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In 1683, Elias Ashmole, an Oxford graduate and true polymath, , the modern world's first public museum. Stocked with his private collection of artifacts, curios, and special scientific equipment, the goal of the museum was to create a center for practical research and the advancement of knowledge. This, Ashmole felt, was a goal "very necessary to humaine life, health [and] the conveniences thereof."

According to figures from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are in the United States today. Their collections encompass everything from modern art, like at the MoMA in New York City, to mustard, like at the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin, and everything in between.

Museums are anchors of our communities. The reports that museums support more than 725,000 jobs and contribute upwards of $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year. Three-quarters of Americans agree that museums are an important part of our civil society and have an important role in promoting knowledge and civic engagement.

Beyond their educational and economic significance, museums are just plain fun. Whether you have a developed interest in natural history or just want to learn a little bit more about funerary history (the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston), there's sure to be a museum that strikes your interest. There's simply nothing else quite like spending an afternoon learning about famous figures, arts and crafts, military history, or what else you fancy.

Here, compiled a list of the highest-rated specialty museums in Tennessee on as of Aug. 13, 2025. Keep reading to see what unique museums are in your home state. Then, make sure to plan a visit. With many museums facing funding cuts due to the current administration's efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, who's to say how much longer these treasure troves will be available to us?

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#30. Salt And Pepper Shaker Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (665 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#29. Edge Motor Museum

- Rating: 4.9/5 (96 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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#28. Rusty's TV and Movie Car Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (206 reviews)
- City: Jackson
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#27. Hunter Museum of American Art

- Rating: 4.4/5 (567 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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#26. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg

- Rating: 3.8/5 (431 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#25. Classic Arcade Pinball Museum

- Rating: 4.9/5 (161 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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#24. Discovery Park of America

- Rating: 4.7/5 (470 reviews)
- City: Union City
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#23. National Museum of African American Music

- Rating: 4.9/5 (242 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#22. Beyond The Lens!

- Rating: 4.2/5 (531 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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#21. Smoky Mountain Knife Works

- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,286 reviews)
- City: Sevierville
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#20. Madame Tussauds Nashville

- Rating: 4.4/5 (708 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#19. Coker Museum - Honest Charley

- Rating: 4.8/5 (209 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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#18. Loretta Lynn's Ranch

- Rating: 4.5/5 (539 reviews)
- City: Hurricane Mills
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#17. Hollywood Star Cars Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,472 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#16. Hollywood Wax Museum

- Rating: 4.0/5 (2,780 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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#15. Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,443 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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#14. Creative Discovery Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,011 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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#13. Cooter's Museum and Store Nashville

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1,103 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#12. Carter House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,401 reviews)
- City: Franklin
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#11. Stax Museum of American Soul Music

- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,239 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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#10. Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,271 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#9. Alcatraz East Crime Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,895 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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#8. Lane Motor Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (987 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#7. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,898 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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#6. RCA Studio B

- Rating: 4.7/5 (4,381 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#5. The Johnny Cash Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (7,197 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#4. Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

- Rating: 4.6/5 (5,906 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#3. Titanic Museum Attraction

- Rating: 4.6/5 (11,284 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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#2. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (15,737 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#1. Graceland

- Rating: 4.5/5 (20,559 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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