontosaurus statue, Frank H. McClung Museum The first dinosaur bones found in Tennessee were actually discovered twice. One day in the University of Tennessee’s paleontology collection, five dinosaur fossils w... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-13-21
Prehistoric Tennessee

4-6-21

First Peoples of Tennessee: How did they hunt?

by Katie Yenna Thousands of years before members of the historic tribes lived in Tennessee, their ancient ancestors lived here. They were strong people who lived through the Ice Age, the extinction of their main food source, and the encroachment of foreign settlers. They also did not have a written language, so what they left behind tells us a story of how they lived, worked, and celebrated their culture. Today, you are going to read about one important part of their life, hunting. The Pale... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-6-21
Innovations Native American History Prehistoric Tennessee

4-1-21

Search and Find: Downtown Nashville

by Emilee Dehmer This painting, titled “Downtown Nashville” was painted in 1951 by Joseph Van Sickle. Believe it or not, this painting is of downtown Nashville. It is the corner of Fifth Avenue North and Union Street. The Banks Clothing Store you can see in the painting is a building that is still there today- just with a different name! There are many different types of painting styles and methods. You can use crayons, pencils, paint, watercolors, and more to create art. This... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-1-21
Communities History of Music/The Arts

3-30-21

An American Nurse The Story of Catherine G. Sinnott

by Matthew Gailani In 1917, just over 100 years ago, the United States officially entered World War I. This was a major moment in American history. America was entering a large war with terrible fighting between many different countries. To help the Allies and the United States win the war, American women served in different roles, both at home and overseas. For example, many women filled jobs in their hometowns that were left by men serving in Europe. This included many jobs in factories an... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-30-21
Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

3-25-21

Name that Tennessee County Quiz

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee has ninety-five different counties.  Each one is unique with its own history and people.  Take the quiz and see how well you know Tennessee.  If you need a hint, check out the picture for a clue.  Have fun and enjoy! Name that Tennessee County Quiz   Jennifer Watts is an Educator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-25-21
Communities

3-23-21

The Secret City

by Lauren Grizzard Hey you! Yeah, you! Can I let you in on a secret? It’s a very big secret. The size of an entire city type of secret. That’s because this secret WAS an entire city. A city that didn’t exist when Pearl Harbor was bombed and was built entirely by the government in 1942: Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Before 1942, Oak Ridge looked like the landscape often seen in East Tennessee: large plots of land with many hills and valleys. For that reason, it became the site ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-23-21
Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

3-18-21

Which Tennessee Musician Are You?

by Lauren Grizzard In honor of Women’s History Month, we are celebrating something Tennessee is most well-known for: Our musicians. Answer each question and write down your answer. At the end, tally up what letter you have the most of to discover which female Tennessee musician you are!   1. What genre of music do you like the most? A. Country B. Blues C. Rock   2. Which song sounds the most interesting to you? A. Coat of Many Colors B. Down Hearted Blues C. River D... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-18-21
History of Music/The Arts Women's History

3-16-21

Adelicia Acklen: The Lady of Belmont

by Jennifer Watts Throughout history, women have been restricted on what they can and cannot do. Some women were able to overcome those restrictions, control their own lives, and become successful.  Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham was a Tennessee woman who did just that. She became one of the wealthiest women in the Antebellum south and the owner of Nashville’s Belmont Mansion. Portrait of Adelicia by Washington B. Copper in 1834, Tennessee State Museum Collection. A... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-16-21
Civil War Women's History

3-11-21

Mystery Artifact: Guess that Tennessean

by Lauren Grizzard Items from the past, or artifacts, can teach us about the culture and technology of a different time. They teach us about the people that used them and what their lives might have been like. Today, we are going to look at three artifacts and see if you can determine who might have used them. Hint: They all belonged to the same Tennessean.   What do you notice this is made from? Does it look like something you’ve seen before?   What do you think th... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-11-21
Jacksonian Tennessee Women's History

3-9-21

“They call me the Book Lady”: The Story of Dolly Parton

by Morgan Byrn If I were to walk into a classroom right now and holler “Dolly Parton,” most of the students would probably know who I was talking about. Many kids know her as the lady who sends free books. But did you know people around the world know Dolly as the Queen of Country Music? Let’s take a look at this amazing Tennessean.  Parton family photo, taken from Dolly Parton's official website dollyparton.com.  Replica of Parton family cabin located ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-9-21
History of Music/The Arts Modern Tennessee Women's History
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