The Smoky Mountains are full of history and there is no better way to learn about the history and the people of an area than by visiting the museums in the area. The Smokies are full of small museums covering niche areas of interest and larger museums that cover a much larger range of history. The people of the southern Appalachians are proud of their history and they have chosen to not only remember it but they are celebrating it and making it available to visitors to the mountains.
Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum - If you are interested in the lapidary arts you might want to take a ride into Franklin, NC and visit the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum. Due to the history of the area, it is no wonder that a museum has been established to show off the gems and the mining industry that brought Franklin … Continue reading "Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum"
Wheels Through Time Museum - Wonder how we got to the point of everyone having their own form of transportation, whether it is a car, a truck or a motorcycle? Well, then you might want to step into the Wheels Through Time Museum in beautiful Maggie Valley, NC. Celebrating all the ways that we get around and of course focusing … Continue reading "Wheels Through Time Museum"
Little River Railroad Museum - Venture over to Townsend and check out one of the hidden gems of the Smokies – the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company. The early history of the Smoky Mountains is on full display at the museum as visitors can come face to face to the inventive, industrious spirit of those early Smoky Mountain settlers. … Continue reading "Little River Railroad Museum"
Tennessee Museum of Aviation - Sevierville celebrates everything to do with Tennessee’s aviation history in the Tennessee Museum of Aviation. One of the best niche museum you will ever walk through is combined with a hangar full of aircraft give you a knowledgeable and fun way to explore the world of aviation and of course how Tennessee has figured into that history. … Continue reading "Tennessee Museum of Aviation"
Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center - Want to learn more about life in the Smoky Mountains before the turn of the 20th century? Then you need to pay a visit to the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center (GSMHC). This museum and living history location teaches visitors about the people that settled the area and made their homes in the Smokies during … Continue reading "Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center"
Elvis Museum - Everyone loves the King of Rock & Roll! In Pigeon Forge, TN, there is no shortage of Elvis memorabilia and places to get into your Elvis groove. One of those places is the Elvis Museum in Pigeon Forge. Combining both a museum and a theater this venue is all things Elvis and the fact that … Continue reading "Elvis Museum"
Christ in the Smokies - One of the perennial attraction sin Gatlinburg, for years, was Christus Gardens. Several years ago, Christus Gardens closed and it was thought that the location where it had been for years, was going to become a set of condominiums. Well, that deal fell through and the management team of Christus Gardens opened a new attraction: … Continue reading "Christ in the Smokies"
American Museum of Science and Energy - It is no wonder, with the history of Oak Ridge, that the American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) calls this remarkable town home. The purpose of the museum is to teach the young and the young at heart about energy with an emphasis on t nuclear power. It also tells the story of … Continue reading "American Museum of Science and Energy"
East Tennessee Historical Society - The East Tennessee History Center If you are looking to learn a little bit more about the history of the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountains, then you might want to make a trip to Knoxville, TN. In the middle of downtown, right on Gay Street is the home of the East Tennessee Historical Society … Continue reading "East Tennessee Historical Society"
Asheville Art Museum - In the heart of the metropolis that is Asheville, NC there is a bight spot of culture in the downtown area: The Asheville Art Museum. Right off Pack Square, the Asheville Art Museum is packed with art of every shape form and fashion. With a hugely popular permanent collection and traveling shows that change the … Continue reading "Asheville Art Museum"