Museums in Knoxville and East Tennessee
For those looking to learn more about the Knoxville and East Tennessess’s fascinating past you’ll want to check out these Museums. Explore historic homes, frontier forts, and exhibitions of local art. Knoxville’s museums offer an accessible way to explore East Tennessee’s heritage while enjoying year-round activities close to home.
Museums in Downtown Knoxville
Knoxville Museum of Art
1050 World’s Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916
Celebrate East Tennessee’s artistic achievements and enjoy rotating exhibitions in this modern museum located next to World’s Fair Park.
East Tennessee History Center
601 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902
Dive into the region’s history through interactive exhibits, Civil War archives, and an extensive collection of artifacts from East Tennessee.
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
700 Hall of Fame Dr, Knoxville, TN 37915
Honor the trailblazers of women’s basketball and explore this interactive museum shaped like a giant basketball.
James White Fort
205 E Hill Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
Step back into the 18th century at the site of Knoxville’s founding, a reconstructed pioneer fort built by city founder James White.
Historical Homes
Blount Mansion
200 W Hill Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902
Tour the home of William Blount, signer of the U.S. Constitution and governor of the Southwest Territory.
Ramsey House
2614 Thorngrove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914
Explore life in the 1790s at this historic stone home, one of Knoxville’s earliest examples of formal architecture.
Historic Westwood
3425 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Admire the art, original furnishings, and Queen Anne-style architecture of this 1890 home once owned by artist Adelia Armstrong Lutz.
Crescent Bend House & Gardens (Armstrong-Lockett House)
2728 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
This 1834 antebellum home features period furnishings and beautifully maintained Italian-style formal gardens.
Science Museums
American Museum of Science and Energy
115 E Main St, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Located in nearby Oak Ridge, this museum explores the city’s secret role in the Manhattan Project and includes hands-on science exhibits for all ages.
Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture
1327 Circle Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996
Located on the University of Tennessee campus, this museum features collections on archaeology, anthropology, natural history, and ancient art.
Muse Knoxville
516 N Beaman St, Knoxville, TN 37914
A children’s science museum focused on hands-on STEM learning, with interactive exhibits designed to inspire curiosity and creativity.
Regional History Museums
Farragut Folklife Museum
11408 Municipal Center Dr, Farragut, TN 37934
Explore the life of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut and the local history of the town that bears his name.
Fort Loudoun State Historic Park
338 Fort Loudoun Rd, Vonore, TN 37885
Travel back to the 1750s at this reconstructed British fort on Tellico Lake, complete with reenactments and educational programs.
Museum of Appalachia
2819 Andersonville Hwy, Clinton, TN 37716
This living history museum features over 35 historic buildings, thousands of Appalachian artifacts, and live demonstrations of pioneer life.
