The Tennessee State Museum can be characterized as the “Smithsonian of Tennessee,” based on its mission to collect, preserve, and interpret the material culture of Tennessee and Tennesseans.
The Museum’s collection contains a representation of Tennessee, its land and its people, from Prehistoric times to present day. Significant artifacts related to the state’s history have been acquired over several decades which include art, furniture, textiles, and photographs produced by Tennesseans.
The Museum’s permanent collection includes exhibited items, digital archives, and stored items. These items are rotated through the Museum exhibits as time and resources permit. The Museum also holds in trust the collection of the Tennessee Historical Society, which the state began managing in 1927.
Due to time and resource restraints, the Museum is limited to accepting acquisitions that do not fall under the scope of our collection. More specifically, the Museum seeks items that pertain to life in Tennessee and will contribute to the collection at large.
If you are interested in donating an artifact, please use the form on our our Artifact Donation page. Click Here.