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Junior Curators

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!

 

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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
Black 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
Southeastern Indian History Statehood/Early Tennessee

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
Southeastern Indian History Statehood/Early Tennessee

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
Southeastern Indian History Statehood/Early Tennessee

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
Tennessee History

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 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 and Reconstruction 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

3-4-21

Go See Tennessee: 1,000 Miles in 5 Blocks

by Emilee Dehmer West Tennessee: Mud Island, Memphis 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 wheneveryou read about a place that sounds cool, write it down, to help you remember it for the future. Ready for ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-4-21
Communities Modern Tennessee

3-2-21

The Unstoppable Josephine Groves Holloway

by Joyska Nunez-Medina Girl Scout troops are groups where girls can come together to learn and grow. The Girl Scouts of America started in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. Juliette Gordon Low, the organization’s founder, visited Britain in 1911 and learned about the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides. She thought that a similar organization in the United States could teach girls important skills and lessons. Girl Scouting was supposed to be open to all girls, but that was not the case everywher... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-2-21
Black History Communities Women's History

2-25-21

The Fastest Woman in the World: Wilma Rudolph

by Lauren Grizzard Did you know that a Tennessean was an Olympic athlete? Do you know where “The Fastest Woman in the World” was from? To learn the answers and more, check out five things to know about Wilma Rudolph below! 1. Wilma Rudolph was born in St. Bethlehem (now Clarksville), Tennessee on June 23, 1940. If you visit Clarksville today, you will see a street and buildings named after her, and even a life sized statue!          ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-25-21
Black History Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

2-23-21

More than Music: The Important Legacy of Julia Britton Hooks

by Grace Allen Image courtesy of Memphis and Shelby County Room at Memphis Public Library. Julia Britton Hooks was a very talented musician and teacher. In her lifetime, she was dedicated to teaching music to people of all ages in Memphis, Tennessee. They called her “The Angel of Beale Street.” Julia inspired and taught some of the most famous Black musicians of the early 1900s including W.C. Handy, later known as the Father of the Blues. But Julia Britton Hooks was more than ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-23-21
Black History History of Music/The Arts Women's History

2-18-21

Stump Speaking at Knoxville

by Emliee Dehmer  This painting, titled “Stump Speaking in Knoxville,” was painted in 1840 by an unknown artist. Stump speaking is what they would call gatherings in which the people running for office would come and speak about why you should vote for them, or the person they wanted to win. It was called stump speaking because they would stand on tree stumps to speak. You might not know it, but this painting shows someone you may have heard of before. The man speaking is ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-18-21

2-16-21

Professor Cameron

by Matthew Gailani World War I and the Story of Henry Alvin Cameron On April 6, 1917, the United States of America officially entered World War I. The war itself started in 1914, shortly after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The United States managed to stay out of the war until 1917 despite terrible fighting around the world. This changed for a few reasons. Americans were being killed on ships sunk by German U-boats in the Atlantic Ocean. The most infamous example of this wa... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-16-21
Black History Tennessee in the 20th Century

2-11-21

The Tradition of Valentine’s Day

by Jennifer Watts Do you enjoy a holiday? They are a time to celebrate friends, family, and the people we care about. What better day then Valentine’s Day to show someone you love them.  Valentine’s Day has been around for a long time. Longer than many people might know. The special day’s origins may go back to ancient Rome. Back then, they had a festival to celebrate the beginning of spring. In the 400s, Pope Gelasius I, made a Christian priest named Valentine the pa... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-11-21
Modern Tennessee

2-9-21

The Tigers of Tennessee

by Matthew Gailani  A History of Tennessee State University Tennessee has many colleges, universities, and schools, each with its own history. Nashville, the state’s capital, is home to several campuses. One of them is Tennessee State University, or TSU. TSU is a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and was founded over 100 years ago in 1912. Its first name was the Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State Normal School for Negroes.* It was a public school built to teac... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-9-21
Black History Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

2-4-21

Go See Tennessee: A Well Seasoned Museum

by Emilee Dehmer East TN: Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, Gatlinburg 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 2-4-21

2-2-21

A Tale of Two Forts

by Matthew Gailani Have you ever heard of the historical figure Ulysses S. Grant? He is one of the most famous people in American History. What was he famous for? By the time the Civil War ended, he was at the head of the entire United States Army, or US Army. He later became the country’s 18th President. But, Ulysses S. Grant wasn’t always famous. Portrait of Ulysses S. Grant, Tennessee State Museum Collection. When the Civil War began in 1861, Grant was not in charge of t... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-2-21
Civil War and Reconstruction

