Must-See Tennessee Agriculture Museums
Less than a century ago, Tennessee was predominantly agricultural, with cotton, tobacco and livestock at the forefront. Today, this agricultural legacy has been preserved for the next generation at several Tennessee agriculture museums across the state. Visit these museums to learn more about the history of this important industry in Tennessee.
1. Tennessee Agricultural Museum
As you travel the state, drop in the Tennessee Agricultural Museum in Nashville, which draws thousands of visitors each year to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s historic campus. The museum houses more than 4,000 artifacts that tell the story of life in the state, including machines like tractors, wheat reapers, pile drivers, horse treadmills and a steam traction engine that represent the tasks that kept farmers busy outdoors, as well as looms, wood stoves, washing machines and other antiques that paint a picture of domestic life on the farm.
See more: How the Tennessee Agricultural Museum Is Preserving the State’s History
2. Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange
In Memphis, learn more about the crop that changed the world while standing on the floor of the Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange, where cotton traders once stood at the center of the global cotton market. At the museum, you’ll learn about how the history of Memphis was shaped by the cotton industry, as well as fascinating information about the cotton plant itself, including how it’s grown, harvested and used.
3. Farm to Your Table Agricultural Museum
Take a step back in time at the Farm to Your Table Agricultural Museum in Granville to learn about the importance of agriculture in our lives today and throughout history. Full of relics telling the story of Tennessee’s rich agricultural heritage, the museum showcases a 1943 milk delivery truck, several farm-to-table exhibits, historical farm implements and more.
4. Historic House Museums of Knoxville
At each of the seven dwellings of the Historic House Museums of Knoxville, step into the past to learn about the lives of the people who once occupied these homes. From log cabins to to stone mansions, each of the landmarks teaches visitors about the history of Knoxville from frontier settlement to city. Each house offers guided tours throughout the year.
See more: Tennessee’s Top 10 Agricultural Products
5. National Bird Dog Museum
Located in Grand Junction, the National Bird Dog Museum promotes and preserves the bird dog, field trial and hunting traditions. The 30,000-square-foot facility houses memorabilia, art and photography about field trials, shooting sports and more than 40 breeds of bird dogs for visitors to enjoy. It’s also home to the Field Trial Hall of Fame, Sporting Dog Hall of Fame, Retriever Hall of Fame and the Wildlife Heritage Center.
6. Ames Plantation
Lastly, visit Ames Plantation, also in Grand Junction, to explore 12,000 acres of forest and 2,000 acres of row crops and see 40 head of horses and the third-oldest herd of Angus cattle in the country. The plantation features several preserved 19th-century buildings, including homes, barns and cemeteries that provide a peek into the past.