1-26-21

The Story of Piggly Wiggly: The First Supermarket

by Oliver Arney Have you ever entered a supermarket or a grocery store and been overwhelmed at the selection you can make? The candy aisle alone has hundreds of selections that YOU can pick from. Isn’t that wonderful? Let us take a step back in time and learn how a Tennessean named Clarence Saunders created the first supermarket, Piggly Wiggly. Piggly Wiggly sign today, from pigglywiggly.com. Before we learn about Piggly Wiggly, let us first read about what a grocery store looked... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-26-21
Innovations Tennessee in the 20th Century

1-19-21

Who, What and Why? The Causes of the War of 1812

by Katie Yenna After winning our independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, we were trying to figure out how to function as our own nation. We were rebuilding our military and navy, finding people to trade with, and organizing our government – We were busy! Meanwhile, Great Britain had their hands full fighting Napoleon in France, but they still had time to pick another fight with us. That fight officially began in 1812, but why did it happen? Read on to find out. T... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-19-21
Statehood/Early Tennessee

1-14-21

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

by Lauren Grizzard Okay, really, do you want to keep a snowman from melting? But that’s not as catchy. In celebration of the winter season, guess seasonal words one letter at a time before the snowman melts. Letters you have already guessed will appear at the top. If you need a hint, click the lightbulb. Happy New Year, Junior Curators! Do You Want to Build a Snowman?          Lauren Grizzard is the Scheduling Coordinator at the Tennessee State Museum. ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-14-21

1-12-21

"The Head Ball Coach"

by Matthew Gailani The Story of Steve Spurrier Sports, from football to basketball, are very popular across the state of Tennessee. The Volunteer State has been home to many athletes and coaches at both the professional and college level. Few, however, are as well-known or successful as the “Head Ball Coach,” Steve Spurrier. Stephen Orr Spurrier was born in Miami Beach, Florida at St. Francis Hospital on April 20, 1945 to Reverend J. Graham Spurrier Jr. and Marjorie Orr Spurrie... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-12-21
Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

1-5-21

Happy New Year!

by Morgan Byrn How one Tennessean changed how we celebrate New Year’s Eve When I was a kid, my favorite thing about New Year’s Eve was staying up till midnight. We would turn on the TV to watch the ball drop at 12:00 AM in Times Square. Others would gather in their cities to wait for fireworks or their own ball drop. Here in Nashville, the city lowers a music note at the stroke of midnight. No matter how you bring in the New Year, watching from your home or outside with others, ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-5-21
Innovations Tennessee in the 20th Century

12-24-20

Go See Tennessee: A Bright Holiday Tradition

by Emilee Dehmer Middle Tennessee: Opryland Hotel Holiday Lights, Nashville 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 fo... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-24-20
Communities Modern Tennessee

12-22-20

A Visit to the Print Shop

Happy Holidays from the Tennessee State Museum! This season, join Oliver in our very own print shop and learn more about the printing trade and our working printing press!   Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-22-20
Frontier/Before Statehood Innovations

12-17-20

Go See Tennessee: Have You Bean to this Museum?

by Emilee Dehmer East Tennessee: Bush’s Beans Visitor Center and Museum, Chestnut Hill 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 y... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-17-20
Communities Modern Tennessee

12-15-20

Who was David Crockett?

by Jennifer Watts Have you ever heard of Davy Crockett? I’m sure many of you will say yes. Many of the stories you may have heard today are really legends. Did you know his name wasn’t even Davy? He went by David. His life story has been told many times thru the years. So, who was the real “King of the Wild Frontier"? David Crockett was born August 17, 1786, in East Tennessee. His family was not rich. David had to help work off his father’s debts as a kid. This ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-15-20
Jacksonian Tennessee

12-10-20

Tennessee Transportation Quiz

by Oliver Arney From canoes and Conestoga wagons, to railroads and interstates, this quiz will travel though Tennessee's transportation history. Made for historians of all ages, this quiz will show off some of the museum's largest and most interesting artifacts. So all aboard, and enjoy your travels through history! Tennessee Transportation Quiz   Oliver Arney is an Educator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-10-20
Innovations

12-8-20

“December 7, 1941 – A Date Which Will Live in Infamy."

by Lauren Grizzard It was a clear morning on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The weather conditions were perfect for Tennessee native, Cornelia Fort, to take a student out for a flying lesson. Cornelia was the first female pilot in Nashville and had taken a job in Honolulu, Hawaii as a flight instructor earlier that year. When Cornelia first applied to be an instructor, they wrote back to “Mr. Fort” thinking she was a man. Because of the lack of trained pilots in World ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-8-20
Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

12-3-20

The Great Tennessee Outdoors Board Game

by Christopher Grisham   Tennessee State Museum Collection. You may not realize how much you can learn about the culture of Tennessee by exploring some great outdoor spaces. Play this online boardgame with family and friends and get to know more about the Tennessee State Parks all across the state and maybe even near you. Click here to play. Please read the instruction below. To Play: Each player chooses a different color piece and places it on the Green Flag. The youngest player ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-3-20
Communities

12-1-20

Tina Turner: From Nutbush City Limits to Life as the Queen of Rock & Roll

by Mamie Hassell In the mid-1940s, you would have found young Anna Mae Bullock in class at Flagg Grove School. This was an all-Black, one-room schoolhouse in Nutbush, Tennessee. Nutbush is in West Tennessee. It is one hour from Memphis. During that time, most folks in West Tennessee were farmers, and so was Anna Mae’s family. Her parents, Floyd and Zelma Bullock, were sharecroppers. Sharecroppers rented small plots of land from a property owner and grew crops on it, but each year they ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-1-20
Black History History of Music/The Arts Women's History

11-24-20

What Is in A Name? How Tennessee and Its Cities Got Their Names

by Matthew Gailani Have you have ever lived in, traveled through, or seen Tennessee on a map? If you have, you know that it is home to many cities, towns, and communities. From McMinn County to Lake County, and Bucksnort to Hohenwald, each place has its own unique name and story. But what is in a name? Why do we call Nashville, Nashville? Why is Memphis, Memphis and not Salt Lake City? This week, on the Junior Curators’ Blog, we are going to learn how a few cities in Tennessee got thei... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-24-20
Communities

11-19-20

Go See Tennessee: The G.O.A.T of Tennessee Festivals

by Emilee Dehmer The G.O.A.T of Tennessee Festivals Middle Tennessee: Goats, Music, and More Festival, Lewisburg 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, wri... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-19-20
Communities Modern Tennessee

11-17-20

Dots, Dashes, and a Polk

by Christopher Grisham In the early 1800s, the world shrank. Boats and trains became faster with the invention of the steam engine. This allowed people to travel farther than ever before. But the telegraph connected more people than any other invention. The telegraph let people send messages across the entire country by using dots and dashes in place of letters. All you needed was a telegraph machine and a telegraph line. Telegraph 1840-1865, Tennessee State Museum Collection. Sam... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-17-20
Innovations Jacksonian Tennessee

11-10-20

Child Labor in Tennessee

by Jennifer Watts How would you feel if you did not have to go to school today? Excited? Upset? What if I told you that instead of school you had to go to work? This was true for thousands of Tennessee children in the past. It has only been in the last 100 years or so that compulsory education has been law. For hundreds of years, children played important roles in the survival of the family. Children worked in a variety of jobs. They worked on family farms, were apprentices learning a trade,... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-10-20
Communities

11-3-20

The Emancipation Proclamation in Tennessee

by Matthew Gailani Have you heard of the Emancipation Proclamation? On September 22, 1862, in the middle of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln said, “all persons held as slaves within any states…in rebellion against the United States, shall be…free.” This led to the Emancipation Proclamation being enacted a few months later, on January 1, 1863. This meant any enslaved person in a state fighting against the United States was now free. This was a very important ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-3-20
Civil War and Reconstruction

10-27-20

The Industrial Revolution Pt. 2: By Land and River

by Joyska Nunez-Medina (Read the first part here if you haven’t already.) Steamboats at the Nashville Dock Downtown, 1863, Photo courtesy of the Tennessee State Museum. Tennessee became a state in 1796. During that time, the world was experiencing big changes. Today we call this time of change the Industrial Revolution. It lasted from the 1700s to the early 1900s. New technologies changed how people lived and worked. Different ways of making items helped people make mon... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-27-20
Innovations

10-23-20

Haunted Museum: Artifact Finders

by Lauren Grizzard As we get closer to the end of the month, we wanted a chance to show off a lot of fall items from our collection. The only problem is, we need help finding them! There are two pictures of the same artifact and we need your help to match them together. Click the link below to start: Artifact Matching Game   Lauren Grizzard is the Scheduling Coordinator at the Tennessee State Museum.  Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-23-20
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